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History of digital learning

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How is digital learning implemented?

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How did digital learning become the future?

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Digital learning is the future | Michael Vilardo | TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity

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What are the challenges of implementing digital learning?

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Digital Learning Innovations with Janet Kamps | Descussions Podcast

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Is digital learning the future?

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Statistics of digital learning

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How is digital learning the new normal?

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Future growth of digital learning

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What are the top online learning statistics?

Online learning has exploded in popularity. It can be done anywhere, at any time, and, most importantly, is just as effective as in-person learning.

Want to learn more? We've put together a list of the best statistics.

Let's dive in!

The top online learning statistics in 2023

Worldwide, 49% of students have completed some sort of online learning

Online learning is the fastest-growing market in the education industry - it has grown 900% since its creation in 2000

70% of students say online learning is better than traditional classroom learning

The number of online learning users is expected to increase to 57 million by 2027

80% of businesses now offer online learning or training solutions

63% of students in the US engage in online learning activities daily

Online learning can increase student and employee retention to as much as 50%

Online learning can reduce the time needed to learn a subject by 40% to 60%

The online learning industry is projected to be worth more than $370 billion by 2026

Online learning and training can improve employee performance by 15% to 25%

What is online learning?

Also referred to as eLearning or distance learning, online learning is remote learning via the internet. Higher education, K-12, and adult learning facilities all use online learning to some extent.

And these statistics reveal what the online learning industry looks like today, as well as what it's predicted to look like in the years to come.

There's a lot to cover. Let's start with the best online education growth statistics.

Growth of online learning

Online learning has grown 900%+ since its inception

(Oxford College)

Since its launch in 2000, the worldwide market for online learning has grown by more than 900%. It is the fastest-growing market in the education industry.

That's unsurprising, given that there's a course for everyone, from those interested in getting a degree to someone who wants to learn as a hobby.

Online learning will have a 9.1% compound annual growth rate by 2026

(Syngene Research)

Estimates show that between 2018 and 2026, the online learning industry will grow by as much as 9.1% each year.

America's online learning industry will be worth $687 billion by 2030

(Global Industry Analysts Inc.)

The online learning industry continues to grow rapidly with no signs of slowing down.

In 2022, the US market was worth $100 billion, which makes it the largest in the world. Research estimates that at this rate, it will grow to $686.9 billion by the year 2030.

China is home to the second-largest online learning industry in the world. By 2030, it is projected to reach $171 billion.

Online learning is poised to grow by more than 200% between 2020 and 2025

(Guru99)

There's no question that online learning grew exponentially thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. Just five years after the outbreak, it's expected that the industry will have grown by more than 200%.

The online learning sector grew to be a $240 billion dollar industry by 2022

(Email Vendor Selection)

That's up from $165 billion in 2014, marking a nearly $100 billion increase in less than a decade. It's safe to say it's not going anywhere.

The number of online learners is expected to grow to nearly 60 million people in the near future

(Prosperityforall)

According to estimates, the number of people who take an online course will rise to as many as 57 million people by 2027.

How many people use online learning?

The United States will generate $74.800 million in online learning revenue this year

(Statista)

Worldwide, the US' online learning market will generate more revenue than any other in 2023, with an estimated total of $74.800 million.

More than 30% of American students have taken at least one online course

(Taylor & Francis Online)

Studies show that more than one-third of American students have enrolled in one or more online courses. Of those students, more than half also participated in on-campus courses as well.

Women are more likely to enroll in online courses than men

(Statista)

Women are more likely to enroll in online courses, though just barely.

Of undergraduate students who studied online in 2020, 50% were female and 49% were male. Of graduate students in the same time period, 52% were female and 48% were male.

The number of undergraduates enrolled exclusively in online college courses jumped from 2.4 million to 7.0 million between 2019 and 2020

(National Center for Education Statistics)

In the fall of 2019, just 2.4 million students were pursuing their education exclusively online.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, that number jumped by nearly 200% to a total of 7 million students.

The number of undergraduate students who took one or more online courses increased by 97% in 2020

(National Center for Education Statistics)

The number of students who took one or more online courses - but didn't study online exclusively - increased by 97% between 2019 and 2020.

More than 200 million learners signed up for at least one massive open online course last year

(The Report)

Referred to MOOCs for short, these courses have been available since 2011 and have seen record numbers of students signing up each year.

In 2022, 220 million subscribed to at least one. That's a noticeable increase from the 40 million who signed up in 2021.

63% of students choose to study online because of the flexibility of virtual learning

(Bay Atlantic University)

More than two in five online learners said they committed to a program because it fit in with their current responsibilities, both in their personal and professional lives. That's no surprise - most courses can be done anywhere, any time, making it an easy addition to their lives.

30% get an online degree to start a new, better paying career

(Bay Atlantic University)

However, there's more to choosing to study online than just learning at your own pace.

In the same study, 30% of respondents said they chose to get an online degree to increase their chances of landing a better-paying job.

Money was the main driver for most. When asked, just 23% said they embarked on their online learning journey to get a job more aligned with their interests.

Of those pursuing online education, 42% are 30 or older

(99Guru)

It's never too late to learn something new - almost half of all students studying online are at least 30 years of age!

Online learning produces 85% fewer CO2 emissions per student than in-person learning

(Open University)

According to research done in the United Kingdom, online learning isn't just better for students - it's also better for the environment than traditional classroom learning!

Because students and faculty no longer have to travel for lessons, each student produces 85% fewer carbon dioxide emissions, thus reducing their carbon footprint.

And because online classes don't take place in campus facilities, energy consumption is also reduced by nearly 90%.

Is online learning effective?

Online learning increases student retention rate by as much as 60%

(Guru99)

There's plenty to mention when we share the benefits of online learning statistics, and increased retention is at the top of the list.

Studies suggest that students retain 25% to 60% of what they learn, which is a stark increase from the 8% to 10% retention rate seen in traditional learning.

Study time is decreased by as much as 60% when done online

(Guru99)

In-person vs. online learning statistics show that online learning is just as effective than in-person learning (if not more).

In addition to improving retention rate, online learning also reduces study time by 40% to 60% for students and employees alike.

8 in 10 students claim that digital technology helps them improve their grades

(TechJury)

You might still be asking, what is the success rate of online learning? It's high.

That's because higher retention rates and less study time pay off: When asked, 81% of students said that digital technology and online learning helped them improve their grades.

Critical thinking and problem-solving are among the most improved skills

(Bay Atlantic University)

While online education is known to improve several skills, 85% of students say critical thinking and problem-solving are the areas they see the most change in.

60% of online students reported improved soft skills

(Bay Atlantic University)

Online learning does more than just improve retention. Three out of five said that it helped them improve soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and time management as well.

Do people prefer to learn online?

41% of US graduate students prefer online education to traditional education

(Statista)

Research has found that of American graduate students, two in five believe that online education actually offers a better all-around experience than a traditional experience in a college-level classroom.

95% of those who have taken an online course recommend them

(BestColleges)

An overwhelming majority of online program alumni say that they would recommend pursuing online education.

A majority of students say that online classes are better than traditional classrooms

(University of the Potomac)

When asked, 70% of students said that they feel that online classes are a better alternative to the traditional classroom setting.

59% of the online education market share comes from content learning

(Technavio)

While much of the market is dedicated to education, more than half of its share comes from the type of content learning you might find on Skillshare or Udemy. In content learning, classes could be on anything from speaking French to learning to cook.

36% say completing an online course is easier than learning in a classroom

(Oxford College)

In a United Kingdom study, almost 2 in 5 students said that studying for and completing an online course is easier than doing so in a traditional classroom setting - but 29% disagreed, saying that it's just as difficult.

Online learning statistics for business

More than 3 in 4 companies provide online learning opportunities

(ThinkImpact)

Online learning isn't just for students anymore. Today, as many as 77% of companies provide a selection of online learning or training for employees and new team members.

Online learning boosts employee engagement by 18%

(PapersOwl)

When done correctly, online learning in a corporate environment can help increase employee engagement by as much as 18%.

Online learning will improve employee performance by at least 15%

(American Heart Association)

Allowing an employee to learn at their own pace increases their retention by 25-67% while also improving performance by as much as 25%.

Of companies that offer online learning, more than two in five see an increase in income

(TechJury)

Studies have found that across US organizations, 42% have seen an increase in income with the implementation of online learning. Within those companies, profit margins increase by an average of 24% as well.

Revenue per employee is 200%+ higher for companies that use online learning

(TechJury)

As if a 24% profit margin increase wasn't impressive enough, revenue per employee increased dramatically after the introduction of online learning as well, by an average of 218%.

Corporate participants learn almost 5x more material with online courses

(SHIFT)

IBM's eLearning program allowed its employees to absorb almost five times the amount of material than they were prior without having to spend any additional time in training, ultimately reducing training costs.

Online learning requires 60% less employee time than a classroom

(Brandon Hall)

Because it can be performed asynchronously, online learning takes 40% to 60% less time for employees to learn the same material than the time it takes in a classroom setting.

7 in 10 organizations say online learning makes them competitive

(CertifyMe)

Of corporations who offer it, 72% say that online learning increases their competitive edge in their market, as it helps them better keep up with and adapt to industry changes.

Online learning statistics for education

98% of universities have shifted to offer online courses

(Upskillwise)

There's no question that the pandemic fueled these trends - the statistics of online learning during Covid-19 prove it - but even in a post-pandemic world, it's here to stay. Today, 98% of universities offer online courses.

University education is the largest market share in the industry

(Statista)

With a projected market volume of $103.8 billion in 2023, university-based education has the largest market share of the online learning industry.

31% would consider doing a university degree online

(Oxford College)

Because of its market share, it's no surprise that in the UK, nearly one-third of students would consider getting their university degree online.

Business courses are the most popular type of elearning

(Bay Atlantic University)

Of those who have completed an online course, 30% chose business, making it the most popular. Computers and IT are second-most popular (19%), followed by health and medicine (14%).

Online universities have seen an 11% increase in digital enrollment

(McKinsey)

Traditional university enrollment has dropped by an average of 3%, but online universities are surging - enrollment at the largest universities is up by an average of 11%.

More than 2 in 5 US students participate in online learning each day

(Guru99)

The K-12 online learning statistics we're seeing prove it's here to stay, with 63% using online learning tools at least once per day.

Online college students need up to 60% less study time

(ThinkImpact)

Just as it does in the corporate world, online learning saves time for college students. On average, they reduce their learning time by 40%-60%.

75% of US schools operate completely online during Covid-19

(ThinkImpact)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, three out of four schools across America changed to operating completely online.

7 in 10 K-12 students alone currently use cloud-based educational tools

(Guru99)

With so many schools pivoting to online-only, students everywhere are having to adapt. Already, a majority of K-12 students (72%) are using cloud-based tools.

49% of full-time faculty members have been trained in online learning

(Bay Atlantic University)

When the pandemic hit, almost half of full-time faculty members received training in online learning. Interestingly, just 36% of part-time faculty members had.

21% of public schools taught at least one course online prior to the pandemic

(ThinkImpact)

About one in five public schools were teaching online prior to the pandemic. Even fewer private schools did so, at just 13%.

Undergraduate students are more likely to take an online course than graduate students

(National Center for Education Statistics)

75% of undergraduates take at least one online course during their time, compared to 71% of graduate students.

77% of public college students take at least one online course

(National Center for Education Statistics)

More than 3 in 4 public college students take at least one online course during their education. They're more likely to do so than their private college counterparts, just 68% of whom will.

Four-year students are more likely to take an online class than two-year students

(National Center for Education Statistics)

76% of students at four-year institutions will take an online course, compared to 69% of students at two-year institutions.

Cost of online learning

54% of colleges charge remote students more than in-person students

(Lumina Foundation)

Despite often being known as an affordable education alternative, studies show that remote learners pay higher tuition than their in-person counterparts.

On average, online college courses cost $15,000+ per year

(College Navigator)

While less than the average yearly tuition at a traditional institution, online colleges are still expensive, at an average of $15,467 per year.

The average net cost of online college is $500+ per hour

(College Navigator)

When considering a 30-credit hour year, online education averages out to $516 per credit hour. However, the least expensive options can cost as little as $200 per credit hour.

Public online college costs $10,000/year

(College Navigator)

On average, getting a degree from a public online college will cost about $10,000 per year.

Private non-profit online colleges cost $15,000 per year on average

(College Navigator)

Private non-profit online colleges are more expensive than their public counterparts at $15,000 per year. That's still less than private for-profit options, which cost $17,000 per year on average.

Revenue per user in online education will reach $20,000+ in 2023

(Statista)

We've touched on how online college education is the largest sector of the market, and the numbers agree: in 2023, the average revenue per user will reach $21,000.

Disadvantages of online learning

K-12 online learning devices only meet antivirus compliance rates 60% of the time

(MarketScale)

In America, low antivirus compliance rates open the door to school-wide shutdowns that last weeks.

Patch ages average 183 days for Microsoft Windows 10 and 31 days for Apple MacOS devices, leaving plenty of time for ransomware attacks to happen in schools across the country.

Students spend an hour per day viewing inappropriate content

(MarketScale)

With the internet at their fingertips, it's no surprise that online students spend an average of one hour per day viewing inappropriate sites. It's a tricky problem to navigate, as web filtering solutions fail when school devices are disconnected. In fact, 41% of schools see rogue VPNs.

Online learning isn't accessible to everyone

(ACT Research)

The digital divide is a very real threat, especially in online education.

In the US, 25% of low-income students have limited access to the technology and internet needed to study successfully. In comparison, only 18% of students who weren't first-generation or low-income had the same issues.

Conclusion

There you have it. Those are the top online learning statistics this year.

Ultimately, online learning is growing fast - and these statistics prove it.
Read more What is eLearning? eLearning Explained How to Become an Instructional Designer Sources Oxford College Syngene Research Global Industry Analysts Inc. Prosperityforall Email Vendor Selection Taylor & Francis Online National Center for Education Statistics Bay Atlantic University Open University BestColleges University of the Potomac ThinkImpact American Heart Association Brandon Hall National Center for Education Statistics Lumina Foundation College Navigator MarketScale ACT Research
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Growth curve representing digital learning