Elearning Statistics: Pros and Cons of Online Lessons

Today, most lessons happen online in global classrooms, so traditional learning methods with blackboards and chalk can soon become things of the past. That said, it comes as no surprise that elearning has been a big hit over the last couple of years, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic when more and more kids are forced to stay home.

These elearning statistics will show the impact the Internet and elearning have had until now and will have over the next couple of years.

Top Elearning Statistics: Editor’s Choice

  • The massive open online course market could be worth $25.33 billion by 2025.
  • More than 33.1% of American students are enrolled in at least one online course.
  • Around 70% of students admitted that online classes are better than a traditional classroom setting.
  • Almost 77% of educators say that online learning is as good as traditional learning.
  • Around 63% of high school students in the US use digital learning tools.
  • Almost 43% of US college students have agreed that elearning is helpful for them.
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1.2 billion children worldwide are out of their classrooms as schools are closed.

1. Around 63% of high school students in the US use digital learning tools every day.

According to the newest elearning statistics, almost 45% of elementary school students use digital education tools at school every day. Interestingly, 52% of American graduates and 39% of undergraduates think online learning is better than classroom learning.

2. By 2026, the global corporate elearning market will be worth $50 billion.

The elearning industry’s growth has been noticeable in recent years, and by the end of 2026, its value is expected to reach $50 billion. With an annual growth rate of 15%, the corporate market will be one of the elearning industry’s most significant operators. By 2026, the global elearning market size is expected to approach $49.87 billion, increasing at a CAGR of 15%.

3. Most recent info suggests that around 72% of US companies believe elearning gives them a competitive advantage.

The elearning for companies statistics show that around 40% of Fortune 500 companies use elearning for professional improvement. Moreover, approximately 72% of companies believe elearning gives them a competitive advantage.

4. By 2026, the global elearning market will reach $370 billion.

According to online learning industry statistics, the global elearning market was worth $101 billion in 2019. In the same year, the learning management system market’s worth was approximately $18 billion. Furthermore, the global elearning market is predicted to grow exponentially and reach $370 billion by 2026.

5. The global mobile learning market could reach $78.5 billion by 2025.

Mobile learning statistics show that the mobile learning market was worth $27.32 billion in 2019, while it was valued at $37.6 billion in 2020. Over the past few years, the mobile learning market reported an average growth rate of 23% and is expected to reach $78.5 billion by 2025.

elearning staristics

Interesting Elearning Statistics

6. By 2025, the massive open online course market could be worth $25.33 billion.

According to online education market size statistics, the worldwide MOOC (massive open online course) market was estimated at around $3.61 billion in 2018, and now it is worth $5.16 billion. The MOOC market is projected to reach almost $25.33 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 32.09%.

7. Since 2000, the elearning industry has grown by 900%.

Elearning industry statistics show that the US and Europe collectively include around 70% of the global elearning market. In comparison, elearning incomes in the Asia-Pacific market are expected to increase by 20% every year. Moreover, the global corporate e-learning market’s worth is expected to reach $49.87 billion by 2026.

8. Around 42% of the organizations agreed that elearning helped them increase their revenue.

The elearning trends show that 72% of the companies said elearning helped them earn a competitive advantage. Furthermore, around 42% of the organizations admitted that elearning helped them grow up their income.

9. The online learning statistics demonstrate that around 56% of the employees are interested in taking online courses if their manager offers them.

At the same time, elearning helped organizations reduce employee training time by 40–60%. Interestingly, elearning tech helped businesses achieve an 18% increase in employee engagement. Moreover, employee retention statistics show that adding elearning into the company’s onboarding process can boost employee retention rate by up to 60%.

Online Education Statistics

10. More than six million students worldwide pursue higher education through online courses.

Online learning facts show that 56% of US college students brought their laptops to classes in 2016, while that percentage was 81% in 2019. Moreover, three million students sought higher education through online courses in 2010, and now that number is doubled — six million.

11. According to the latest data, almost 67% of students use mobile devices to complete their online course assignments.

Online education facts prove that 51% of students admitted to using their phones to access course materials. Moreover, 44% use their mobile phone to communicate with the university’s learning management system. At the same time, 41% use it for research, and 40% complete assignments on their mobile phone.

12. 33.1% of students in the US are enrolled in at least one online course.

Newest online education enrollment statistics show that one-third of students in the US are enrolled in at least one online course. Moreover, almost 99% of American students who take US online degree programs live in the country.

13. Almost 58% of K-12 students are making use of online classes.

According to online schooling statistics, two-thirds of students (65%) who attend suburban schools say they use the internet for homework every day or almost every day. Moreover, 50% of those who attend school in rural areas and 44% of those attending school in town use the internet for homework almost every day.

Online Learning vs. Traditional Learning Statistics

14. Around 70% of students admit online classes are as good as or better than a traditional classroom setting.

Statistics on online education show that around 26% of online students admit learning is better online than in a classroom. Similarly, about 70% of all students say online education is better than a traditional classroom setting.

15. Around 77% of educators say that online learning is as good as traditional learning.

According to online course statistics, approximately 77% of college instructors say that video, blogs, and other online media are essential education tools, whether online or in a traditional institution. However, online learning is a crucial part of long-term learning plans accepted by more than 69% of top academics.

16. On average, an online degree costs $30,000.

Moreover, online learning trends show that the total average cost of a traditional degree is $85,000. Interestingly, online degrees are almost three times less expensive than traditional degrees.

17. On average, online students’ results are approximately 9% lower than those of traditional classroom students.

According to distance education statistics, the average score of traditional classroom students’ tests is 50%, while online students’ average score is 59%. Interestingly, online and traditional learners usually choose a degree in psychology, nursing, elementary education, and business.

Facts About Online Classes

18. Most recent info suggests that more than 41% of teachers in the US admitted the lack of training was the most significant limitation to boosting educational tech use in their classrooms.

According to online school statistics, around 69% of teachers believe that the internet has a substantial impact on their experience of sharing ideas with other teachers. Simultaneously, over 67% admit that the internet has a notable effect on their ability to interact with parents.

19. Newest data suggests that almost 63% of K-12 teachers use technology in the classroom every day.

Statistics on technology use in schools show that around 58% of educators use educational applications, more than 41% of teachers use social media, and 21% of teachers use 3D printers. Simultaneously, 86% of teachers admit that they use laptops in the classroom.

20. Investing in education technology has exceeded $13 billion in the US.

According to the online education market statistics, the global learning management system (LMS) market is supposed to reach $29 billion by 2026. Moreover, spending on education technology has already exceeded $13 billion in the US alone.

21. Almost 43% of US college students stated that elearning was helpful to them.

Most recent elearning tech statistics demonstrate that 81% of students admitted elearning helped them reach higher grades. Furthermore, almost 43% of students agreed that elearning was very useful for doing homework.

elearning statistics

Elearning Statistics From 2020

22. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1.2 billion children worldwide are out of classrooms with schools shut down.

Online learning statistics related to coronavirus show that more than 1.2 billion kids in 186 countries are out of classrooms with schools shut down due to the pandemic. Additionally, a 4.4% dip in enrollment was expected in 2020 based on college students statistics. This has led to a dramatic change in education, with the distinctive growth of elearning.

Even before the pandemic, education technology experienced significant growth. Moreover, global education technology investments reached $18.66 billion in 2019, and they are predicted to hit $350 billion by 2025.

23. Students retain around 25–60% more material via elearning.

According to online class statistics, students can learn faster online as elearning requires 40–60% less time to study than a traditional classroom. This would encourage teachers to incorporate elearning more in their teaching strategies, thus improving teaching statistics in the long run. On the other hand, they retain only 8–10% of material in a classroom.

24. By 2025, the global LMS market value will hit $25.7 billion.

The growth of online education statistics show that, in 2020, the global learning management market reached $13.4 billion. Moreover, the LMS will increase to $25.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 14%.

25. The elearning virtual reality is expected to reach $1.478 million by 2027.

Online education trends show that the global elearning virtual reality market reached $60 million in 2018. Moreover, it is projected to reach $1,478 million by 2027, at a CAGR of around 42.9%.

Key Takeaways


Online learning has become a trend in recent years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. With the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, many schools were forced to shut down and turn to online teaching.

Hopefully, these elearning statistics will show you that online learning is the future, and people should start accepting the fact that elearning will only grow in the years to come.

Frequency Asked Questions

How much is the elearning industry worth?


The elearning industry’s worth reached $190 billion in 2020 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 14% until 2025. By 2026, the worldwide elearning market size is projected to reach $375 billion.

With an annual growth rate of 15%, the corporate market will be one of the elearning industry’s most significant operators.

How effective is online learning?


With 90% less energy and 85% less CO2 emissions per student, online learning is the best opportunity for both students and the environment. Online learning is more effective than traditional education due to many reasons:

Students get more learning materials than they do in traditional courses;
Online learning requires less time than traditional learning;
The retention rate of online material is around 25–60%.

Why is online learning bad?


Although beneficial, elearning also comes with certain challenges. The most significant one is the lack of in-person interaction. This can be particularly difficult for students who are better suited for the face-to-face format.

It can also be considered a significant drawback for all students because almost every company requires verbal interaction skills.

Other disadvantages include technical issues, staying motivated, distractions and time management, understanding course expectations, and adapting to unfamiliar technology.

What are the disadvantages of online education?


Online education has certain disadvantages, like:

It can produce social isolation;
It is more impersonal and requires a lot of motivation;
Online teachers aim to focus on a theory rather than on practice;
No face-to-face interaction;
Lack of practice-based education.

Is online learning as good as face-to-face learning?


According to elearning statistics, 85% of students who had enrolled in both an online course and a traditional course considered their online experience either identical or better than face-to-face learning.

If you like studying at a time and place of your choice, then online learning can be useful as face-to-face learning, maybe even better in some cases.

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