Howard University continues to demonstrate leadership in higher education innovation by expanding its digital learning infrastructure, responding to what research confirms is the fastest-growing sector in education. According to recent data published by Devlin Peck (2025), online learning has grown 900% since its creation in 2000, making it the fastest-growing market in the education industry. 

Howard’s Office of Digital and Online Learning (DOL), established in 2022, has been instrumental in this expansion, reporting a 65% growth in fully online students over the past three years. The office has also developed Howard's "Project Management Essentials" course, which ranks as the No. 1 university course among Class Central's Top 100 Most Popular Online Courses of 2024.  

"Students are demanding this modality, and Howard continuously focuses on responding to this demand. Engaging in this modality helps us to advance opportunities for current and prospective students and expand our reach as an institution," said Dr. Morris Thomas, Ph.D., assistant provost for digital learning and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment. 

The university anticipates continued growth, with more than 800 fully online students expected by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. To meet this demand, Howard is launching two additional programs in Fall 2025: An online Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and the university's first-ever Hy-Flex program, a Master of Divinity in the School of Divinity. 

Shannon R. Waite, Ed.D., assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies in the School of Education, said, “We are excited to launch our online Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, featuring two tracks based on national feedback. One track focuses on Education Policy and Advocacy for students interested in earning a degree, focusing on education policy to work in positions outside of a school building. We also offer greater flexibility for those pursuing School Building Administrator credentials in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area.” 

“We are reimagining what the smallest but first of Howard’s 14 schools and colleges to launch a Hy-Flex program can do to revolutionize classroom instruction at an R1 HBCU,” Kenyatta R. Gilbert, Ph.D., dean of the School of Divinity said. “Over the last two decades, Protestant divinity schools and seminaries have experienced sharp declines in enrollment. Enlarging our capacity to reach our target audience with newly outfitted smart classrooms, increasing our regional, national, and global visibility and engagement with students, and advancing our mission of educating and forming academic and religious leaders to serve the Church and society excites me.” 

Degree Completion Program Now Accepting Applications 

The Howard University School of Education recently launched an online degree completion program designed for the nearly 50 million adult learners who have earned college credit but have not completed their degrees. The program offers students with at least 60 college credit hours the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Science in human development. 

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum, this program offers career pathways to advanced degrees and prepares students to work in various fields, including public policy, health services, counseling, and more. 

According to research conducted by the Journal for Developmental Education, students do not complete their degrees for various reasons, including financial constraints, childcare responsibilities, and work conflicts. Howard's online learning initiatives aim to reduce these traditional barriers to education. The online degree completion program is designed for working professionals, offering flexible scheduling and a clear pathway to a bachelor's degree at a discounted rate. 

The university's College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences is also expanding its online offerings with two innovative programs: the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. "The Master of Health Administration courses are developed and taught by experienced industry professionals and graduates will be able to lead diverse people, teams, and organizations and use evidence-based practices to improve decision-making, as well as organizational culture and performance," said Joyvina Evans, Ph.D., MSPH, MSA, assistant professor and graduate chair, Master of Health Administration, Department of Health Management, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. These programs address critical healthcare workforce needs while allowing working professionals to advance their education without career interruption. 

To learn more about the online programs at Howard University, visit huonline.howard.edu.