The decision by the State University of New York to expand an online learning platform to build total system enrollment is a credit positive, Moody's Investors Service said.
On Oct. 16 SUNY announced that it would be adding 56 degree and certificate programs to the Open SUNY+ platform, bringing the total on the platform to 64 programs.
Among other things the SUNY+ platform provides day and night online academic tutoring and concierges to students connecting them to their home campuses.
The SUNY+ programs are oriented to professional studies.
The expansion of SUNY+ is part of SUNY's effort to increase total system enrollment by 20% over the next five years, said Moody's senior analyst Eva Bogaty.
SUNY is hoping net tuition revenue will ultimately increase by $140 million annually. SUNY charges the same for its online courses as its traditional courses.
"SUNY's favorable pricing and brand recognition materially increase its prospects for volume growth in an increasingly crowded field," Bogaty said. Even if SUNY reaches only a portion of its aggressive enrollment growth goals, it would be a credit positive.
