Online Learning Statistics
Credit: Image Credit: massimo colombo / Moment / Getty ImagesData Summary
In 2022, 10.1 million college students (54%) took at least one class online.- About 4.9 million students (26%) take college classes exclusively online.
- 4.5% of colleges offer courses primarily online.
- 1.1 million students (6.1%) attend these fully online colleges.
- 96% of online program alums recommended online learning.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, remote learning in higher education peaked. Since then, campuses have re-opened, and fewer students are participating in online classes. But, distance learning and fully online degree programs remain popular options.
This report dives into the statistics around online learning. It covers fully online colleges and distance learning options for on-campus programs. Plus, survey data reveals what college students really think about online education.
Online Education Enrollment Statistics
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 54% of college students took at least one course online in fall 2022.
- About one quarter (26%) of students took classes exclusively online.
- Another 28% had some but not all of their classes online.
- 46% of students did not take any online courses.
Online classes were slightly more popular, at two-year colleges, and at public institutions.
- 53% of students at four-year schools and 58% of students at two-year schools took at least one course online.
- 55% of public college students and 51% of private college students took at least one course online.
- Roughly the same percentage of undergraduate students (54.4%) and graduate students (53.5%) took at least one course online.
- Graduate students were more likely than undergraduates to take classes exclusively online (39% versus 24%).
Over the past twenty years, it has become increasingly common for students to take at least some of their courses online. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused this trend to accelerate.
The trend has tapered somewhat in the years following the onset of the pandemic. However, online learning is still more popular than it was before 2020.
Online learning may be here to stay. BestColleges’ 2024 Online Education Trends Report found that 47% of administrators planned on increasing their spending on online learning programs. Half (50%) said their spending wouldn’t change from last year. Just 3% expected their budgets for online program development to decrease.
Enrollment in Online Courses by State
Below, find the percentage of students who take college courses online by students’ state of residence.
Percentage of Students Enrolled in Online College Courses, 2022
| State⇅ | Enrolled exclusively⇅ | Enrolled in some⇅ | Not enrolled in any⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 28% | 29% | 43% |
| Alaska | 41% | 31% | 28% |
| Arizona | 51% | 20% | 29% |
| Arkansas | 26% | 28% | 46% |
| California | 27% | 29% | 44% |
| Colorado | 27% | 20% | 53% |
| Connecticut | 19% | 24% | 57% |
| Delaware | 30% | 33% | 37% |
| District of Columbia | 23% | 18% | 59% |
| Florida | 30% | 31% | 39% |
Did You Know…?
In 2021, there were 175 online colleges — i.e., postsecondary institutions where at least 90% of the student body was enrolled exclusively in online courses. These colleges represent 4.5% of all postsecondary institutions.
Online colleges enrolled 1.1 million students (6.1% of all college students) that year.
In 2023, BestColleges surveyed 1,800 prospective online students, current online students, remote learners, and online program graduates. We found:
- 68% of current online students held full-time or part-time employment.
- 95% had children under 18 living in their household.
Is Online College Cheaper? Average Tuition and Fees
It’s easy to assume that getting an online degree costs less than pursuing a degree on campus. While this may occasionally be true, it’s important to thoroughly research costs.
In fact, 27% of online learners in our 2024 Online Education Trends Report say they wish they had done more research about cost and financial aid when choosing an online program.
Below are average tuition costs for online schools and how they compare to in-person prices.
Average Online College Tuition
As of 2023, the average tuition costs for online schools ranged from $200-$1,000 per credit hour, according to recent NCES data.
Generally, state residents attending public institutions online can anticipate costs of $420 per undergraduate credit, while non-state residents can expect to pay $780 per undergraduate credit.
Private online institutions had slightly higher average costs per credit hour, starting at roughly $600.
Overall, total tuition costs at top online schools can range from:
- $18,000-$56,000 for an online associate
- $36,000-$112,000 for an online bachelor’s
- $19,000-$45,000 for an online master’s
Online vs. In-Person Tuition
So, how do online tuition costs compare to in-person tuition?
Online tuition costs for most degree programs are often identical to in-person tuition costs, regardless of institution type. However, 14% of chief online officers surveyed by Quality Matters in 2021 reported that their online programs were priced lower than in-person programs.
While some online programs at public universities charge higher tuition rates for out-of-state students, at least 4 in 10 of our top online schools charge the same tuition rate regardless of where a student resides.
Survey Data: What Students Say About Online Learning
Many online students surveyed in our 2024 Online Education Trends report shared positive experiences with online learning:
- 96% of online college graduates would recommend online learning.
- 93% of graduates said their online degree will result in a positive return on investment.
- Three-quarters of students (75%) said online education was better than or equal to in-person learning — a five percentage point increase from last year.
But online program alums also encountered challenges. Their top challenges were:
- Paying for school while minimizing student debt (26%)
- Encountering unexpected circumstances or personal life events (20%)
- Staying on track with classes in order to graduate in the planned time frame (15%)
Sources
- Table 311.15. Number and percentage of students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by distance education participation, location of student, level of enrollment, and control and level of institution: Fall 2021 and fall 2022. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). December 2023.
- Table 311.33. Selected statistics for degree-granting postsecondary institutions that primarily offer online programs, by control of institution and selected characteristics: Fall 2021 and 2020-21. NCES. May 2023.
- NCES’ College Navigator database. Calculation assumes 30 credit hours per academic year.
- 2024 Online Education Trends Report. BestColleges. June 2024.
- Table 311.22 Number and percentage of undergraduate students enrolled in distance education or online classes and degree programs, by selected characteristics: Selected years, 2003-04 through 2015-16. NCES. May 2018.
- Trend Generator. What is the percent of students enrolled in distance education courses in postsecondary institutions in the fall. NCES. Fall 2022 provisional data.
- Garrett, R., & Legon, R., Simunich, B., & Fredericksen, E. E. CHLOE 6: Online Learning Leaders Adapt for a Post Pandemic World. June 2021.
- What is the percent of students enrolled in distance education courses in postsecondary institutions in the fall?
- Poulin, R. & Straut, T., WCET Distance Education Price and Cost Report. February 2017.