The True Cost of Online College Classes vs Traditional Classes

November 14, 2022

cost of online college classes

The advent of the internet enabled the invention of online learning, which has brought with itself a lot of flexibility for distant learners.

With online learning, schools don’t have to provide a classroom for you to attend. You can sit through the lectures from the comfort of your home or from wherever you want.

Although taking online classes exempts you from many commitments that in-person learners have, you still have to pay for the classes if you’re studying to graduate with a diploma or a college degree.

The question therefore is what's the cost of online college classes compared to the average cost of in-person learning? 

Online classes tend to be cheaper than in person learning. However, some schools charge more if the online class is smaller to justify pulling teachers from their usual schedule to teach online. Also, you’ll pay more if you take online classes offered by a private college such as the GCU online, as they require students to pay tuition fees.

From what we understand, online classes are becoming more popular because they’re not only flexible but also offer a variety of course at cost-friendly rates.

Cost of Online College Classes Compared to Traditional Classes 

in person vs online learning cost

The cost of an online class tends to be significantly lower than the cost of in-person learning. On average, a student enrolling in an online course spends between $100 and $400 for each credit hour.

With online classes, the course materials are in digital format and many books are available for free download or rentals via the e-readers.

Why Traditional Colleges are Expensive 

traditional classes more expensive

Can you name everything you see when you walk into a college or university to inquire about in-person learning?

There are dorms, spacious classrooms, dining halls, faculty offices, array of classes, sports arena, and a quad filled with students.

Institutions provide these facilities and additional resources to run in-person learning smoothly. While students benefit from all these amenities, they usually come at a cost higher than that of an online class.

If you think about, offering educational programs to in-person learners, while ensuring the well-being of the community, requires significantly higher overhead, which explains why brick and mortar learning to be expensive.

To be clear, the cost for in-person learning depends on the course you wish to pursue and the institution you wish to join. For example, tuition fees paid to community colleges is lower compared to what students pay private institution for the same level of education.

Even with the demand for a rate higher than what students who enroll in online classes pay, many schools offer financial aid that enables students to pay much less than the advertised price. Combined with financial assistance from employer tuition reimbursement or federal aid, the overall cost tends to be lower than initially anticipated.

The True Cost of Online College Classes 

how much do online classes cost

Credit: Inside Higher Ed

There’s a lower overhead in online education. In other words, schools need very little to run these programs, so students tend to pay less.

The first thing you need to know about online classes is that you don’t have to incur transportation, dining, dorm rooms, co-curricular activities, and course material as they are eliminated from the program.

You can learn from the comfort of your home or sit through lectures from wherever you please, provided you have reliable internet access.

It’s important to note that private institutions that offer online courses require that you pay tuition fee, which will significantly increase the cost of online education.

In such a case, you may need federal financial aid to pay for your online degree. So it’s important to consider your options before you opt to enroll in an online class with a private institution.

Contrary to popular beliefs, many online education programs tend to be a lot cheaper than in-person learning. As such, online classes are the most flexible options for students who are tight on budget and need a more cost effective means to pursue online education.

How Much Do Online Classes Usually Cost? 

ho much do online classes actually cost

Credit: ClickMeeting

To know exactly how much online classes cost, it’s important to determine the factors that determine the average cost of distant learning.

Below are a few things to consider before you make an estimate of how much you’re likely to pay for online classes.

  • The course you plan to study
  • Which institution you’d like to join
  • The kind of degree you wish to get
  • What funding source you have to help you cater for your financial needs
  • Whether you’ll be applying for financial aid

Other considerations that you have to make before you enroll for an online course include the cost of buying a computer, the price of software solutions, and average cost of learning accessories, and the mostly internet subscription.

Now, keep in mind that how much you pay for an online class will vary depending on what you’d like to achieve and how long you’ll like to enroll.

If you just want to further your education, and you’re not interested in a degree, you’ll end up paying just a few hundred dollars. If you’d like to take a full online course from a prestigious college, and especially from a private institution, the cost of distant learning can easily stretch into the thousands.

Some colleges and universities charge tuition by credit hour and some advertise flat rates for full online course.

On average, students pay between $100 and $400 per credit hour, but some specialized courses as well as those designed for advanced degrees can cost a lot more.

Can the Cost of Online Learning Go High? 

can cost of online class go high

The cost of online learning can go high for a number of reasons.

First, schools need to hire professional designers and internet specialists to create courses and format them in a way that suits distant learners, which is quite an expensive and time-consuming process.

Second, the cost can stretch further up if the course demands the development of interactive digital content.

Third, schools need to hire or train technica stuff to understand the course structure and the correct channels of material presentation. Moreover, the support team has to be available all the time to help professors and students with computer and internet-related problems.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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