Champlain College Online survey reveals shifting perceptions of online higher education

Champlain College Online has released findings from a recent survey that delves into changing perceptions of online higher education over the past five years. The survey, which gathered responses from over 2,000 adults aged 18-55 in the United States, aimed to gauge attitudes and opinions regarding the value and application of online higher education.

The comprehensive findings from the 10-question survey indicated a shift in perceptions towards online degrees, with 84 percent of adults considering employers more accepting of online degrees today compared to the pre-pandemic era.

Additionally, 72 percent of respondents believe that online education is now seen as a more reputable means of obtaining a degree than it was five years ago.

“The COVID-19 pandemic introduced more institutions and students to the concept of remote learning than ever before,” Champlain College Online Vice President Chris Montagnino said.

“While there are crucial differences when comparing the remote education seen during the pandemic and intentionally designed online education, high-quality online education provides a level of accessibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness that can be life-changing for students,” he added.

Collaboration with different research companies

Over the last five years, Champlain College Online conducted two surveys in collaboration with Full Circle Research in 2017 and Researchscape International in 2023.

Both surveys utilized randomized, nationally representative samples, consisting of 1,004 participants in 2017 and 2,083 participants in 2023. The methodology aimed to generate equivalent segments by gender and region, facilitating meaningful comparisons across subgroups.

Survey data

Key takeaways from the Champlain College Online survey:

• 90 percent of adults find online education effective in equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed for career success.
• 80 percent of adults would consider an online program for undergraduate or graduate education.
• 77 percent of adults believe online higher education meets the needs of students aged 23 and above the same or better than on-campus education (a 20 percent increase from 2017).
• 64 percent of adults think the value of an online degree for the tuition dollar is equal to or more than the value of an on-campus degree (a 20 percent increase from 2017).
• 53 percent of adults believe online higher education meets the needs of students aged 17-22 the same or better than on-campus education (a 33 percent increase from 2017).

Online and offline class platform

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. recently announced the launch of its HybriU platform and HybriU AI digital education solution, an integrated offline instruction platform designed for the education industry.

The AI technology-driven educational company’s primary operations are based in the United States. The new platform is intended to provide interactive, seamless online and offline instruction to the education market.