Report · AI & Tech

Online-only universities match traditional preparation for a slim majority of Americans

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In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 3 to 8, 2025, 55% of Americans said they were at least somewhat confident that an online-only university can prepare students for careers as effectively as a traditional university. Including 37% who said somewhat confident and 17% who said very confident.

About four-in-ten said they were not confident (45%), with 33% who said slightly confident and 13% who said not at all confident.

Topline

response scale

Topline scale

55% of Americans are confident online-only universities can prepare students as well as traditional ones.

How confident are you that an online-only university can prepare students for careers as effectively as a traditional university?

  • Somewhat confident 37.4%
  • Slightly confident 32.7%
  • Very confident 17.1%
  • Not at all confident 12.8%

2025 · base n 1,000 · +/- 3.2%

soc_pol

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Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Field dates
2025-12-03 → 2025-12-08
Base (unweighted)
1,000
Margin of error
+/- 3.2%
Module
soc_pol

Source

  • 01
    Online-only universities match traditional preparation for a slim majority of Americansreports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-human-llm-comparison-survey-2025-172

Citation

Verasight Human/LLM Comparison Survey #2025-172, fielded December 3-8, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/verasight-human-llm-comparison-survey-2025-172#how-confident-are-you-that-an-online-only-university-can-prepare-students-for-careers-as-effectively-as-a-traditional-university

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.