Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Online Learning

ISSN

2472-5730

Volume

30

Issue

1

DOI

10.24059/olj.v30i1.4883

First Page

373

Last Page

398

Publication Date

3-1-2026

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.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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