Distance Education’s Disconnect: Understanding the Relationship Between the Cost and Price of Distance Education
Distance education has come a long way since WCET conducted a survey to understand better the relationship between the cost and price of distance education in 2016. Since then, the digital learning landscape has undergone notable changes due to the global pandemic and the subsequent surge in emergency remote instruction, leading to a rise in student enrollment in online courses. The increasing number of students taking at least one distance education course, combined with the escalating costs of higher education, highlights the need to revisit this study and explore any potential connections between the pricing and costs associated with distance learning.
As a result, WCET surveyed United States institutions over the summer about the costs and price of distance education. The result is our new report, Distance Education’s Disconnect: Understanding the Relationship Between the Cost and Price of Distance Education.
The report draws several conclusions on the cost and price of distance education, which were discussed during the webinar:
- Most distance education courses are funded the same as face-to-face courses.
- Modality is increasingly irrelevant when determining the price of distance education.
- Distance education is not, however, resulting in significant cost savings.
- Price continues to be disconnected from cost.
We recognize that some legislators and administrators believe distance education should be less expensive than face-to-face instruction. However, survey respondents agreed that it is not inherently cheaper and may require equal or greater investments for high-quality courses.
View the recording to hear a discussion on the costs and pricing of distance education, exploring how higher education leaders, legislators, and administrators can leverage data to make informed decisions about the economics of online learning.
View the Recording