Report · AI & Tech

Online courses edge out in-person courses for skill-building

Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 16 to 27, 2025, 41% of Americans said they would prefer taking an online course for a skill they need, assuming the cost is similar.

About three-in-ten preferred an in-person course (31%), while 14% were indifferent. Another 14% said they do not take courses online or in person, or were not sure.

Topline

single choice

Topline distribution

41% of Americans prefer an online course for learning a needed skill when cost is similar.

Do you prefer taking an online or an in-person course for a skill that you need, provided that the cost is similar?

  • Online 40.7%
  • In person 31.4%
  • Indifferent 13.9%
  • N/A, I don't take courses online or in person 9.2%
  • Not sure 4.7%

2025 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.3%

Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002

View source

Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2025-01-16 → 2025-01-27
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.3%
Module
Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002

Source

  • 01
    Online courses edge out in-person courses for skill-buildingreports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-aea-omnibus-survey-2025-002

Citation

Verasight AEA Omnibus Survey #2025-002, fielded January 16-27, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.3%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-aea-omnibus-survey-2025-002#do-you-prefer-taking-an-online-or-an-in-person-course-for-a-skill-that-you-need-provided-that-the-cost-is-similar

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
AAPOR transparency standards.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.