As online education continues to grow in demand, understanding the profile of today’s online learners has become crucial to delivering quality, high-value education. Drawing from recent reports, this article provides a portrait of today’s online student. We’ll explore their demographics, motivations, preferences, and perceived value of online education.
Demographics
Online learners today represent a wide range of backgrounds, goals, and life circumstances. According to the 2024 EducationDynamics Online College Students Report, most online learners in the United States are women (65%), with a median age of 29 for undergraduates and 32 for graduate students. These students are not the traditional college-age population; they are often adults juggling full-time employment (58%) and family responsibilities alongside their studies. Many learners come from suburban and urban areas, with most identifying as white (72%), followed by Black or African American students (21%) (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024).
This national profile reflects the fall 2024 online student population at SHSU, where 68% are women, and the average age is 27 for undergraduates and 34 for graduate students. Most SHSU online learners are also first-generation students, identifying as white (49%), Hispanic (26%), or African American (16%). Around two-thirds live within an hour of an SHSU campus, though less than 10% reside within 20 minutes of Huntsville. Of those living further than an hour away, 18% are in major Texas metropolitan areas, 10% in other parts of Texas, and 5% out-of-state (SHSU ST_Student_Information_035 - General Student Report Dataset, 2024).
Motivations & Preferences
The motivations of online students are clear: career advancement and skill-building dominate, with 98% of learners enrolling for career-focused reasons. Notably, 85% of undergraduates generally knew their professional or career interests before enrolling. Those who returned to school after earning some college credits but not completing a degree were often motivated by changes in their financial situation (24%), location (14%), or living arrangements (12%) (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024).
Flexibility is a critical factor for online learners. About 57% prefer asynchronous courses, which allow them to study on their own schedule. Others are divided between a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning (23%) and fully synchronous options (21%) (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024).
This summer, SHSU Online assisted over 200 first-time transfer students with enrolling for fall 2024 through a calling campaign in partnership with the Student Advising & Mentoring (SAM) Center, Integrated Marketing and Communications, and Strategic Enrollment & Innovation. The campaign provided valuable insights into why these new students chose SHSU:
- SHSU offers programs online that align with their career goals or passions.
- Positive feedback about SHSU’s online programs, including rankings and recommendations.
- A family member or friend attended or is attending SHSU.
- SHSU's online programs provide flexibility needed for work or military service.
- Previous institutions lacked accommodating online course modalities for their changing needs.
- SHSU was the first to accept them and reach out about next steps.
- Proximity to home.
Overall, students appreciated the personal outreach, as many were overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. By connecting students to campus resources and services, SHSU Online discovered that online learners often need additional guidance to navigate the complexities of enrollment and orienting to a new school (SHSU Online Calling Campaign Data, 2024).
The Value of Online Learning
In general, online learners perceive significant value in their education, with nearly half awarding their courses an 'A' in 2023 (Examining Higher Ed’s Digital Future, n.d.). This high perception of value is closely tied to their career-focused motivations. More than 70% of students agreed that their degree or certificate helped prepare them for their careers, and they reported being at least somewhat satisfied with their overall educational experience (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024).
While rising tuition costs are a concern for students, faculty, and administrators alike, the cost is not always the deciding factor for students choosing an institution. Online learners are sensitive to balancing financial, format, and schedule concerns as they juggle work and education (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024). The 2023-2024 Digital Learning Pulse Survey highlights that while everyone agrees cost is an issue, faculty and administrators are even more concerned than students about the financial challenges higher education poses (Examining Higher Ed’s Digital Future, n.d.).
Interestingly, almost half of students enrolled at schools with higher tuition rates because the program format, schedule, or location was ideal for them (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024). As long as students perceive value in their online education, see alignment with career goals, and can balance work and study, institutions can remain competitive—so long as they effectively demonstrate how their online programs fit the student’s needs (Aslanian & Fischer, 2024).
Conclusion
The 2024 online learner is a career-driven, resourceful individual balancing multiple responsibilities while seeking flexible, high-quality education. As institutions adapt to the rising demand for online learning, they must continue addressing costs, upholding educational quality, improving support services, and integrating advanced technology to offer an enriching and accessible learning experience. SHSU's online students reflect the national profile and share many of the same motivations and preferences. Through our dedicated faculty, comprehensive support services, competitive pricing, and institutional strengths, SHSU continues to provide high-value online learning that meets the needs of today’s online learners.
References
Aslanian, C. B., & Fischer, S. (2024). Online College Students 2024. Education Dynamics.
https://www.educationdynamics.com/the-online-college-students-report-2024/
Examining Higher Ed’s Digital Future. (n.d.). Digital Learning Pulse Survey.
https://www.cengage.com/institutions/resources/digital-learning-pulse-survey/
SHSU Online Calling Campaign Data. (2024). [Dataset].
SHSU ST_Student_Information_035—General Student Report Dataset. (2024). [Unofficial Dataset].