For a lot of families, the idea of earning a college degree online is becoming more and more appealing. It promises flexibility, lower cost, and the chance to work at your own pace. And for some people, that really is the right move. But if you’re a high school senior or the parent of one, there are a few things worth unpacking before deciding whether a college degree online will actually help or hold you back.

This isn’t about slamming online education. It’s a great option for some learners. But it’s also not a one-size-fits-all path, and the choice you make shapes everything from academic success to maturity, independence, and career opportunities.

Let’s break this down in a clear, straightforward way.

The Rising Appeal of Earning a College Degree Online

There are several reasons families consider a college degree online:

Flexibility

Students can watch lectures and complete assignments whenever it fits their schedule. If someone is working full time or raising kids, this flexibility is incredibly valuable.

Affordability

When students don’t have to move, pay for housing, or buy a meal plan, the cost of a college degree online often drops significantly.

Accessibility

Plenty of people can’t uproot their lives to attend a traditional campus. An online format opens the door for career changes, promotions, or finishing a degree that was started years ago.

If you look at a breakdown of the differences between online and in-person learning, resources like this comparison from the University of Utah help explain the pros and cons in simple terms.

So yes, there are clear benefits. But that doesn’t mean a college degree online is the right next step for an 18-year-old leaving high school.

What You Miss When You Skip the Campus Experience

One of the biggest misunderstandings about college is assuming it’s just about classes. It’s not. A huge part of the value comes from everything that happens outside the classroom.

Social growth is harder online

When you get a college degree online, you don’t run into people on the way to class. You don’t join the intramural team, meet someone cool at a club meeting, or get pulled into late-night conversations in the dorm hallway.

It’s more than fun memories. These moments build confidence, communication skills, social maturity, and a sense of belonging.

I write a lot about this on my blog, including how students build community and overcome the awkwardness of making friends. Articles like
https://thecollegesuccesscoach.com/how-to-make-friends-in-college-even-if-youre-awkward/

can give more insight into why that in-person connection matters so much.

Motivation often drops without structure

A college degree online puts a lot of responsibility on students. Typically, much more than most first-year students expect. Without set class times, peer interaction, or professors right in front of you, it becomes easier to procrastinate, withdraw, or lose momentum.

Students who struggled staying organized in high school often have an even harder time online. If this sounds familiar, you might also find it helpful to read my article about Time Management in College.

You miss hands-on opportunities

Many majors thrive in a physical setting. Labs, group projects, performances, studio classes, internships, and office-hour conversations don’t translate well to a screen. When you earn a college degree online, those experiences become limited or replaced by simulations that don’t provide the same growth.

For a young adult just starting their future, those hands-on moments are often the spark that helps them figure out what they actually want to do with their life.

Many families also find it helpful to start thinking ahead about what those first few months of independence will look like, and this guide on getting prepared for college offers a simple way to begin that conversation.

When a College Degree Online Does Make Sense

Even with all that said, a college degree online absolutely has a place. And for the right students, it can be a game-changer.

Here’s when online learning shines:

1. Working professionals

If someone is already working 30–40 hours per week, a college degree online can be the perfect solution. They already have structure, responsibilities, and adult life experience. Online learning lets them advance their education without hitting pause on their career or income.

2. Parents and caregivers

Anyone juggling childcare, transportation, or family responsibilities may genuinely need the flexibility of a college degree online to make school possible.

3. Self-directed, motivated learners

Some people naturally thrive in self-paced environments. They like independence, value quiet focus, and don’t need peer accountability. For these students, a college degree online can be empowering rather than overwhelming.

4. Adults returning to school

If you’re coming back to finish a degree you started years ago, or you’re pivoting careers altogether, online programs offer accessible, affordable options that don’t disrupt your entire life.

So the issue isn’t whether a college degree online is good or bad. It’s whether it matches the student’s current stage of life and level of readiness.

Why I Usually Don’t Recommend Online Degrees for High School Graduates

For a recent grad, the jump from living at home to suddenly earning a college degree online is drastic. It often removes the exact experiences that help teens become adults:

• navigating conflict with roommates
• making new friends
• learning responsibility
• figuring out their values
• managing their time without parents
• trying new activities
• asking for help when they need it
• building confidence through hard, uncomfortable moments

You can’t grow socially, emotionally, or interpersonally in the same way when everything happens behind a screen. And no matter how good an online course is, it can’t replace the development (or the personal networking opportunities) that comes from real-world interaction.

Most students don’t just go to college to get a diploma, they go to grow up. A college degree online simply doesn’t offer that same journey.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Online Program

If you’re still considering a college degree online, these questions can help clarify the decision:

• Does the student have strong discipline, organization, and follow-through?
• Is the student energized by social connection, or do they prefer working alone?
• Will this major require labs, internships, or hands-on skill building?
• Is the priority personal growth or simply earning credits toward a degree?
• Is affordability the top concern, or are there other options like community college + transfer that offer balance without isolating the student?

Here’s the Bottom Line

There’s nothing wrong with getting a college degree online as long as the choice fits the student’s needs, maturity level, and long-term goals. But for most high school graduates, the traditional in-person experience provides development they simply can’t get elsewhere.

If you or your student is trying to make this decision and you want someone who works with college students every day to help you sort through it, I offer coaching for both students and parents.

It’s never about pushing one path.

It’s about figuring out the right path for your situation.