---
title: "Breaking Down Barriers: How Online College Education is Empowering Lower Income Families"
description: "Breaking Down Barriers: How Online College Education is Empowering Lower Income Families"
---

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# [Breaking Down Barriers: How Online College Education is Empowering Lower Income Families](https://ficuseducation.com/blog/breaking-down-barriers-how-online-college-education-is-empowering-lower-income-families)

 Written by [Catherine Wardach](https://ficuseducation.com/blog/author/catherine-wardach-1) | Apr 5, 2023, 9:09:00 PM

Online college education is rapidly gaining popularity among students from low-income families. The flexibility, affordability, and convenience of online education are attracting more and more students who are unable to afford traditional on-campus education. Here are some statistics that highlight the impact of online education on low-income families.

1\. Access to higher education

Online education has expanded access to higher education for low-income families. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of students from low-income families enrolled in degree-granting institutions were enrolled in distance education courses.

2\. Affordability

Online education is generally more affordable than traditional on-campus education. According to a report by the Babson Survey Research Group, the average cost per credit hour for online undergraduate courses in the 2019-2020 academic year was $282, compared to $345 for on-campus courses.

3\. Greater flexibility

Online education allows low-income students to work and attend classes at the same time, making it easier for them to balance work and education. According to a survey by the Online Learning Consortium, 78% of online students are employed, and 69% of them say that online education allows them to balance work and education.

4\. Higher graduation rates

Online education has been shown to improve graduation rates for low-income students. According to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, low-income students who took at least some online courses had a higher overall graduation rate than those who did not.

5\. Career advancement 

Online education can help low-income students to advance in their careers. According to a survey by Learning House, 45% of online students reported that their degree helped them to get a job or promotion, and 48% reported a salary increase.

Online education is providing greater access to higher education, affordability, flexibility, higher graduation rates, and career advancement opportunities for low-income families. By breaking down barriers to education, online education is helping to create a more equitable and inclusive society.

[View full post](https://ficuseducation.com/blog/breaking-down-barriers-how-online-college-education-is-empowering-lower-income-families)

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