This fall, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) will offer a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing, plus a certificate in marketing for those not looking to commit to a full degree, according to a recent news release. A separate news release said North Park University will add an online MBA starting in September, as well as master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling, educational leadership and family nursing.
“These certificates will provide students with the skills needed to thrive in today's competitive marketing landscape while maintaining the flexibility to balance their education with other commitments,” Risepoint CEO Fernando Bleichmar said in a public statement.
This is not the first time North Park or UIS have partnered with Risepoint, which specializes in workforce-focused online learning, to create a diverse arsenal of virtual courses in business, technology, education and health care. Risepoint's website said UIS experienced impressive growth following the launch of its online business and technology programs in 2021. By 2023, overall enrollment in graduate business programs grew by 55 percent, with online programs making up about a quarter of all business-school enrollment.
Including the two new marketing programs set to launch in the fall, UIS now has 39 online programs listed on its website.
“At UIS, we are committed to providing students with accessible, career-focused education that meets industry needs,” Som Bhattacharya, professor and dean of UIS College of Business and Management, said in a public statement. “The addition of these new marketing certificates strengthens our online portfolio and reflects our ongoing mission to equip professionals with the skills necessary for career advancement in today's competitive market.”
At North Park, the addition of four new programs brings the number of online course offerings listed on its website to 17.
“Shifting many of our graduate programs to an online format reflects our vision to meet students where they’re at and empower them with the skills and knowledge needed to lead lives of significance and service,” North Park Provost Michael Carr said in a public statement.
These additions coincide with the growing popularity of online options for higher education nationwide, as colleges and universities are trying to fill gaps in the workforce and attract students who may be unable to attend traditional in-person classes. From 2008 to 2020, postsecondary enrollment in exclusively online programs in the U.S. grew from 3.9 percent to 23.4 percent, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data compiled in 2024 by the centrist think tank Third Way. By 2023, the most recent year for which NCES has compiled data, 53.2 percent of postsecondary students in the U.S. were enrolled in some form of distance education, defined as "education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor."