Careers, Flexibility Drive Steady Online Enrollment Growth: EDsmart Insights
Online college enrollment continues to rise, according to a new report by EDsmart, a nationally recognized publisher of college resources and independent rankings.
The report shows that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning was gaining popularity, especially among working adults seeking career changes and students who need flexibility.
Key findings from the EDsmart report:
35% or more of undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees online are aged 35 or younger. This counters the perception that online students are mainly older.Over 60% of online undergraduates and 57% of graduate students prefer asynchronous learning for scheduling flexibility.Roughly a quarter of both undergraduates and graduate online learners are starting degree programs to facilitate a career change. Business, healthcare, and IT are top fields of study.Most online students (60%) have prior college experience and are returning to school within 2 years of leaving a previous program.
The report tracks the spike in online enrollment during the pandemic and its slight drop in 2021. However, data indicates enrollment remains above pre-pandemic levels as students and educators recognize the benefits of remote learning.
“The pandemic accelerated existing trends towards online education,” said Tyson Stevens, spokesperson at EDsmart.org. “Moving forward, we can expect online enrollment to stabilize at a ‘new normal’ above previous levels.”
The full EDsmart report can be found at: https://www.edsmart.org/online-college-enrollment/
About EDsmart
EDsmart reviews publicly available data to produce independent ranking assessments of various educational programs and student guides and resources. The site is regularly updated by a committed team of writers and researchers who produce college rankings and resources to help prospective and current college students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.
Media Contact
Company Name: EDsmart
Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
Email: Send Email
Phone: (707) 595-0736
City: Draper
State: UT
Country: United States
Website: https://www.edsmart.org/
