Students who previously wouldn’t have enrolled into
college are now doing so because of online education, according to a new
report. Online College Students 2016: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences counters some common misconceptions about online students and their
preferences.
“This research demonstrates the important access that
online education provides to students, while also highlighting the competitive and
rapidly growing nature of the industry,” David Clinefelter, chief academic
officer of Learning House and an author of the report, said in an article for eCampus News. “Current estimates place the number of students working
towards their degrees online at 3.5 million; we expect that number to grow to
five million by 2020. Institutions of higher learning cannot afford to ignore
this population, nor can they resist catering to their needs and inclinations
when it comes to choosing the program that is right for them.”
The research found that cost is the main factor for
students in picking an online institution to attend, but even a small incentive
can help. Students apply to online programs offered by colleges that are close
to home, with 75% visiting the main campus at least once during the year.
About two-thirds of the responding students weren’t familiar
with alternative learning pathways such as massive open online courses and
micro degrees, and 55% who did know about alternative credentials never
considered them while searching for an online program. The report advised
colleges and universities looking into these programs to do a better job of
communicating the value offered to students.
Online
students choose and apply for programs in which they’re interested much quicker
than was commonly thought. The research also found that while business remains
the top online program for graduate students, computer and IT courses have surpassed
education in popularity.
