The Faces of Online Learning
A national TV vocalist competitor, an information security analyst and an NFL player—what do they all have in common? They all represent today’s college student.
While some assume most enroll in college right after high school and complete a degree in four years on a campus, the college experience has dramatically changed in our digital age. Today’s students are more culturally diverse, older and more likely to work while in school. Many are the first in their family to attend college. Some are finally completing a degree they started years ago before the complexities of life got in the way. Others are expanding their professional careers by working a full-time job while obtaining their master’s or doctorate degree online.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, this is a realistic snapshot of today’s college students:
- One in five is age 30 or older
- Half are financially independent from parents
- One in four take a year off before starting school
- One-quarter is caring for a child
- 47 percent attend college part time at some point
Some refer to online students as “non-traditional.” However, as the popularity of online learning continues to rapidly expand, a more appropriate distinction should be—“the future faces of education.”
