The human development index is a combined index for measuring the basic dimension of life, which is to have access to required facilities to gain knowledge, taking benefit of a long-time and healthy life and achievement to standard living level. The main objective of this study is to identify the economic factors affecting the growth of academic population in open and distance universities of Iran. The method applied in this study was documentary-analytical method and time series and ordinary least square (OLS) regression model were also used. Statistical population in this study consists of 500 PNU (Payame Noor University) centers. The data of the statistical population included number of applicants of BA of academic year 2001-2014 in PNU and the reliability of independent variables was confirmed using Dickey Fuller Test. Effective variables for distance education were firstly derived using Delphi method. The results obtained from this study show that total Customer Price Index (CPI), earning per master's degree, scholarship and student loan, Gross National Production (GNP),average household income, agriculture field tuition, human science tuition and national income have had positive effect on number of PNU applicants.
