Online College Student Trends: Growth and Demographics [Infographic]

Did you know that online enrollment numbers have increased by 17%, despite overall higher education enrollments dropping by 4.4%? See the growth statistics and current demographics of online college students in part one of the Online College Student Trends in the U.S. Infographic series.

Online College Students Infographic Part 1: Growth and Demographics

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Online College Students...

Are Growing in Number

31% (6.4 million) of all U.S. college students are enrolled in at least one or more online classes

  • 15% take all of their classes online
  • 16% take some classes online

In fact, online college enrollments grew by 17% between 2012-2016 despite overall higher education enrollments dropping by 4.4%

Are Likely To Attend an Online Public College

Of the over 3 million students taking exclusively online classes

  • 52% attend a public college
  • 25% attend a private, non-profit college
  • 24% attend a private, for-profit college

Who Are Online College Students?

Gender

  • Undergraduate - 75% female, 25% male
  • Graduate - 64% female, 46% male

Marital Status

  • Undergraduate - 57% single
  • Graduate - 60% married or partnered

Children

  • Undergraduate - 45% have children
  • Graduate - 55% have children

Race

Undergraduate

  • 63% Caucasian
  • 15% African American
  • 10% Hispanic
  • 8% Asian or Pacific Islander

Graduate

  • 67% Caucasian
  • 11% African American
  • 10% Asian or Pacific Islander
  • 8% Hispanic

Income

  • Undergraduate - 47% make less than $39,000 a year
  • Graduate - 48% make less than $69,999 a year

Employment

  • Undergraduate - 49% employed full time
  • Graduate - 71% employed full time

Where They Work

Undergraduate

  • 16% office and admin support
  • 12% healthcare support
  • 10% management
  • 9% personal care and service

Graduate

  • 19% education, training, and library
  • 16% management
  • 10% healthcare support
  • 8% office and admin support

Enrollment Status

  • Undergraduate - 64% enroll in school full time
  • Graduate - 61% enroll in school full time

See more Online College Student Trends Infographics


Sources