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The Anatomy of an Ideal Online Student

Online

Not everyone is cut out to be an athlete, chef or author. And not everyone can successfully telecommute, work third shift or hold two (or more) jobs.

Your personality, preferences, temperament, habits, experiences, opportunities, choices and beliefs all play a role in your career.

It’s the same with online learning. With a 98.9% increase in the number of online degree completions (according to labor analytics firm Lightcast), it can make you wonder if online classes are right for you.

Of course, online classes are awesome, but they’re not for everyone. Some people prefer the structure of traditional college classes. Others would rather use technology and virtual classrooms to earn a degree online.

Keep reading to see if you’re an ideal candidate for 100% online classes.

Profile of the Average Online Student

According to the Online College Students Report 2023: 12th Annual Report on the demands and preferences of online college students from Education Dynamics, the average online student is:

Female (61%)
Age 35 or younger (42% of graduate students are aged 30-35)
Single (60%)
Child-free (57%)
Has an annual household income of $56,050
Is employed full-time (59%)
Has 3+ years of work experience (70%)
Not the first in the family to go to college (65%)
Seeking a bachelor’s (48%) or master’s degree (32%)
Studying business (22%), medicine (19%) or computers (17%)
More likely to attend a nonprofit school (63%)
Motivated to get an online degree to start a new career (50%)
Prefers asynchronous online courses they can log into anytime (58%)
Attracted to online programs that offer faster completion time (24%)

Is a 100% Online Degree Right for Me?

Are you the ideal online student? Honestly, it doesn’t matter because you don’t have to check all the boxes to finish your degree online. Online degrees are open to anyone looking to launch or advance their career.

So, if you’ve been thinking of earning an online degree, be honest with yourself. If, deep down, you’d rather be in a physical classroom with your peers, need lecture-style classroom instruction from a professor, or really just can’t manage your time as well as you need to, then maybe you are more suited to a traditional learning environment. And that’s okay.

But, if you’re willing to work hard, be flexible, show a little self-discipline and finish your assignments on time, it really doesn't matter what your demographic profile is. What matters is whether you want to earn an online degree.