Online-only programs are often touted as a more flexible, accessible higher education option for students who may not otherwise be able to attend college, but the reality may say otherwise. A new report from Third Way shows that individuals who enrolled in online-only degree programs between 2012 and 2017 were 8.3 percentage points less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree than their peers who had some in-person instruction.
However, the study notes that while online programs have a negative relationship with degree completion, it doesn’t mean such programs are always ineffective. Online programs aren’t going anywhere, and investing taxpayer dollars in programs that prioritize student success is essential, according to the study. The report suggests four key guardrails that can help to ensure institutions are offering high-quality online programs that center degree completion and a strong return on taxpayer financial aid dollars:
- Require transparent reporting of costs and revenues among exclusively online programs.
- Regulate non-profit institutions’ use of online program managers.
- Increase institutional wraparound services for students in exclusively online programs.
- Consider clear and elevated accreditation standards for exclusively online degree programs.