10 Surprising Benefits of Online Learning in 2025

Whether you're interested in discovering more about a topic, strengthening a specific technical skill, or earning a full academic degree, learning online continues to be an increasingly popular choice. Between 2011 and 2021, 220 million people learned via massive open online courses (MOOCs)—a staggering number up from 330,000 [1].

Online learning remains a popular alternative to in-person learning because it tends to be more accessible, among other reasons. In this article, we'll discuss the major benefits of learning online so you can determine whether it's a good option for you. Afterward, if you want to build or strengthen your unique skill set, get started with a Coursera Plus subscription, which provides access to a wide array of programs from industry leaders and esteemed university partners.

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10 benefits of learning online 

More than ever before, online learning is expanding the reach of education and empowering people to work toward their personal goals. Let’s go over some of the major benefits.   

1. You don’t have to relocate or commute.  

With online learning, the classroom comes to you. No matter what type of credential you’re interested in achieving—degree, professional certificate, qualification—you can access some of the most renowned educational institutions or industry leaders online. What’s more: you’re not limited by borders. You can find programs across the country or even across the globe, without having to factor in relocation costs to study elsewhere. 

Many colleges and universities also require students to pay parking fees to access campus, which can be costly. But you won’t have to worry about that additional cost, or the cost of commuting, with an online program. 

2. You can decide your learning space. 

Whether you’re learning synchronously or asynchronously online, you don’t have to worry about the hurdles of getting to class. All you have to do is turn on your computer. That may be a more comfortable option, especially if it means you don’t have to carry books, a laptop, or other necessities around. Instead, you’ll have what you need right in front of you.  

Tip: If you’re learning from home, create a dedicated learning space—whether that’s the corner of a room or the corner of a table—so that it’s easier to shift into learning mode when it comes time to sit down and study

Read more: 11 Good Study Habits to Develop

3. You can keep working while enrolled. 

Many students work part-time or full-time while attending college—or completing other programs designed to enhance their education or skill set. However, the rigid scheduling of many in-person programs can make it hard to balance professional obligations with educational ones. 

With online learning, courses are often designed to be more flexible so that you can learn around your work schedule. This isn't just a matter of taking courses at night. Instead, you get to set your schedule, deciding when you can work through your studies, which means you don’t have to put your professional life on hold while you pursue your education.  

4. You can build on skills you already have—or learn something entirely new.

You can change your entire career trajectory from your couch. Thanks to the range of courses, certificate programs, tutorials, and more that have been designed to teach you timely, career-relevant skills, you don’t have to go far to make a big change. Given that kind of focus, you also don’t have to spend time learning something you don’t need. 

Beyond a career change, you can strengthen your existing skill set by taking similar offerings designed to teach you a specific workplace skill or technical skill that will help you advance. And you’re not limited to the course catalog of any one particular school—the options for online learning are nearly endless. 

5. You can learn from top universities or industry-leading companies. 

Many prestigious colleges and universities now offer online degree options. An online degree from a major institution often has the same value as one you earned in person and may even expose you to more rigorous coursework or skills development. On Coursera, you can find degrees from the University of London, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, Penn State, and HEC Paris. 

In addition to universities, many major companies now offer programs designed to help you learn a new aspect of a career—or bolster your skill set. Google, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce all offer Professional Certificates on Coursera. These focused programs can be an excellent way to expand your industry knowledge or get started in a new field. 

6. Your schedule tends to be flexible and you can learn at your own pace.

Online learning structures vary, but generally, they’re designed to be more flexible than in-person classes, which means you can access your program on your own time and, more often than not, work at your own pace. Studying takes time, so when you can fit it into your schedule, rather than adjust your schedule around your learning, it may create the flexibility you need to establish an education plan that works for you. 

7. You might save money compared to in-person learning. 

Beyond tuition and fees, there are a lot of costs associated with attending college—or a workshop, course, or certificate program—in person. With online learning, you tend to benefit from lower overall costs because there’s less overhead associated with operating each program. According to the Education Data Initiative, for instance, the cost per credit hour is often much lower for online courses than in-person ones [2]. 

8. You can choose between self-paced and accelerated options.

Thanks to the pace you can often set with your online coursework and the growing spate of accelerated degree programs, it may be possible to complete an online education faster because you can move through courses more rapidly, as opposed to waiting for a new lesson each week. For instance, while some programs may provide an average timeline, if you're willing to commit more time per week to your studies, you can likely get through it much faster.

9. You can engage with a global peer network. 

Diversity yields greater perspectives and insights. Thanks to the global availability of online learning, you may find yourself enrolled alongside students from around the world, which may in turn foster broader, more diverse opinions and learning. Moreover, depending on your program, you may have the opportunity to engage with your classmates as much as you want. Use the resources available in your program to connect with other students or maybe even start a virtual club to help stay in touch or keep each other on track.  

10. You may strengthen important transferable skills.

You can not only bolster your subject knowledge when you learn online, but you can also hone transferable skills, like communication, critical thinking, adaptability, and more. Specifically, learning online often requires greater time management and self-discipline because you are responsible for logging in to complete your lesson rather than following an in-person class schedule that dictates where and when to be. When you learn online, you also sharpen your ability to work independently, or without supervision, which is a valued skill among employers. 

Expand your online learning with Coursera

There’s never been a better time to invest in your skill set and learn online. Explore an array of educational programs on Coursera. With a monthly or annual Coursera Plus subscription, you'll gain access to over 7,000 courses from industry leaders and esteemed university partners.

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

Start 7-day free trial

• Get access to 10,000+ learning programs from world-class universities and companies, including Google, Yale, Salesforce, and more
• Try different courses and find your best fit at no additional cost
• Earn certificates for learning programs you complete
• A subscription price of $59/month, cancel anytime

Start 7-day free trial