Several colleges and public universities in the United States are introducing online learning initiatives vigorously. This makes sense, as online education helps individuals move faster up the career ladder. It’s also great for those who want to accumulate knowledge in a short span and from a convenient place. With online programs, you can access high-quality education for an affordable price.

If you’re interested in signing up for an online program, here are some trends you should watch out for:

1. With the growing popularity of online classes, colleges and universities will add more online programs to increase enrollment. From science and history to journalism and statistics, you can learn everything online from your home.

2. Some courses are easy to study online, like English and history, while some programs require a lab or practical lessons. Due to this difficulty, it’s not possible to bring all courses online. But, virtual reality and interactive videos are breaking down this wall by enhancing the ability to learn from anywhere.

3. The role of online class takers will be an indispensable part of online learning. Most online students will begin to ask: “Can I pay someone to take my online class?”

4. The evaluation process will be completely data-driven. The instructors will have a lot of data to track student progress, and they’ll also be able to see how students react to specific study materials. Data will play a vital role in measuring student performance.

5. Even if things return to normal and students go back to campuses for the next academic year, blended learning is expected to become more common.

6. The expected rollout of high-speed internet in the U.S., even in remote areas, will diminish the digital barriers in online learning. It will be easy for everyone to access online education seamlessly, and for an affordable price.

7. Students can interact with peers in traditional in-person programs, so the lack of in-person interactions is definitely a drawback of online learning. This issue will be addressed as virtual learning and communication tools improve.

8. Online credentials like certificates and badges are likely to become more normal. Employers will prefer candidates who have obtained specific online learning credentials.

9. Most students will choose online graduate programs over traditional brick-and-mortar learning.

10. Game-based learning will increase as students find this approach more engaging and rewarding. This format helps students work towards goals and keeps them highly engaged.