Updated October 27, 2026.
Is it good to take online courses? An online course is any class delivered over the internet, from a free university lecture to a $2,000 self-paced program sold by a private company. Whether taking one is a good decision depends on three things: your goal, whether you finish, and whether the seller's claims are true.
How we built this guide: we did not buy or take any course for it. Every figure below links to its source and carries its year. Where a source is a company or a sponsor, we say so.
Is it good to take online courses?
Yes, it is good to take online courses when you have a specific goal, finish the course, and verify the seller's claims. A 2026 meta-analysis of 34 studies found online learners outperformed classroom learners on average, though results varied widely between studies (Studies in Educational Evaluation, 2026).
Three conditions decide whether taking an online course is a good decision:
- A specific goal. A named result you can check in 90 days, such as passing an exam or finishing a portfolio project.
- Finishing the course. The benefit comes from completing the material, and many enrolled learners never do.
- Verified claims. The seller's promises about results, refunds, and reviews should hold up against independent evidence.
Are online courses worth it?
Yes, online courses are worth it when they match a specific goal and you finish them. In fall 2023, 4,982,428 U.S. students were enrolled exclusively in distance education, according to NCES. They are a poor value when you buy on an unverified income promise.
Universities such as Drexel point to flexible schedules, no commute, and lectures you can rewatch as the practical advantages. Employers appear to be catching up. A Harris Poll of 502 U.S. hiring leaders at companies with 1,000 or more employees found 98% view online education as more credible than they did 10 years ago (University of Phoenix). The University of Phoenix sponsored the survey and sells online programs, so treat it as a signal, not a verdict.
Learner surveys point the same way. Coursera's 2025 Learner Outcomes Report, built on a Harris Poll survey of more than 52,000 learners in 179 countries, found 91% reported a positive career outcome and 46% reported a salary increase (Coursera). Coursera wrote the report, the outcomes are self-reported, and there is no comparison group, so the numbers show what satisfied learners say, not what the courses caused.
AllPros is a course review platform that aggregates verified student reviews of online courses, mentorships, and coaching programs. Reading verified online course reviews before paying shows how students who finished a specific course rated it, which a company-wide survey cannot.
Are online courses effective?
Yes, on average. A 2026 meta-analysis of 34 studies in Studies in Educational Evaluation found online learning outperformed face-to-face instruction on academic achievement, with the largest advantage in higher education. The studies varied widely, so the result shows a direction, not a guarantee for any single course.
The meta-analysis reported an overall effect size (Hedges' g) of 0.945 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.685 to 1.206, and an I² of 93.66%, which signals very high variation between studies. Higher education showed g = 1.161 versus 0.439 for K-12, and the post-pandemic period showed the largest effect (g = 1.610) compared with 0.549 during the pandemic (Studies in Educational Evaluation, 2026).
An earlier U.S. Department of Education review of studies from 1996 to 2008 reached the same direction: online learners did modestly better than classroom learners on average (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). That review also cautioned that its studies do not prove online learning is better as a medium, and that blended formats showed more evidence of effectiveness than either format alone (The Journal, 2009).
Finishing is the main risk, and the number depends on how completion is measured. A 2013 University of Pennsylvania study of 16 free Coursera courses found an average completion rate of 4% (Education Week, 2013). A 2024 Open Praxis study of four self-paced courses found 30.02% of all enrollees completed and 43.08% of learners who started completed, while 30.31% of enrollees never began (Open Praxis, 2024). The newer study covers four courses from one portal, so it does not overturn the older figures, but it shows that many people who enroll never start.
| Evidence | What it found | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta-analysis, 34 studies | Online learning outperformed face-to-face on average, with high variation | 2026 | Studies in Educational Evaluation |
| U.S. Department of Education review | Online learners did modestly better; blended formats showed the most evidence | 2010 | U.S. Dept. of Education |
| Four self-paced courses, 15,805 enrollments | 30.02% of enrollees and 43.08% of starters completed | 2024 | Open Praxis |
| 16 free Coursera courses | 4% average completion | 2013 | Education Week |
| Coursera learner survey (company-authored) | 91% self-reported a positive career outcome | 2025 | Coursera |
Swipe sideways to see all columns
Are online courses good or bad?
Neither by default. Online courses are good for learners with a defined goal, steady study habits, and a seller whose claims can be verified. They are bad for people who need hands-on practice, depend on outside deadlines, or buy because of an income promise.
Taking an online course tends to work well when:
- You have a defined target, such as a certification, a skill for your current job, or a portfolio piece.
- You can block fixed study hours each week without anyone checking on you.
- The subject is mostly knowledge or software skills, which video and exercises can teach.
Taking an online course tends to go badly when:
- The main reason you bought was an income promise.
- You need lab, clinical, or studio practice.
- You usually finish things only when there are deadlines and a person waiting for the work.
The American Psychological Association's graduate student magazine made a similar point in 2009: online classes do not suit people who prefer to sit in a classroom and be taught, and a hybrid course is a gentler way to start (APA, 2009). The page is archived, so we use it for the advice only, not its enrollment figures.
What are 5 disadvantages of online learning?
The five main disadvantages of online learning are the self-discipline it demands, low completion, limited hands-on practice, reliance on technology, and quality that is hard to verify before you pay.
- Online learning demands more self-discipline than most people expect. Most online courses require stronger organizational skills and self-discipline than traditional courses, and a flexible schedule makes it easy to fall behind (APA, 2009).
- Many enrolled learners never finish, or never start. In the 2024 Open Praxis study, 30.31% of enrollees never began a course, and completion among all enrollees was 30.02% (Open Praxis, 2024).
- Hands-on skills are hard to teach online. Subjects built around labs, clinical hours, or studio work are harder to replicate, and blended formats can fill part of the gap (ICS Learn, 2025).
- Online learners depend on technology. A working device and a stable connection are the learner's responsibility, and instructors who teach online tend to have little patience for tech excuses (APA, 2009).
- Course quality is hard to verify before paying. In April 2026 the FTC announced a $1.5 million settlement with Publishing.com, which sold self-publishing courses priced up to $1,995 and marketed them as a path to passive income. The FTC alleged most buyers never reached the promised earnings, that some reviews came from employees or executives' relatives without disclosure, and that some refunds required a positive testimonial (FTC, April 2026). The FTC approved the final order in July 2026 (FTC, July 2026). A 2024 FTC rule also bans fake reviews and testimonials, including AI-generated ones (FTC, 2024).
How to know if it is good to take a specific online course
Check four things before paying for an online course: what the seller promises, what verified students report, what you can preview for free, and whether you can realistically finish. If any answer is vague, wait.
Write down your goal
Pick one result you could check in 90 days, such as passing a named exam or finishing one portfolio project. If you cannot name the result, you cannot judge the course.
Treat income promises as unproven
In the Publishing.com case, the FTC alleged the marketing cited earnings of $1,000 to $3,000 a month while most buyers did not reach that level ([FTC, 2026](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/publishingcom-pay-15-million-misleading-consumers-about-how-much-income-they-could-earn-using)). Ask for typical results, not best cases, and get the refund policy in writing before you pay.
Read verified reviews, not testimonials
The FTC alleged that some Publishing.com testimonials came from people tied to the company and that some were incentivized. Look for AllPros.io written by students who finished, and focus on specifics: whether the content matched the promise, whether support answered, and whether refunds were honored.
Test the format before you commit
Use a free preview, a syllabus, or a short first module. If you doubt you will keep up, try a hybrid format first and favor lighter workloads, which a 2013 Penn study linked to higher completion
So, is it good to take online courses?
Yes, it is good to take online courses for people who choose them on purpose. Match the course to a goal, pick a format you will finish, and check the seller's claims against evidence before you pay. For a starting point, browse verified online course reviews on AllPros and compare what finished students say. You can find more buying guides on the AllPros blog.