One study estimated that 55 percent of adults will take a college credit course this year, and 75 percent will take a noncredit course. Penn State is a leader in moving distance education into the mainstream. We have been pioneers in this field since the end of the last century, when we took advantage of the still-experimental system of Rural Free Delivery to extend the University to rural families through correspondence study. Today, we are using the information highway to extend convenient access to lifelong learning around the world. In this information society, time is as much a barrier to education as distance was a century ago.
Distance education provides access in a way that recognizes the many demands on our lives.
Our programs offer several options for you to connect with a Penn State education. Independent Learning is the most flexible learning environment available at a distance. Most involve written assignments and exams proctored in your local community. Today, more than 70 million Americans have access to the Internet. We look forward to welcoming you to the Penn State learning community.