Quality tops convenience for most online college
students, according to a survey of 1,500 former, current, and prospective
students. However, Online College Students 2017 also found that most of these students still live near the institution where
they take classes.
The study noted that while students usually stay close
to home, just over half requested information from three or more schools, a 23%
increase over the 2016 survey. The number of students who considered only one
school fell from 30% to 18%.
In addition, most students (59%) said they would change
some part of their search for an online program and 23% of current and past
students said they wish they had contacted more schools.
More than half of the respondents said they would take a course in person if it wasn’t available online. Nearly
60% said they traveled to campus at least once a year to meet with instructors
or a study group and about three-quarters said they liked virtual office hours
for teachers. About a quarter of the respondents said more engagement with
classmates and instructors would improve online courses.
The study also reported that 81% of online students use
their mobile device to search for a program. Nearly 70% said they use their
devices to complete their studies.