Going Online: Decision Processes of Community College Students Enrolling in Online Degree Programs
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| Title: | Going Online: Decision Processes of Community College Students Enrolling in Online Degree Programs |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Michael S. Hill, Cassandra M.D. Hart |
| Source: | Online Learning. 2026 30(1):373-398. |
| Availability: | Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 26 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research Tests/Questionnaires |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Community College Students, Online Courses, Electronic Learning, Decision Making, College Choice, Student Attitudes, Distance Education |
| Geographic Terms: | California |
| ISSN: | 2472-5749 2472-5730 |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the decision-making process of students who enroll online at two California community colleges to learn how fully-online students gather information about potential institutions and programs, which alternatives were considered, and which sources were most useful to them in choosing programs. We draw on interviews with 25 students intending to attend fully online; interviews were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest that students are aware of the availability of online classes and make the choice to attend at a given institution based on convenience, finances, and familiarity with the college. The students that we interviewed almost all enrolled in programs that were proximate to their homes, despite their intent to complete their academic programs online. Colleges should think carefully about how information and support are provided to those students wishing to complete classes and find creative ways to engage students and provide campus resources virtually. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1508020 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Going Online: Decision Processes of Community College Students Enrolling in Online Degree Programs – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michael+S%2E+Hill%22">Michael S. Hill</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cassandra+M%2ED%2E+Hart%22">Cassandra M.D. Hart</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Learning%22"><i>Online Learning</i></searchLink>. 2026 30(1):373-398. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 26 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Two+Year+Colleges%22">Two Year Colleges</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+Courses%22">Online Courses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Choice%22">College Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Distance+Education%22">Distance Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2472-5749<br />2472-5730 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This paper examines the decision-making process of students who enroll online at two California community colleges to learn how fully-online students gather information about potential institutions and programs, which alternatives were considered, and which sources were most useful to them in choosing programs. We draw on interviews with 25 students intending to attend fully online; interviews were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest that students are aware of the availability of online classes and make the choice to attend at a given institution based on convenience, finances, and familiarity with the college. The students that we interviewed almost all enrolled in programs that were proximate to their homes, despite their intent to complete their academic programs online. Colleges should think carefully about how information and support are provided to those students wishing to complete classes and find creative ways to engage students and provide campus resources virtually. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1508020 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 26 StartPage: 373 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Community College Students Type: general – SubjectFull: Online Courses Type: general – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Decision Making Type: general – SubjectFull: College Choice Type: general – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Distance Education Type: general – SubjectFull: California Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Going Online: Decision Processes of Community College Students Enrolling in Online Degree Programs Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Michael S. Hill – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cassandra M.D. Hart IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2472-5749 – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2472-5730 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 30 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Online Learning Type: main |
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