In partnership with ed-tech company Risepoint, the university will add four new bachelor’s degree programs — three in communications studies and one in nursing — and 14 new master’s degree programs, in subjects such as business administration, education, health information management and science. This will bring the university's total online degree offerings up to 38.
Risepoint, formerly known as Academic Partnerships, helps universities launch and grow online programs, according to its website. As reflected in Texas State’s new courses, Risepoint focuses on disciplines in high demand, like health care, business and education.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the U.S. will need 200,000 new registered nurses each year through 2031 to meet the workforce demand. In education, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 79 percent of all public schools report difficulty filling open teaching positions, with most saying the primary challenge is too few candidates applying.
Fully online classes, some of which can be accelerated to an eight-week timeline, can help students who might not have the time or money to attend traditional classes gain access to education, therefore helping fill workforce gaps, according to Risepoint.
The demand for online programs is growing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, almost 24 percent of undergraduate students and 39 percent of graduate-level students were enrolled fully online as of 2022.
“This partnership allows Texas State to expand access to nontraditional students by giving them the ability to earn a degree online while balancing other life commitments,” Thilla Sivakumaran, vice president of Texas State Global, said in a public statement. "We are thrilled to welcome more students looking to further their education with these essential programs."
Risepoint further reported that for the 2022-23 school year, 90 percent of students in programs they support were employed full time before they started their program.
