Distance education first gained popularity in 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic, which made it the mandatory way to learn for millions of students across the United States.

While some people were eager to come back to in-person learning, others found that they enjoyed the flexible format of distance learning. That’s part of the reason why online learing is still growing today throughout the U.S., and even globally. 

But what is it about distance learning that makes it so compelling?

What Makes Distance Learning Convenient?

Distance learning is convenient because it allows you to take courses on your time from your home.

You don’t have to mold your life around the classes you want to take. Instead, you can fit courses into your established schedule. You’re able to balance a job, family, friends, and more, all while being able to learn on your time. You have the flexibility to complete assignments when it works best for you. 

You can choose to take courses at your own pace. Some people work much faster than others, and that’s ok. Certain topics may be more challenging to you than others, so you have the option to spend additional time on them. Your experience is very much custom to you and your strengths, minimizing stress.

The distance education format also makes learning more accessible. You don’t have to travel to a campus, you can do everything from the comfort of your own home. This is especially convenient for students who want to get their degree from a university in a different state. You don’t need to relocate to make this dream a reality. 

Going back to college doesn’t have to up-end your life. Distance learning allows you to work towards career advancement, while still doing what you love.  

What Statistics Support Distance Learning?

ElectroiQ writer Barry Elad published a collection of statistics for 2026 that show the value of distance learning, including: 

  • Distance learning can improve an employee’s performance by 15% to 25%. This difference even leads some employers to pay for their employees to take online courses since it’s such a win-win. 
  • Almost 60% of online students state that their online education helped them improve their soft skills. Distance learning courses improve your time management, self-motivation, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability among other skills. 
  • Globally, 49% of the students have completed some or the other sort of online learning. This shows that the reach of distance learning expands beyond just the U.S. Students all over the world are utilizing this tool. 
  • More than 6,900,000 students in the United States take at least one of their courses online. This is a very large number of students within this country alone, and it’s one that continues to grow over the years. 

All of these statistics show that employers and students alike see the value of distance learning. It’s grown from a necessity in 2020, to a valuable option for students in 2026. 

Does SDSU Provide Distance Learning Opportunities?

San Diego State University offers distance learning opportunities for online students through SDSU Online.

For students who want a 100% distance learning experience, online degree completion and certificate programs are offered. All of the programs are either fully online or hybrid, and many of them are also asynchronous, meaning you can learn on your schedule when it makes sense. 

Degree programs can be completed in as short as two years, while most certificates can be completed in 18 months or less. All SDSU Online degree programs are taught by the same expert instructors who teach San Diego State University on-campus programs, with the added flexibility of being mainly online. 

All of these options make advancing your career and gaining new skills a lot more accessible than typical learning options. Distance learning may just be the future of education.