Online education myths: Busted

By: Amanda Phagan, Edited by: Rebecca Munday, Reviewed by: Melissa Venable

Published: July 11, 2025

If you've ever considered taking a course or earning a degree online, you may have heard some of the following questions:

• "Is an online degree a real degree?"
• "Aren't online courses easier than in-person classes?"
• "How are you going to network?"

The truth about online education is that it isn't all that different from in-person education, especially as schools increasingly rely on digital technologies to better serve students. However, online programs do offer additional flexibility and opportunities for students who may not be able to attend in-person classes due to their schedules, location, or personal circumstances.

Discover seven of the most common online education myths — and the research and insights debunking them — in our guide.

Myth 1: Students can't network

Truth: Online courses and programs typically offer plenty of digital (and occasionally in-person) networking opportunities.

Online education may not always have an in-person component, but that doesn't mean students can't network with each other, their instructors, and/or program alumni.

"The word 'networking' can be daunting, though," online education expert Melissa Venable says. "It's really just about getting to know people, making connections, and building relationships."

Like in-person programs, online programs offer students the opportunity to connect with peers and, in many cases, industry professionals through discussion boards and email. Students can also connect with each other outside the classroom through social media.

Some online programs also include immersive, in-person components to facilitate face-to-face interaction and a stronger sense of community among students and instructors.

Want to engage in networking as an online learner? Remember to:

• Be an active participant in the program
• Use built-in tools such as discussion boards and live chats
• Get to know your peers in the program
• Connect with peers and instructors on LinkedIn
• Participate in any hands-on or in-person components of the program

Myth 2: You have to teach yourself

Truth: No student should ever feel alone in the online learning process. Students have access to video lectures, exercises, discussion boards, and other supplemental learning resources.

At first glance, online education may seem more detached than an on-campus experience. Fortunately, online courses and programs offer expert-led instruction and plenty of ways to engage.

"While there may be self-paced components in an online course, academic courses offered through colleges and universities are instructor-led," says Venable. "That means you'll work with a professor who facilitates the experience with a three-part goal of connecting with each student, engaging students in the content, [coordinating] activities and assignments, and connecting students with each other."

Instructors often include video lectures, guest speaker contributions, visual examples, and exercises that engage students in the course materials.

According to edX's Using Video to Enhance Online Learning white paper, using video in online learning can:

• Enhance cognitive processing
• Create a supportive online classroom
• Foster an engaging student community
• Increase learner motivation, engagement, and accessibility

If students ever have questions about the course or program materials, instructors are typically available to help via email, discussion board, or video call. Online learning platforms themselves also tend to offer support.

Myth 3: Online courses are easier than on-campus courses

Truth: Online courses are often just as rigorous as on-campus courses — but with additional flexibility for students.

This common misconception stems from the idea that in-person learning demands more accountability than online learning, which is simply untrue. In fact, for some students, the flexibility of being able to complete school work at any time before it's due can be a challenge because it's entirely up to them to decide how to balance school with other responsibilities, such as work or family commitments.

Online courses and programs feature lectures, exercises, engagement opportunities, and homework with deadlines just like in-person classes. In many cases, if the institution has an in-person campus, online courses have parallel on-campus counterparts with similar structures.

While shopping for an online bachelor's or master's degree program, ensure that your chosen institution is institutionally accredited by an approved accreditation organization. "Online" institutions can have the same accreditation as brick-and-mortar schools as long as they meet the same quality education standards.

Myth 4: Online courses are less respected

Truth: Your institution's reputation and accreditation, and the skills you learn, matter much more than whether you received your education online or on campus.

Did you know that many of the world's most prestigious universities offer online courses and degrees? For example, edX offers courses and programs from well-known institutions like Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College.

Increasingly, the skills students take away from their education — whether online or on campus — carry more weight than where or how they went to school. As you explore learning options, choose a course or program that helps students develop career-relevant skills, works with your schedule, and meets your location/accessibility needs.

Myth 5: Online course credits are harder to transfer

Truth: Many schools accept transfer credits from online courses. Each school's credit transfer policy is different, but credits you gain from online courses at accredited universities are generally transferable.

While credit transferability varies by institution, platform, and course content, you may find an equivalent for the courses you've taken if you're transferring from one accredited school to another. However, applicable transfer credits vary widely between accredited programs. You can check if a school is accredited through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the Department of Education.

Before beginning the credit transfer process, it's a good idea to check with an academic advisor or the registrar's office at your current and prospective institutions to find out which credits you can transfer and how they will be counted.

Myth 6: Online courses don't include hands-on learning

Truth: Online courses can — and often do — include interactive, hands-on components like projects, labs, and workshops.

One of the most frequently asked questions about online education is, "Will it be interactive enough?" Many online courses feature hands-on components to demonstrate real-world application and improve learning outcomes. Hands-on elements commonly found in online courses include:

• Case studies
• Computer model simulations
• Labs and workshops
• Peer critiques
• A practicum or internship
• Applied learning projects

Interactivity depends on factors like subject, instructor, and course design. Subjects in healthcare, data science, and fine art commonly incorporate hands-on components.

Every course is different, so be sure to review course descriptions prior to enrollment.

Myth 7: Online courses don't have structure or deadlines

Truth: Online courses follow a pre-planned structure and typically include deadlines, just like on-campus courses.

Online courses are designed to keep learners interested, motivated, and accountable. This structure usually includes homework (like projects, research, or assigned reading) and deadlines, whether the particular course is asynchronous or live. Structure varies by subject, platform, and course designer, but many online courses follow a structure that may include:

• Lectures
• Reflection prompts
• Discussions
• Projects
• Presentations
• Research activities
• Assignment deadlines
• Proctored tests/exams

Many online courses follow an accelerated schedule — 5-10 weeks instead of the typical 16 — that requires strong time management skills.