The Economic Impact of Online Education

Abstract

During the past fifteen years, the increase in enrollment in online courses at institutions of higher education worldwide, which has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, invites an analysis of the factors that have fueled this growth. The present study considers evidence of the economic and pedagogical advantages of online courses over face-to-face courses taught in classrooms. It concludes that creating and expanding online programs will provide a significant return on investment to institutions and students for the foreseeable future.