Students are moving from campus to online coursework.
More than 6.3 million students had at least one online course during the Fall of 2016, according to Babson Survey Group. This number represents a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year and makes the 14th year in a row that online enrollment has grown, even during years in which total attendance decreased. The majority of the increase is from public universities and private nonprofit schools, at 7.3 and 7.1 percent, respectively, but continues to drop at for-profit, online schools that have come under attack over the years for low graduation rates and questionable recruitment.
Even though online-only students could technically enroll in any school they wanted, there is a growing majority, currently 56.1 percent, that resides in the same state as their college. This preference likely has much to do with the fact that many schools have cheaper in-state tuition for their students and they also want access to on-campus resources such as the library, counselors, and sporting events. Meanwhile, an incredible 84.2 percent of those attending public universities online are enrolling in-state which suggests that they also value the local familiarity of the area. Even among online course takers, about half end up taking at least one class on the physical campus at some point.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the growing preference for online coursework reflects an increased interest in non-traditional degree programs. About 41 percent of students are aged 25 or older and often require flexibility in their school schedule.
Many returning students or older first-time students find it difficult to juggle families and work times to attend class on campus. About 38 percent of those students drop out of campus-based studies during the first year.