TL;DR

Neither format is universally "better" — it depends on your learning style, life situation, and discipline level
Online classes offer flexibility but require strong self-motivation and time management
In-person classes provide structure and social interaction but less schedule flexibility
Completion rates are lower for online courses, mainly because students underestimate the self-discipline required
Hybrid formats are emerging as a popular middle ground
Whichever format you choose, tools like Gradily can help you stay on top of assignments

The Great Debate

If you search "are online classes easier?" on any college subreddit, you'll get answers ranging from "easiest thing I've ever done" to "hardest semester of my life."

That's because the question isn't really "which is easier?" — it's "which is easier for you?" And that depends on a bunch of factors we're going to break down.

The pandemic forced everyone into online learning, and the results were mixed. Some students thrived. Others crashed and burned. Now that most schools offer both options, the choice is yours — and it's worth making an informed one.

The Case for Online Classes

Flexibility Is King

The biggest advantage of online classes is obvious: you can do them on your own schedule (mostly). This is game-changing if you:

Work full-time or part-time with an unpredictable schedule
Have family responsibilities (kids, caring for parents)
Commute and want to avoid driving to campus
Are a night owl who does their best work at 1 AM
Are taking classes at a school far from where you live

For working students especially, online classes can mean the difference between being able to attend college or not.

You Can Learn at Your Own Pace

Recorded lectures are one of the greatest inventions in education. You can:

Pause when you need to take notes
Rewind when you miss something
Speed up through material you already know
Re-watch before exams

In a live lecture, if you zone out for 30 seconds, that content is gone. With recordings, nothing is lost.

Comfort and Environment Control

You get to study where you're most comfortable. For some people, that's a coffee shop. For others, it's their bed (no judgment). You control the temperature, the noise level, and whether or not you're wearing pants.

Broader Course Selection

Online classes let you take courses from different campuses within your university system, or sometimes from entirely different schools. Need a specific elective that's not offered at your campus? There might be an online option.

Introverts Rejoice

If the thought of raising your hand in a 300-person lecture hall makes you want to vaporize, online classes can be a relief. Discussion boards replace in-class participation. Chat functions replace speaking up. You can think before you respond, which often leads to better contributions.

The Case for In-Person Classes

Built-In Structure

The #1 reason online students struggle is lack of structure. When nobody is expecting you to show up at 9 AM on Tuesday, it's incredibly easy to let things slide.

In-person classes force you to:

Get out of bed
Show up at a specific time
Pay attention (more or less)
Interact with the material on a regular schedule

For students who struggle with procrastination or time management, this structure can be the difference between passing and failing.

Real Human Connection

College isn't just about learning material — it's about building relationships, developing social skills, and creating a network. In-person classes give you:

Classmate connections — study partners, friends, people who can share notes when you're sick
Professor relationships — harder to build over email than face-to-face
Campus involvement — easier to join clubs, attend events, and feel part of a community
Spontaneous learning — the conversations before and after class, the questions other students ask, the tangents professors go on

Immediate Feedback

When you're confused in an in-person class, you can raise your hand and get an answer in 10 seconds. Online? You send an email and wait 24-48 hours. Or post on a discussion board and hope someone responds.

That immediate feedback loop accelerates learning in ways that asynchronous formats can't match.

Accountability

It's harder to skip a class when the professor knows your face. It's harder to not do the reading when you might be called on. It's harder to procrastinate when your study group meets in the library every Wednesday.

Online classes put the entire burden of accountability on you. In-person classes distribute it across the professor, your classmates, and the physical act of showing up.

Hands-On Learning

Some subjects simply don't work well online:

Science labs
Art studios
Music performance
Clinical rotations (nursing, medical)
Foreign language conversation practice
Public speaking courses

If your class involves doing things with your hands or body, in-person is almost always better.

What the Research Actually Says

Let's look at what studies have found:

Completion Rates

Online courses have significantly lower completion rates than in-person courses. Research from Columbia University's Community College Research Center found that students in online courses were more likely to withdraw and less likely to earn a passing grade.

But here's the nuance: the students who succeed in online courses often perform just as well as in-person students. The issue isn't that online learning is inherently worse — it's that it requires skills many students haven't developed yet.

Learning Outcomes

A Department of Education meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online conditions performed modestly better than those in face-to-face conditions. However, the best outcomes came from blended/hybrid formats that combined online and in-person elements.

Student Satisfaction

Satisfaction is all over the map. Students who choose online because they want flexibility tend to be satisfied. Students who are forced into online (like during COVID) tend to be less satisfied. The key factor is whether the format matches the student's preference and life situation.

Which Type of Student Are You?

Online Classes Might Be Better If You...

✅ Are self-motivated and disciplined about deadlines ✅ Work a job with an irregular or demanding schedule ✅ Have family responsibilities that make campus attendance difficult ✅ Learn well from reading and watching videos ✅ Prefer to work at your own pace ✅ Are an introvert who participates more through writing than speaking ✅ Have already developed strong study habits ✅ Need to take classes from a different campus or school

In-Person Classes Might Be Better If You...

✅ Tend to procrastinate without external accountability ✅ Learn best through discussion and interaction ✅ Want to build relationships with professors and classmates ✅ Are a freshman still developing college study habits ✅ Are in a hands-on major (STEM labs, arts, clinical programs) ✅ Struggle with focus when studying at home ✅ Want the full "college experience" ✅ Need structure to stay on track

The Honest Truth

Most students benefit from a mix of both. Taking your core, important classes in person while filling in electives or gen-eds with online options can give you the best of both worlds.

Tips for Succeeding in Online Classes

If you decide to go the online route, here's how to not become a dropout statistic:

1. Treat It Like an In-Person Class

Set specific times to "attend" your online class. Block those hours on your calendar. During that time, you're in class — no Netflix, no social media, no errands.

2. Create a Dedicated Study Space

Don't do your online coursework in bed. Your brain associates bed with sleep, and you'll struggle to focus. Even just sitting at a desk or table makes a difference.

3. Stay Ahead of Deadlines

The flexibility of online classes is a double-edged sword. Without fixed class times, weeks can blur together. Use a planner or app to track every deadline and set reminders at least 3 days before things are due.

4. Participate Actively

It's tempting to be invisible in online classes. Don't. Post on discussion boards, attend optional Zoom sessions, email your professor with questions. Active participation keeps you engaged and helps the professor know who you are.

5. Use Tools That Help You Stay on Track

When you're working on assignments alone at midnight, it helps to have resources. Gradily can help you work through essays, discussion posts, and other written assignments — especially when you don't have a classmate to bounce ideas off of.

6. Connect With Classmates

Create a group chat with a few classmates. Share notes, discuss assignments, and keep each other accountable. Online learning doesn't have to mean isolated learning.

Tips for Succeeding in In-Person Classes

1. Actually Attend

This sounds obvious, but attendance drops significantly after the first few weeks. Every class you skip is material you'll have to learn on your own — which is harder and less efficient.

2. Sit Near the Front

Students who sit in the front rows consistently earn higher grades. It's not magic — you just pay more attention when you're closer to the professor and further from distractions.

3. Take Notes By Hand

Research shows that handwriting notes leads to better retention than typing. If you must type, avoid the temptation to transcribe everything word-for-word. Focus on capturing key concepts in your own words.

4. Use Office Hours

We have an entire article on this, but the short version: go to office hours. It's free tutoring from the person who grades you. Use it.

5. Form Study Groups

Even a casual study group of 2-3 people can dramatically improve your understanding of the material. Teaching concepts to each other is one of the most effective learning methods.

The Hybrid Option

Many schools now offer hybrid courses that combine in-person and online elements. This might look like:

In-person lectures twice a week with online discussions
Online content with weekly in-person labs
Alternating between in-person and online weeks

Hybrid courses often produce the best learning outcomes because they combine the structure and interaction of in-person with the flexibility and self-paced learning of online.

If your school offers hybrid options, they're worth considering — especially for subjects where you want both the lecture experience and the ability to review material at your own pace.

Making Your Decision

Here's a practical framework for deciding:

Factor	Online	In-Person
Schedule flexibility	✅ High	❌ Low
Self-discipline required	❌ Very high	✅ Moderate
Social interaction	❌ Limited	✅ High
Immediate feedback	❌ Delayed	✅ Instant
Location independence	✅ Anywhere	❌ Campus only
Hands-on learning	❌ Limited	✅ Full
Cost (commuting, parking)	✅ Lower	❌ Higher
Professor relationships	❌ Harder	✅ Easier
Learning pace	✅ Self-paced	❌ Fixed
Completion rates	❌ Lower	✅ Higher

Final Thoughts

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best format is the one that matches your learning style, life situation, and ability to hold yourself accountable.

If you thrive on structure and social interaction, go in-person. If you need flexibility and learn well independently, go online. If you want the best of both, look for hybrid options.

Whatever you choose, the key to success is the same: stay engaged, manage your time, use available resources, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

And when those assignments pile up — whether you're working on them at a desk on campus or at your kitchen table at midnight — Gradily is always available to help you work through them.

Key Takeaways

Online classes offer flexibility but demand self-discipline
In-person classes provide structure and social connection
Hybrid courses often produce the best outcomes
Your success depends more on your habits than the format itself
Mix and match — take core classes in person, fill electives online
Use tools like Gradily to support your work regardless of format

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