According to a recent report from the higher ed enrollment firm EducationDynamics examining the state of online learning, enrollment in online higher education increased by nearly 90 percent since 2017, despite general declines in overall enrollment. The report, which surveyed over 3,000 current and former online students, noted that online learning is particularly popular with those looking for degrees and credentials relating to business, which remains the most popular subject studied by online students at 23 percent, followed by health sciences at 19 percent and careers relating to computers and IT at 14 percent.
In a Thursday webinar outlining the report’s findings, EducationDynamics’ Senior Director of Analytics and Business Intelligence Katie Tomlinson said that those top fields of study remain relatively similar to previous years, due in part to employer demands.
“Business, health, and computers and IT continue to dominate the top three in-demand [fields of study]," she said. “This really continues to align with what we’re seeing in terms of those biggest gains in short- and long-term projections in the labor market."
EducationDynamics’ President of Enrollment Management Services Greg Clayton noted that career outcomes remain the top factor in why students choose certain online programs. He said flexibility is also a key determining factor, noting that 57 percent of respondents said they preferred asynchronous learning for additional flexibility. However, he added, 27 percent of students said they delayed their college applications because they fear they cannot complete their studies.
“Many are returning to higher education to fulfill their personal and career objectives,” he said, noting another benefit of the growth in online learning. “Part of the conversation, we believe, is around understanding this fear [about completion] and providing support and pathways for how they can complete their studies in spite of all [their other] obligations.”
The desire for flexibility among respondents is in part due to the fact that many are working full time, according to Tomlinson. The report also noted that a majority of respondents also had at least one child at home.
“Many of our online students are working full time,” she said. “That represents about 51 percent of the undergraduate population and 65 percent of our graduates.”
According to the report, more than 60 percent of online college students said affordability was important when considering schools, with 37 percent citing it as the most important factor. The cost of tuition and fees was a top factor for 50 percent of respondents as well.
In addition, the report noted that non-degree programs and accelerated learning programs for workforce credentials are becoming more attractive to students due to their lower cost and faster completion, with nearly 25 percent of respondents saying they had enrolled in fully online certificate or licensing programs.
“While most of our students are still seeking a degree, we are seeing those certificates on the rise,” Tomlinson said.
Another important factor for universities to consider is how they market themselves to students online, according to Clayton. He said only 36 percent of respondents found tuition and fee information easily accessible on school websites, suggesting a need for schools to be more clear about program enrollment requirements and tuition costs in total.
“The more transparency, the better,” he said.
