Technology has transformed how students are getting their education. The shift to e-learning has been fast in recent years, partly because of the pandemic. The online education market is growing, and it's a great option for students that live remotely or can't find a teacher in the local area.
On this page, we’ve grouped online education statistics into different categories. Therefore, you can quickly find the ones you are looking for. In addition, we have tried to find the most interesting online learning facts and statistics that reveal different aspects of how the education industry is changing. Also, read to the end to find answers to commonly asked questions.
Top 10 Online Education Statistics for 2024
Online learning vs traditional learning statistics show 22 of the top 25 universities are offering free e-learning courses.
Up to 73% of students are unaware of Massive Open Online courses (MOOCs).
90% of elementary school students exhibited enthusiasm about online classes, but the quality of their education suffered.
Online learning can reduce study time by up to 60%.
5.8 million students were enrolled exclusively online in 2021, in the US.
Every dollar spent on e-learning for employees improves productivity by $30.
72% of businesses feel they have an edge over competitors because of e-learning.
E-learning helps companies lower turnover rates and increase revenue.
over 20 million people are learning a language through mobile apps.
Udemy has over 662 million enrolments in 2022
The Most Important In-person Vs Online Learning Statistics
Up to 69.4% of students are unaware of Massive Open Online courses (MOOCs).
These remote learning statistics indicate that many students aren't aware of the online courses available to them. A better job of advertising the courses worldwide is required so that students across the globe understand their options. MOOCs are world-class courses available at a low cost. These courses can even out the differences between students from wealthy families and those from low or middle-income households.
(Digital Commons)
$2.59 billion was spent by the US government to buy e-learning products.
Statistics about online learning show the US government invests a lot of money in training its employees, and e-learning presents a cost-effective opportunity. The increase in e-learning spending is a good use of taxpayer money to improve public services.
(E-Learning Industry)
Online learning vs traditional learning statistics show 22 of the top 25 universities are offering free e-learning courses.
Universities are the beacons of education across the country, so if they offer e-learning courses, online learning is here to stay. The free courses offered by universities allow underprivileged students to compete in marketplaces by getting an education without having to pay for it. However, the quality and recognition of these courses have to improve so they don't create disadvantages during company hiring processes.
(Mordor)
90% of elementary school students exhibited enthusiasm about online classes, but the quality of their education suffered.
One of the facts about virtual learning is that young students enjoy online classes. However, a study done in China during the Pandemic found that the quality of their schoolwork, their performance, and their after-school homework has suffered substantially.
(JMIR Publications)
59% of postsecondary US students in 2021 studied online.
Many students currently studying online do so in a hybrid format, where some things are done digitally and others in person. In the future, the number and percentage of people studying online may increase.
(National Center for Education Statistics)
For 86% of graduates, the cost of their online degree was worth it in the value provided.
These online education statistics indicate that graduates who studied with e-learning managed to get the value back and even got more out of it than they paid. This means that e-learning is a good investment. The job and career opportunities it provides can be life-changing. However, it all depends on the courses you take and the available positions you'll be able to find in the marketplace.
(Learning House)
41.6% of graduate students who graduate from completed online courses are 30+.
A significant section of graduates is above 30 years of age. This is one of the facts about online learning that indicates an existing demand for online education among young students and older ones, too. This might be because adults have commitments such as kids or day jobs. Therefore, they want to take advantage of online courses' flexibility.
(NCES)
Online education trends show that over 20 million people are learning a language through mobile apps.
Mobile devices are always developing, and they are now fast and responsive enough to provide excellent opportunities for finishing online course tasks. This means students can be out and about while getting their education. The rise in mobile shows the convenience trend in online education.
Namely, Dualingo, the most popular language-learning app in the world, has over 13 million users.
(Statista)
Online degrees vs traditional degrees statistics show that 61% of HRs believe online credentials are of generally equal quality to regular ones.
Many people with online degrees are worried they won't be taken seriously by prospective employers. However, even back in 2018, a vast majority of HR leaders believe that an online degree is of equal value to a traditional degree.
(Center for the Future of Higher Education & Talent Strategy)
Online learning can reduce study time by up to 60%.
Online learning retention statistics indicate that e-learning is a significantly more productive way of learning than sitting in a classroom. This might be because the courses students take online are delivered in a way that they find easy to digest. Also, the amazing choice of online courses means that students are likely to enjoy their courses and therefore put in more effort in learning the material.
(E Learning Industry)
5.8 million students were enrolled exclusively online in 2021, in the US.
The e-learning industry has been widely accepted by students, parents, and established schools. Moreover, online learning stats show that almost a quarter (22.7%) have taken their studies fully online. The adoption rate of studying online has also increased during the last year due to the pandemic. It provided an alternative for students that could not attend class in person due to testing positive or because of regulations that briefly closed schools.
(E Learning Industry)
Online Education Growth Statistics and the Future
E-learning has been the fastest growing sector of the education industry, up 900% since 2000.
When it comes to the growth of online education, statistics point out it’s the fastest-growing branch of the education industry. This is true for most industries since technology-based sectors have seen the most development. You can expect the growth of online education to continue until most people across all walks of life adopt the e-learning format for its advantages. Also, the annual growth of the mobile e-learning sector is 23%, based on elearning statistics.
(KPMG)
Online course enrollment statistics show Udemy has over 662 million enrolments.
In 2010, Udemy launched its online courses to deliver education across a wide range of topics. More specifically, it is a courses marketplace where students buy courses from other users who upload them. A large number of concurrent users mean there is significant demand for online courses. This company has been around for almost fifteen years and is only growing in size, which says something about the demand for e-learning.
(Udemy)
Online education stats show Coursera has over 92 million users taking its courses.
Coursera is another popular online course service that has a large user base. It provides a combination of paid and free courses. Therefore, students with no e-learning experience can see what the fuss is about without spending money. In addition, it offers world-recognized certificates, so taking Coursera courses can help career progression.
(Coursera)
The number of students taking at least one online course in 2008 was 16.5%, while in 2020 it was 51.8%.
This statistic on the number of students taking online courses is another example of the upward trend for e-learning. The number of students that have taken an online course has almost tripled in under a decade. Of couse, the main culprit is the Pandemic. However, the improvement of internet-related technologies and hardware has provided access to e-learning to more students over this period.
(Inside Higher Ed)
The online education market will be worth around $370 billion by 2026.
This projected growth indicates that e-learning will continue to gain popularity. The advantages of e-learning are causing many households to re-examine how kids will receive their education. Also, college students enjoy the freedom of movement online courses provide, so committing to a single campus is less attractive than it used to be.
(Statista)
Online Training Statistics: Corporate Edition
Companies share that their second most important training method is e-learning.
These virtual learning statistics reveal that companies deem e-learning to be one of the most important methods of educating their employees. The advantages of e-learning for business include lower costs, bringing employees up to speed quicker, and scalability. Therefore, an increasing number of in-house mentors are getting discarded for online learning setups.
(Shift Elearning)
Every dollar spent on e-learning for employees improves productivity by $30.
Companies are all about a positive return on investment. In this case, online learning statistics say that they get a 30x return when spending money on educating their employees. This may also improve employee morale since they feel appreciated by the company. Training employees allows promotions from within, which enables them to hit the ground running in new positions instead of having to learn the company dynamics first.
(Kommando Tech)
E-learning helps companies lower turnover rates and increase revenue.
This indicates that companies that spend money on training their employees with e-learning see more sales. It is not surprising since training your employees to offer a better service or develop higher-quality products allows the company to grow. It also boosts employee morale and loyalty.
Online learning statistics show 72% of businesses feel they have an edge over competitors because of e-learning.
E-learning offers companies the flexibility to offer employees effective and low-cost training. Companies feel that educating their employees on the latest technology and strategies broadens the up-to-date services they can provide. The rising competition in some business sectors can also propel e-learning.
(E Learning Industry)
Talent MLS has been used by over 70,000 organizations in the US.
The US-based online learning company has offered its services to train employees of over 70,000 organizations. It offers educational support in many industries, which include education, call centers, franchise, aviation, and healthcare. The platform offers cost-effective education solutions that can be personalized to meet company needs.
(TalentLMS)
Bottom line
To conclude, e-learning is a growing trend that is important for companies to compete and for students in college to lower education expenses. As technology develops, the availability and practicality of e-learning will also grow. Also, e-learning provides access to more topics than any single city or university campus can provide.
However, there are a few disadvantages to consider, such as technical problems, student isolation, and lack of face-to-face contact with teachers and other students. The distance learning statistics above indicate that the rapid investment and success of e-learning means this education format will continue to develop.
FAQ
How many students take online courses?
How effective is online learning?
What devices can be used to receive an e-learning education?
Do you have to complete online courses in one take?
What recognition do e-courses get?
Do free online courses exist?
Who can take part in e-learning?
Conclusion
Online education statistics show that traditional learning is here to stay, but remote learning is bound to grow and improve our current methods of studying and teaching. With a growing e-learning market and the rising interest from students of all backgrounds, we can expect remote learning to open up possibilities for an unprecedented number of knowledge-hungry minds.
.jpg)
