What Are 3 Benefits of Online Learning?

Online learning isn’t just a post-pandemic trend: it’s been around a while and, based on the data, it’s likely here to stay.

The good news is that there are all kinds of benefits of online learning at the college level. Students of all ages are turning to online learning for higher education. It's an option that's flexible, affordable and supportive — and for many, it's made earning a degree feel more in reach than ever.

What Are the Advantages of Online Learning?

Both online and in-person degree programs have their benefits. So, why do many students continue to go the online route? There are a few answers to that question.

Flexibility

Flexibility is often the primary reason why students choose an online degree program.

Courses are often asynchronous, meaning there are no set class times. At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), for example, students have Thursday and Sunday evening assignment deadlines — so as long as they're adhering to weekly course expectations, their schedule is theirs to build.

Online learning in an asynchronous format gives students the ability to study when and where they’re able to: on lunch breaks at work, at a coffee shop on the weekend or at their kitchen table at night.

For parents, the flexibility of online learning can be particularly helpful. Taylor Strickland ’24 said this was one of the reasons she chose SNHU’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration program.

“Being a mother, being a business owner, I needed an option that I could get my degree online without having to attend in-person classes and not spend 10 hours in a classroom a week,” she said.

Strickland also said that taking courses online allowed her to spend more time with her kids — an unexpected perk of foregoing the brick-and-mortar route.

“Doing it while raising my kids has been really special,” she said. “It’s been a bonding experience to be sitting on the couch, working on schoolwork while snuggling them.”

Miranda Lilley ’24 is a parent, too. She’s also a registered nurse case manager with a demanding schedule.

With a full-time role in healthcare plus family responsibilities, Lilley knew an online degree program — in her case, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — would be a better fit than going back to school in person.

“I could squeeze in the assignments and discussion posts — even being a busy mom, wife and friend,” she said.

Flexibility is also a critically important part of any college program for military students, and many opt for an online degree program because of it. The lives of service members can change quickly: a permanent change of station (PCS), mobilization or deployment can shift their schedule and location.

For Rob Thomas ’24, who is currently serving in the United States Army Reserves, SNHU’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies was the right fit.

“My program was offered 100% online,” he said. ‘Balancing school, work and my military responsibilities was very doable thanks to the flexibility it gave me.”

Read more: How Do Online Classes Work? What to Know Before You Start

Dedicated Support

While flexibility is often top of mind for those considering online learning, support matters, too. Sometimes, for example, a military student might need a term off, need to drop from two courses to one or need to pause their program altogether.

These situations aren’t limited to military students, either. Health issues, a death in the family or other unexpected difficulties can come up along anyone’s academic journey. Some universities that offer online programs also provide dedicated support to learners that can help tremendously in situations like these.

Keyon Tuiteleleapaga '22 '24G said that initially, the idea of online learning was intimidating. As someone who had previously struggled in school, he said the support he received during his online programs at SNHU — first a BA in Human Services, then a Master of Science in Psychology — was a game changer.

“I think when you’re doing an online program, you just feel like it’s going to be you by yourself," he said. "But SNHU does this really cool thing where you don’t feel like you’re alone.”

Some online universities have academic advisors who work with students from day one of their program all the way to graduation. Advisors help orient students to online learning, assist with course scheduling and — maybe most importantly — serve as a go-to person for resources and encouragement.

Jess Caldwell, a director of academic advising at SNHU, spoke to the value advisors add to students navigating online learning.

“Advisors really are a conduit for not only the student to understand the world of SNHU and college — because that, in itself, can be a really complex path to make your way through — but they can also connect you to the people you need in order to be successful,” she said.

Caldwell also emphasized that the role of the advisor can change based on what each individual student needs. Some students, for example, want a weekly call or email with their advisor to chat about their progress. Other students prefer to reach out to their advisor when they’re feeling stuck or have something specific they need assistance with.

In addition to academic advisors, online learners often have access to additional support, too:

• Admission counselors work closely with students during the early stages, walking them through the application process, assisting with transfer credits and other important steps as they get started.
• Student finance counselors help students determine how to pay for college in the most cost-effective way possible.
• Career advisors at some universities don’t just work with students throughout their program: they’re available to students even beyond graduation to help with resumes, mock interviews and other career skills.
• There are also tutoring resources, mental health services and lots more, mimicking what a student might find on a traditional campus.

Online learning has the potential to feel isolating. Universities like SNHU have support systems like these in place that are designed to prevent that isolation. The goal? Ensuring students feel connected and cared for as they work toward their degree.

Affordability

For the vast majority of students, cost can be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing an online degree program.

The data backs up that online learning at the college level can be more affordable than in-person learning. A 2024 report from the Education Data Initiative showed that, on average, the cost for an online degree at a private institution is about $62,000, while a degree earned in person is closer to $198,000 — more than triple the cost.

SNHU’s online tuition cost is $342/credit, which is among the lowest tuition rates in the nation. A typical bachelor’s degree is 120 credits, bringing the total tuition cost of an online degree program at SNHU to roughly $41,040.

Michelle Littlejohn ’24 earned her BA in Graphic Design online at SNHU — and it was a 22-year journey to get there.

Littlejohn had tried college a number of times and hadn’t found the right fit. Her life got busy, and balancing being a wife, mother and self-taught graphic designer made going back to school feel impossible. She’d also maxed out her financial aid, so cost was an important factor in her decision, she said. When she found SNHU, she said she was shocked by how affordable it felt compared to other universities.

“When I saw how much SNHU was, I was like, ‘I can actually afford this,’” Littlejohn said. “I made a budget. We set a plan. We’ve got one family income and five children. It’s a big step, but it’s definitely possible. There’s a way.”

How Do I Know if Online School is Right for Me?

When it comes to choosing between online learning and in-person learning, there’s no right or wrong choice.

Ultimately, deciding between a traditional campus setting and an online degree program is really about determining what you want from your college experience. If your priorities are schedule flexibility, individualized support and affordable tuition, online learning might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Abigail (Abby) Mark ’23G is a copywriter and contributing content writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Prior to her role in marketing, Abby spent four years on SNHU’s student experience team as an academic advisor and team lead of academic advising. In 2018, she graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to earn her Master of Arts in English & Creative Writing at SNHU in the spring of 2023.

She is also an adjunct faculty member at SNHU and is passionate about sharing her love for creative writing with online undergraduate students. Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.