The education landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, with online learning emerging as a powerful force reshaping how we learn, teach, and acquire skills.
From a staggering 900% growth since 2000 to an anticipated 73.8 million users by the end of 2024, digital education has moved from alternative to mainstream.
This analysis examines the latest statistics on online learning in 2024. So, without any further ado, let’s explore how these trends are shaping the future of education in 2024 and beyond.
What Are The Statistics Of Online Learning?: Top Picks
- The online learning market is projected to reach 73.8 million users by the close of 2024. (Market Data Forecast)
- Online learning has grown by 900% globally since 2000, making it the fastest-growing segment in the education industry.” (Oxford)
- 66 universities in the USA offer 4-year and 2-year online degrees as of 2024. (NCES)
- For 42% of students, affordability was a key driver in choosing online degree programs in 2023. (Statista)
- 17% of students pursued online education in 2023 because it was the only way to study their chosen field of interest. (Statista)
- More than 562,659 students were enrolled in virtual schools across the United States in the previous academic year. (NCES)
- With 105,676 students in 2022-23, Secondary and high school students represent the largest segment, indicating stronger adoption of online learning among older students. (NCES)
- 60% of online learners reported an improvement in critical thinking skills due to online learning. (BAU)
Growth Of Online Education Statistics
- The global e-learning market is projected to reach nearly $400 billion by 2026, with the U.S. as one of the top revenue-generating countries. (Statista)
- The revenue in the Online Education market is projected to reach the $185.20 billion milestone by the end of 2024.
- The online education market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 8.56% CAGR from 2024 to 2029, reaching a market volume of $279.30 billion by 2029.
- $120.70 billion is the projected market volume for the Online University Education segment in 2024.
- The United States will generate the highest revenue globally in the online education market, with $87.51 billion in 2024.
- The average revenue per user in the Online Education market is $210 in 2024.
- The Online Education market is expected to have 1,121 million users by 2029.
- By the end of 2024, nearly 15% of the population will engage with online education services, making online learning penetration 14.9%.
(Statista)
Statistics Of Online Learning Vs Classroom
- Learners retain 25% -60% of material in online school vs in person they reported retaining 8% -10% of material. (NCES)
- 43% of college students in 2022 believed online instruction was worse than in-person instruction. (Statista)
- 50% of institutions noted that online program enrollment is increasing faster than on-campus enrollment in 2024. 60% of institutions observed that online classes tend to fill first in 2024, indicating strong student preference. (Quality Matters)
- When it comes to in-person vs. online learning statistics, 34% of respondents found online learning more engaging than traditional classroom settings. (BAU)
K-12 Online Learning Statistics
- The K-12 online learning market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 12.5% from 2024 to 2030 and reach $5.66 trillion by 2030.
- The global K-12 education market is estimated to reach $2.79 trillion by the end of 2024. (Grand View Research)
- In 2023, U.S. K-12 schools accessed an average of over 2,500 edtech tools per district, compared to 895 tools in the 2018-2019 school year.
- In 2022-2023, the most used online learning tools by K-12 students were Nearpod, Google Classroom, and Quizlet.
- Over 50% of K-12 teachers noted in 2023 that edtech enhances self-paced learning and accessibility, supporting diverse student needs.
- 68% of K-12 teachers wanted more edtech resources for individualized education plans, and 30% sought tools for student mental health and physical disabilities.(Statista)
- 15% of students and teachers accessed educational websites and content repositories in K-12 schools during the school year 2013-24
Let us have a look at the top 10 online learning solutions accessed by students and teachers in K-12 schools during the 2023-24 school year:
| Sr.No. | Edtech Solution | Share of Access (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sites and Resources | 15% |
| 2 | Supplemental Platforms | 13% |
| 3 | IT Management | 13% |
| 4 | Study Tools | 13% |
| 5 | Classroom Response and Assessment | 10% |
| 6 | Reference and Digital Collections | 8% |
| 7 | Learning Management Systems | 5% |
| 8 | Classroom Instruction | 5% |
| 9 | General and Pervasive Tools | 5% |
| 10 | Creation and Authoring Tools | 5% |
(Statista)
Negative Statistics About Online Learning
- U.S. schools face an average of one cyber incident per school day.
- A single ransomware attack can cost schools $9.7 million in recovery costs.(K12 Six)
- 18% of students in a 2023 USA survey were concerned about the quality of instruction and the availability of academic support in online learning programs.
- 13% reported difficulties adapting to an online or remote learning environment as a significant concern.
- 11% of respondents felt that online education lacked a sense of community and reduced interaction with professors and classmates.
- 9% worried about how employers perceive online education and courses compared to traditional on-campus options.
- Another 9% were concerned about accessing support services provided by colleges or universities, such as counseling, tutoring, and career guidance.
- 7% faced difficulties using the technology and software required to access and participate in online classes.
- Only 3% of respondents reported having no concerns about online learning.(Statista)
- Only 47% of faculty members received training for online teaching. (BAU)
- Teacher’s TPACK (Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge) significantly impacts student academic stress.
While it shows no cognitive effects, it negatively affects:
- Students’ behavior (85.88%),
- Emotions (86.16%), and
- Physical well-being (79.36%), highlighting the need for balanced tech integration in online learning environments.
Statistics Of Online Learning During Covid-19
Now let us check how much has online learning increased since COVID-19:
- Virtual school enrollment more than doubled during the pandemic, rising from 293,689 students in 2019-20 to 590,267 students in 2020-21. (NCES)
- 11% of respondents cited COVID-19 as the reason for initially choosing online education when in-person options were unavailable. (Statista)
- 83% of public school teachers from USA reported moving some or all classes to online formats during COVID-19.
- 77% of public schools moved classes to online distance-learning formats during COVID-19.
- Meanwhile, 73% of private schools moved classes to online distance-learning formats.
(NCES)
Corporate Online Learning Statistics
- 42% is the reported increase in employee productivity for organizations using e-learning (NCES)
- 9% chose online learning due to employer incentives or partnerships with educational institutions. (Statista)
- 90% of companies now offer digital learning opportunities.
- 40% of organizations have advanced career development initiatives prioritizing online learning. (LinkedIn Learning Report 2024)
- 74.1% of employers express readiness to engage in training and learn new skills. (Zion Market Research, 2023)
Online Learning Platform Statistics
- With 61% brand awareness among respondents in 2023, Rosetta Stone is the USA’s most recognized online education service.
Let us take a look Top 10 Online Education Services by Brand Awareness In the USA IN 2023:
| Rank | Online Education Service | Brand Awareness (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosetta Stone | 61% |
| 2 | Babbel | 51% |
| 3 | LinkedIn Learning | 45% |
| 4 | Duolingo | 43% |
| 5 | Khan Academy | 39% |
| 6 | Coursera | 34% |
| 6 (tie) | Harvard Extension School | 34% |
| 8 | MasterClass | 32% |
| 9 | Stanford Online | 31% |
| 10 | Skillshare | 28% |
(Statista)
- Teachable is a course builder platform for online learning course makers. The user base grew 46% from pre-pandemic levels (2019) to its peak in mid-2022, reaching approximately 22,500 users across the internet.
- However, 15,000 users were recorded in mid-2024, marking a 33% decline from its 2022 peak but still significantly higher than 2019 usage. (Built With)
- As for Kajabi, 50,000+ users were recorded in late 2024, marking consistent growth over 8 years since 2016.
- A 75% increase in users was observed between 2020 and 2022, coinciding with the pandemic-driven demand for online learning platforms.
- 40% growth in the last two years (2022-2024), showing post-pandemic solid momentum.
Online Learning Statistics By Race
- Asian/Pacific Islander students demonstrate the strongest digital education engagement, with 79% enrollment and 50% completion rates across online and traditional programs.
- White students maintain the second-highest engagement in digital education, with 59% enrollment rates.
- Their 34% completion rate indicates strong performance in both online and traditional learning formats.
- With 50% enrollment, Hispanic students show significant initial engagement.
- 27% of Hispanic students are enrolling in two-year online programs.
- However, their 21% completion rate suggests potential challenges in accessing sustained digital learning resources.
- 51% of Black students initially enroll in programs, but only 19% complete them.
Here is a quick look at data related to student enrollment and completion rates in online education programs in the USA as per the latest data available for year 2020-2021:
| Race/Ethnicity | Total College Enrollment | 4-Year College Completion | 2-Year College Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 79% | 41% | 9% |
| White | 59% | 28% | 6% |
| Black | 51% | 14% | 5% |
| Hispanic | 50% | 13% | 8% |
FAQs
Is 70% of students say online learning is better than traditional classroom learning?
Recent studies confirm that 70% of students believe online learning offers advantages over traditional classrooms, citing flexibility and personalized learning pace as key benefits.
What is the success rate of online courses?
81% of students report that online learning technologies have positively impacted their grades, with completion rates varying between 60% and 80% for well-designed courses.
What percent of students prefer online learning?
64% of students currently engage with online learning, with predictions suggesting this could reach 70% by 2025 as digital education becomes increasingly mainstream.
