New data from Rize Education and College Pulse explores how high school and undergraduate students view online and hybrid learning within the residential college experience. The findings point to a clear shift in student expectations: online learning is viewed as a core component of how students want college to work. Across both high school and undergraduate students, flexibility consistently emerges as a key driver of college choice, academic satisfaction, and perceived value. Students express strong interest in hybrid models that combine in-person instruction with selective online coursework, rather than fully online or fully in-person formats. At the same time, students remain attentive to the tradeoffs of online learning, particularly around connection, classroom discussion, and relationships with faculty. Students consistently favor hybrid models that balance flexibility with in-person connection, and many say the availability of online courses influences both college choice and satisfaction with their academic experience. Together, these findings suggest that students are not choosing between flexibility and connection. Instead, they are increasingly drawn to institutions that integrate both into a cohesive academic experience. For small and regional colleges, the results highlight the growing role of hybrid learning in enrollment strategy, student satisfaction, and long-term competitiveness.
This report is based on responses from 1,012 undergraduate students and 527 high school juniors and seniors attending or considering small private colleges and regional public universities. This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse between August 29, 2025 and September 24, 2025.
Key highlights include:
- 75% of high school students say the option to take online courses is important to their college decision.
- 49% of undergraduates say online course availability would influence their college choice if they were deciding again today.
- 68% of undergraduate students say they would ideally take at least one course online each semester, while 91% of high school students say the same.
- Over half of students would choose a college offering a mix of online and in-person courses over a fully in-person or fully online institution.
- 68% of students agree that online courses should be part of the future of college.
To explore additional insights, access the full report and findings from Rize Education.
