Attendees at the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) 2024 New Dean’s Institute & Summer Workshop, July 13-17, in Boston, Mass., got a sneak peek at the latest online learner preferences—courtesy of Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships and Wiley University Services).
2024 Voice of the Online Learner: A First Look at Key Findings was the featured breakfast session at the CGS event on Weds., July 17, led by David Capranos, Sr. Director, Market Strategy & Research at Risepoint.
The session highlighted the preferences of online graduate students drawn from the 13th annual Risepoint survey that examines the experience and perspectives of online students, including those served by Risepoint university partners. More than 3,500 post-secondary online learners responded to the survey.
The survey results offered multiple insights on online learner preferences, including these relative to online graduate students:
- Affordability was named by nearly 9 in 10 respondents as a top factor in their decision on where to attend, with 87% of online students citing it as extremely or very important
- A fully online program was preferred by 88% of online graduate students surveyed, with 75% indicating that they would choose a different school if their program of choice was not available online at their preferred institution
- Asynchronous programs are largely preferred by online learners. The survey found that 79% of graduate students prefer asynchronous programs, although 73% are willing to log in for some synchronous elements at intervals ranging from once a week to once per course.
In response to the session, Dr. Lola Orellano Norris, Dean, Graduate School of Texas A&M International University, said, “With institutions facing enrollment declines and more students looking for flexible, affordable graduate programs, attracting and retaining online learners is increasingly important. Finding out from students themselves what they are looking for is essential in helping us tailor curricula to serve their diverse interests and create successful outcomes–in turn strengthening the university’s impact within our community.”
The full scope of survey responses will be detailed in the complete 2024 Voice of the Online Learner research report, which is expected to be released this fall. To request a copy of that report, email [email protected]
Founded over 60 years ago, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is the only national organization dedicated to solely advancing master’s and doctoral education and research and serves as a voice for the graduate dean community. Members include more than 450 U.S. and Canadian public and private universities, as well as 25 international institutions of higher education.