The University of Arizona, the last holdout in a state investing heavily in distance education for undergraduates, will this fall join the state’s other public universities in offering online bachelor’s degrees, as UA Online opens its virtual doors. UA's in-state competitors -- Arizona State and Northern Arizona University -- have already established themselves in that market. Arizona State, for example, has made flashy announcements with Starbucks and massive open online course provider edX to grow its online enrollment, while Northern Arizona University offers dozens of online certificates and degrees and has become known as an early adopter of competency-based education. UA, for its entry into the market, plans to emphasize its status as a land-grant and research institution to set itself apart from online education providers inside and outside the state.

June 18, 2015 ・ From Inside Higher Ed