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“Knowledge is capable of being its own end. Such is the constitution of the human mind, that any kind of knowledge, if it be really such, is its own reward.”
The Idea of University, John Henry Newman, 1859
“Fall 2020 marks a clear inflection point as students, educators, and government leaders alike scrutinize the price and value proposition of higher education through the new lens of traditional classroom versus multiple modes of digital delivery. What’s more, machine learning, SMS messaging, and AI are having a growing impact in optimizing student services and support.”
The Pandemic Pushed Colleges Online. The Change Was Long Overdue
Harvard Business Review, September 2020
What is higher education? Is it knowledge for knowledge’s sake or a business cranking out students like widgets on an assembly line?
What’s the goal? To be a critical thinker curious about what it means to be human and the world in which we live, or to have a degree on the wall with a prestigious name on it that makes hiring managers’ eyes light up during a job interview?
Higher education has not changed much since the first modern university, the University of Al Quaraouiyine, opened its doors in Fez, Morocco in 859 CE. America’s first university, Harvard, was chartered in 1636. Every year, students flock to campuses to take courses in a seemingly endless number of disciplines, and when completed, earn a degree to commemorate their educational achievement.
Before the pandemic, however, higher education was an economic bubble, suffering from high costs and a growing perception that the degree wasn’t worth the money. Students who paid enormous sums of money for a college degree because of the economic opportunities they would allegedly bring instead found themselves buried under student loan debt and stagnant wages. In the end, it was a losing proposition.
To circumvent the high cost and end up with a prestigious degree, students voted with their feet. Enrollment increased at community colleges and two-year programs, after which students transferred to marquee colleges or universities and walked away with the same degree for half the cost.
In 1989, the University of Phoenix became the first fully online college to offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. As the internet’s technology improved, online learning grew in size and popularity. However, perceptions remained that the remote programs and degrees weren’t of the same value as a brick-and-mortar diploma.
And, of course, online and remote programs continued to grow over the years – in terms of numbers of institutions (including long-established and prestigious universities), ancillary programs to complement the in-person offerings, and number of students pursuing virtual degrees.
Then COVID-19 came along and disrupted the economic model of higher education, its traditional ways of learning, and online education’s reputation as organizations of a lesser god. Suddenly every college was the University of Phoenix. Starting with the University of Washington, 98% of America’s academic institutions moved their classes online. Most were unprepared and lacked the infrastructure. Colleges and universities were caught off guard and did what we all did; they used Zoom, which is hardly the cutting edge of Artificial Intelligence e-learners say is the next big thing. Enrollment dropped. Parents sued schools to get tuition back. However, many people remained, and people who had never thought about an online diploma were now earning one, like it or not.
Now the pendulum is swinging the other way. Colleges searching for creative ways to retain students and staff with insurmountable budget shortfalls one year ago, now have over-enrollment. The 2020 procrastinators writing higher education’s epitaph were, perhaps, too focused on the economic impact and the allure of new technology. An algorithm here, a dose of AI there, some slick VR, and everybody is just a few clicks away from being Aristotle. Right?
There is no doubt that online learning is a rapidly growing industry that will change the future of higher education. Just like digital and social media marketing, technological advances act as accelerators for this paradigm shift. However, there is one thing that hasn’t changed since 859 CE – the way humans learn. There is a qualitative difference between in-person and online learning. The degree may be the same, but what’s rattling around between your ears is not.
The good news is that there are many options out there. Whether you’re right out of high school, or a working professional with three kids, there are now many ways to earn degrees or professional certifications. The options are dizzying. There are fully online schools (e.g., University of Phoenix, Purdue University Global), traditional brick-and-mortar schools moving courses and entire degree programs online (e.g., University of Maryland, Syracuse Law School), and MOOCs, “massive open online courses” (e.g., Coursera, edX, Future Learn).
What’s better for your personal and career goals: in-person, online, or hybrid? Here are some things to consider when you’re navigating the increasingly complex world of higher education.
The material is the same. If a school offers a class online and on campus, the coursework is the same. There are no multiple versions. Only the delivery method differs. However, the delivery method is vital. In the words of a literature professor from a well-known college, “A good college doesn’t give you material. It gives you teaching.” Do students want to learn humanities from a chatbot? Can they?
Accessibility. Online education creates opportunities for people who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend in-person classes. Older students, or parents juggling work and kids, aren’t moving into a dorm for four years and are less likely to meet the demands of a physical campus schedule.
Cost. Want to go to Harvard? Get out your checkbook. In 2021, undergraduate tuition is almost $48,000 and doesn’t include Boston's cost of living (room and board will take significant bite). That’s tuition for one year, by the way - and Harvard isn’t even on the list of top 10 most expensive schools. Number one is Columbia University in New York City. In 2021, a year at Columbia is $61,600. Higher education remains an economic bubble. Many schools are simply too expensive. Online learning is often less expensive. Full stop.
The Prestige Factor. Students must decide if they believe a degree from a prestigious school is worth the cost and work. If attending a school with name recognition (and a dedicated alumni network) is cost-prohibitive, is it worth the debt that comes along with student loans? The prestige factor drives behavior. As noted earlier, many students start at less expensive local schools intending to transfer to marquis schools to complete their degrees. As the line between in-person and online learning continues to blur, students can attend fully online premier academic institutions and earn the same prestigious degree.
The College Experience. For young undergraduates, college is more than checking a box that says “bachelor’s degree.” Being in a classroom face-to-face with professors and other students is the very best way to learn. For many, college is the first time many students are out of their parent’s house and is the place young adults transition from dependent to independent. College is going to the big game or being on the team. On-campus, you can be a member of different social organizations, like a fraternity or sorority. Students are likely to be exposed to more and different perspectives, or end up in a class a new friend recommends that turns out to change their lives. Many people take advantage of study abroad programs. Online study abroad doesn’t sound as good. And don’t forget those valuable business and professional connections you get from interacting with your cohort. The college experience is multi-faceted, which is why being on campus is still a student’s number one choice.
Career Services. School career services are typically a fixed office on the university’s campus. If you are a full-time, on-campus, or in-person student, you have greater and better access to your school's career services. It is easier to take advantage of those college extras, like tapping into the alumni network, if you’re face to face with the people who have dedicated their professional lives to helping students enter the working world. Online students may have less support in this area. Out of sight can be out of mind.
Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching is a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
