Are Online Courses Worth It? A Realistic Guide to Value

The online learning industry has gained tremendous momentum to USD 250 billion industry, but there are thousands of people who are still skeptical. Many learners invest hours – and often hundreds of dollars – in their learning and then ask themselves, “Is this the best thing I could have done? Many learners spend hours — and sometimes hundreds of dollars — on their learning and wonder if they made the right choice. The honest answer? This is very much based on your expectations, goals and approach to learning.

After all, this guide cuts through the marketing jargon to help you get a realistic idea of whether online courses are really worth your time and money.

Online Courses Can Be A Very Real Asset Or A Complete Drain

Let’s begin with nuances. Online courses are not by their nature “worth it” or “not worth it. That’s a simplifying perspective, based on a more complicated reality.

An Online Course Can Deliver Transformational Value When

• You’re tackling a particular problem or learning a specific skill
• You’re looking at realistic options (not a fantasy you studying without structure).
• You have done background checks on the credibility and quality of the course of the instructor.
• You do it and practice what you read!
• The ability is relevant to your career and/or personal objectives.

On The Other Hand, Online Courses Tend To Be A Squander Of Money When:

• You’re looking for a hassle-free solution that requires no effort.
• You hope that once you’re certified you’ll have a different career path.
• You do not need to complete a course to enroll in it (only about 10% of free courses are completed, 50-60% of paid courses are completed)
• You don’t listen to what previous students have to say.
• The content is not up to date or is poorly organized

The Troubling Reality

It is not always a course problem, it’s a learner behavior problem. Most people give up on learning online because in self-directed learning, they are responsible for their own education and discipline, which is enforced by structure, deadline and social pressure in traditional learning.

Cost-Benefit Analysis, Breakdown

This is the book that explains the truth behind the cost of an iPhone.

The range of online courses is from free to $10,000 and more. The cost of the course varies from $15 to $400 on most platforms. The actual investment is more than just the price of the product, however.

Direct Costs:

• Course tuition
• Software/Tools (required) sometimes $100+/month.
• Certifications and credential verification (usually $50-200).

Hidden Cost (Time Investment):

• Most courses will ask for 5-40 hours of engagement.
• That’s a year of lost income, family or other development.
• With a $50/hour wage, a 20 hour course has an effective opportunity cost of $1,000.

Potential Returns:

• Increase in salary (skill-specific) 5-50%
• Career transition enabling
• Income from other freelance or specialized activities to supplement earnings.
• The ability to develop personal skills (more difficult to measure)

For instance, a software engineer who has taken a course in a particular field may earn five to five times more per year in a new field, say $15,000 to $30,000 per year. A $300 course will pay back in the first year’s earnings increase. In a general “productivity” course, what you can achieve is not so easy to measure, but it is very close to being impossible.

Employment Reality: What Employers Accept

This is where most of the students of a course feel disappointed. The big question: are online credentials going to be a factor in your job search?

The complicated answer is: some do, some don’t and context is VERY important.

Online Credentials Are Sought After By Employers When:

• The skill can be demonstrated (programming, data analysis, digital marketing)
• The certificate is accompanied by a portfolio or real project work.
• The platform is recognized in the form of certificates from Google Career Certificates, university specializations on Coursera, and AWS certifications.
• Hiring Manager’s preference is towards skills over paper qualifications

When They Appear At The Job Interview, They Are Viewed Sceptically By Employers When They Do The Following:

• The certificate is general or there are lots of them (there are thousands of people that have the same ” Certificate in Social Media Marketing”).
• No evidence of difficulty and standards
• They need to be professionally licensed, rather (teaching, nursing, law)
• The course uses obsolete tools or methods.

According to a 2023 survey on LinkedIn, 76% of hiring managers now feel online certifications are equal to a traditional college degree for some roles, though this is significantly different from industry to industry. Tech & Data has the highest acceptance of roles. The performance of liberal arts and regulated professions is well below par.

The Practical Approach

Online courses can be used as a tool to fast track something, not to replace a certificate. With portfolio projects, a data analyst course turns into something worthwhile. A copywriting course is essential if it comes with some samples of writing from clients or published works.

The Quality Spectrum: Identifying Credible Courses To Attend

Not every Internet course is the same. These are some of the tell-tale signs of a shoddy course and one that is not an investment.

High-Value Indicators

• Instructor credibility: Find creators who have done more than just taught it, they’ve been in the field. The teacher of social media marketing should provide examples and outcomes from actual marketing campaigns. Look at their LinkedIn profile and portfolio, and their past experience.
• Community and Support: Quality Courses features forums, Q&A areas, or student groups. The more that you are able to ask questions and receive responses, the more information you will retain. Courses that do not have this feature will not succeed without a learner becoming stuck and abandoning their studies.
• Updated curriculum: Technology and best practices change rapidly. Note that the following course is likely to be teaching outdated techniques and may not be relevant to 2019. Look at dates for reviews and periodic updates to curricula.
• Legitimate courses: Legitimate courses will make it clear what you will be able to do afterwards. Content that is substandard is indicated by vague promises (“Become a better marketer!”).
• Student reviews and completion rates: Read reviews; not 5-star reviews, but reviews for specifics. Great course! is more valuable than “Learned exactly what I needed for my job”. Examine the percentage of students finishing this.

Also Read: Online Courses for Beginners

Red Flags To Avoid

• Assurance of instant success, quick return on investment.
• No instructors’ qualifications or experience visible
• The prices were cut 90 percent and there was an artificial hurry.
• A number of anonymous accounts have provided their own testimonials.
• There is no refund policy or very short (rare) refund period.
• The emphasis on selling you the upsells, not education.

Web Courses Or Alternatives: An Evaluation Of The Two

Reflect on online courses and realistic alternatives to make sure that online courses are worthwhile.

Online Courses Vs. Traditional Degree Programs

Online courses are good because they are:

• Significantly cheaper ($200-$2,000 vs. $40,000-$120,000+)
• More water (litres/day)
• Able to balance work and family needs
• Centrally designed around skills and not on breadth

Degrees are:

• In addition, the requirement for regulated professions (such as law, medicine, engineering) is fulfilled.
• Bring communications such as employers want for competitive positions
• Offer networking and mentorship spontaneously
• Provide a clear system of responsibility and accountability within the community.

Online courses are generally better for a person who is making a career transition or acquiring new skills for no particular career. The fact is, degrees are still required for those that are entering areas that have a high barrier to entry.

Online Courses Vs. Self-Teaching

Again, you can learn programming from free blog posts and documentation, plus YouTube. Some people manage to do this successfully. However, most do not perform the self-directed learning process without structure.

The benefits of structured courses are that:

• Instructors select and sequence information in a sensible manner
• You won’t have gaps in learning due to self-teaching.
• The students will get homework and will be held accountable for it.Homework and accountability would be done.
• More efficient in becoming competent (6 months vs 18 months)

The true question to consider is: your actual chances of learning free content (typically low, as you may get overwhelmed with possibilities and you have no one to hold you accountable) as compared to structured courses.

Online Courses Vs. Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps ($8,000-$18,000, 12-24 weeks part-time or full-time) are intensive courses that provide job placement support. Online courses will be less costly, but will require more self-direction.

When you can give it your all, and require assistance with job placement, opt for bootcamps. Pick online classes if you’re looking for flexibility and have some self-motivation.

Who Benefits From Online Courses?

Online learning is justified in particular for the following:

• Clear career changes for career changers. A targeted online course is an effective way to get to data analysis, if you have a clear idea of what you want to learn and the skills you need.
• Skill-stackers in tech. For the developers, marketers, designers and data professionals, there is a need to learn cutting-edge skills quickly than universities can provide. Their natural habitat is online courses.
• Professionals continuing their education. When you are 5 years into the marketing field and you want to get to know new AI tools or marketing automation platforms, an online course that is targeted and thorough is better than costly conferences or the trial-and-error approach while working on the job.
• Entrepreneurs getting to know business functions. Solo operators can take financial planning courses, sales courses or copywriting courses online, and perform work that they might otherwise have contracted out.
• Individuals who have clear goals with measurable objectives set. If you’re taking an online course for a specific goal, such as working as a freelance, promotion, or applying for a new job, online courses are valuable.

There Are Many Individuals Who Are Let Down By Online Courses Because:

• Pray they’ll fix their poor habits of unmotivated learning by magic!
• Don’t expect to get a job just because you’re certified.Don’t think that being certified is going to get you a job, as it would be in a portfolio.
• Don’t ever plan to use the information
• Take courses for abstract purposes that have little use for life.

Online Courses Can Be So Much Of A Waste Of Time, Here Are The Red Flags

Be straightforward about these signs of trouble:

• Have past learning problems. Don’t quit 3+ courses – the issue is your engagement pattern. Self-discipline is more essential for online learning than when one has to be trundled into a classroom. If you don’t have that self-discipline, it is better to save the money for coaching or accountability partners.
• There is no need to have the skill to achieve your goals. Many take courses for things that they find interesting, but have no correlation to the job or life. Some topics are for fun but they are not valuable. If you are not a marketing seeder, you don’t need a marketing course, just be interested in it.
• You’re looking for reassurance from somebody that goes against your own judgment. Occasionally, people enroll in courses to fool themselves into believing they’re doing something. Real action is not certificates that are collected; it is skills and results measured.
• The course is based on emotional insecurity instead of a lack of skills. There are courses that assure the improvement of one’s confidence or self-esteem. Mindset is important, but it’s not a skill taught in a course, rather it’s a mindset that is developed by successfully applying the skill. A writing class may gain confidence by being demonstrated but a “confidence building” class is typically a costly treatment.

There Are A Few Other Tips On How To Get Value Out Of Online Courses

If you have chosen to invest in a course, get the most value from your money with these useful tips:

• Make sure to commit before enrolling. Commitment: Make a decision early in the course to stay in regardless of motivation. This mental engagement can have a dramatic impact on the rates of completion.
• Build accountability. Share with someone you know you are taking the course. Share your progress. Be an active member of the course community. Human observation is more reliable in ensuring follow through.
• Develop a real life project. Don’t simply view videos and complete quizzes. Create a physical product, such as a portfolio website, a project for a client, a personal business based on the skills. Learning is demonstrated in tangible outputs and engages further learning.
• Apply immediately. Don’t pass the course and then seek out applications. Implement ideas and then put them into practice within a few days of learning. You will more easily remember what you’ve learned than what you’ve done.
• Make time to learn available like a business meeting. Use Course time as an appointment time. If you don’t plan your time, online courses can be lost among the myriad competing demands on your time.
• Track results. Once finished with the course, get the real-world results: salary bump, client acquisition as freelance, promotion, time saved on a task, or portfolio quality improvement. This reality check is to determine if your investment really worked or not.

The Honest Truth About Cost And Value

The most costly course is not actually the one that costs the most money… it’s the one that you don’t complete or never use.

A $500 course that is completed and utilized for 5 new clients that each make $1000 leads to a 10-fold return on investment.

You won’t be using the $50 worth of a course you never completed because it wasn’t interesting or was hard to follow.You will never spend the $50 of a course you never finished because it was not interesting or hard to follow.

The discussion about the value of online courses only discusses the incorrect variable. Instead of simply asking “Are online courses worth it?” (a question that has an overly broad meaning to it), ask:

• Will I get my money’s worth from this particular course?
• Can I carry it out with my own willpower?
• Wont I use these skills?
• Has the teacher got a legitimate expertise?
• Is there any possibility for a realistic ROI?

Online learning is a learning tool and not a magic bullet. As with all tools, they can be useful or useless based on their use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Yes, Online Courses Can Result In A Job

A: It’s very uncommon to find jobs through online courses. They work best when combined with portfolio, professional networking and application of positions. Someone who finishes a coding bootcamp, actively builds 3 portfolio projects and actively networks, has much greater chances of a job. The course is just part of the answer, not the whole answer.

Q: Are Free Online Courses Worth Taking?

A: Free online courses are worth taking if you are able to complete them. A free course is a great opportunity to explore and learn but it is less committed and therefore less completed. Use free courses if you need to see if you will enjoy a course or if you need to get a foundation of a course. In situations where formal, in-depth learning and accountability is required, paid courses, with the community support will likely be more effective, although they can be costlier.

Q: Should I Take Individual Courses Or Get An Online Degree?

A: Online degree programs are valuable when you require the degree for advancing in your career or for some professional licensing. Specific courses are designed for career changers to acquire new skills, professionals to keep up to date with their professions and students to enrich their knowledge. Degrees have more general value, while courses focus on specific skills. This should be made based on your career objectives.

Q: How Can I Tell If A Course I’m Taking Online Is Legit?

A: Read the instructor’s professional background (not teaching qualifications), check out reviews of the platform from students recently, make sure that the curriculum is up to date, confirm that the platform is reputable, and scan for reasonable statements, not “get rich quick” promises. A legitimate course will tell you what you’ll learn and will be honest about the effort you must put in.

Q: What Is The Completion Rate For Online Courses?

A: We don’t know.The answer is that no one knows how many people actually finish online courses. There are significant differences in completion rates among courses and learners’ motivation. 10-15% of free courses are completed. Courses with a fee of 50-60% completion rate are normally paid courses. Self-directed learners with no cohorts are not as likely to complete as learners in structures programs that have deadlines. The most important factor in getting through an achievement bit the two most important factors in making a course successful? The first is your own determination to complete it, the second isn’t important.

Q: Can Online Certificates Be Considered As Substitutes For A College Degree?

A: No, for regulated professions (law, medicine, engineering, teaching in many states). When looking for an employer who will hire a candidate for a non-regulated position, increasingly employers will accept online certificates for particular skills, but context is important. The certificate is important but a portfolio of the skills is more. While many competitive positions still favor candidates who have degrees, the trend is declining in tech, digital marketing, and data jobs.

Q: How Much Should I Invest In An Online Course?

A: The amount you should invest in an online course depends on the specific course and your budget. There is no universal answer, but here are some considerations: Free courses measure interest, but offer no financial risk; $15-$50 courses are for areas where you have moderate interest; $100-$300 courses are for areas where you have a high interest level in the skills you want to acquire; and $500+ courses are for areas where you have a high interest level in the skills you want to acquire that will provide job-market-relevant credentials or solve pressing business problems. Compare and contrast your investment to the specific benefits the skill will provide.

The End: How To Make Your Decision

Online courses are indeed valuable – when they are right for you.

The question, “Are online courses worth it?” is not a yes/no question. If you are seeking a course for a particular purpose, and it is of high quality, you will actually do it, and use what you learn.

Prior to enrolling, critically evaluate 3:

• Does this skill work for me? Relate the course to a career objective, career opportunity or career need. Not only is it an interest, but it’s a real, useful interest.
• Do I really want to finish this course? Take into account your previous experience in online learning and if you have enough time in order to dedicate. When it is not known that a student will complete, invest in accountability structure.
• Am I making a strategic choice in taking this course? Check reviews, check instructors qualifications, check that the instructors is up to date with the curriculum, and make sure they teach you something—other than job skills.

If you are able to answer yes to all three, an online course is a good investment. If you don’t know the answer, it’s useful to know and can lead to course changes, postponed learning or an alternative approach to learning.

No matter how great an online course is, if you don’t complete it, then it will do you no good. The highest-priced course is free if it equips you with skills that enable you to change your job or earn more money.

Consider those facts and online courses are really worth the investment.