Hear Online Learners Loud and Clear


Wiley Education Services surveyed students for their annual Online College Students report for 10 years. This year, Wiley reimagined and expanded that report.

In Voice of the Online Learner, Wiley surveyed a larger group of learners than ever before, identified new trends, and confirmed established findings.

Hear Online Learners Loud and Clear


Wiley Education Services surveyed students for their annual Online College Students report for 10 years. This year, Wiley reimagined and expanded that report.

In Voice of the Online Learner, Wiley surveyed a larger group of learners than ever before, identified new trends, and confirmed established findings.


Content sponsored and provided by Wiley Education Services

Top 5 Student Motivators for Earning an Online Degree*

Achieving personal growth
30%
Advancing in their career or receiving a promotion
26%
Bettering their job prospects
25%
Getting their first professional or salaried job
25%
Increasing their salary in their current profession
22%

Online students' motivations center around personal growth and career advancement and they achieved personal and career success through their degrees. Online learners listed their top outcomes as:

  • Salary increase
  • New career
  • New job
  • Promotion at work
  • Increased confidence in the workplace

Online students would pursue a similar learning experience again.

79%
63%

The Impact of COVID-19

Emergency remote classes, which started in the spring of 2020, changed online learning. For many learners who had previously been enrolled in online courses, this helped their experience.

Did you feel your experience in your online program changed in 2020 due to the pandemic?

A new type of online learner who is more open to synchronous or in-person components in their online programs is emerging. Higher ed leaders should recognize the differentiators in post-pandemic online learners, as they often:

  • Skew younger
  • Live closer to campus
  • Have an increased likelihood of being employed part-time or unemployed
  • Look for an undergraduate degree
  • Are starting a career as opposed
    to advancing one
  • Place a high value on transfer credits

Financing Online Education

Paying for college is a top concern for online students. The top three factors when deciding to apply and enroll in an online program are: *

Small scholarships can impact online program enrollments significantly.

Download Your Copy of Voice of the Online Learner


To dive deeper into the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of online learners, download this year’s edition of Voice of the Online Learner today.

This content is sponsored and provided by Wiley Education Services and produced by Inside Higher Ed's sponsored content team. The editorial staff of Inside Higher Ed had no role in its preparation.