American Economic Review Vol. 104 No. 5 2014
The Economics of Online Postsecondary Education: MOOCs, Nonselective Education, and Highly Selective Education
Abstract
I consider economically sustainable online postsecondary education, including massive open online courses (MOOCs). The analysis suggests that MOOCs will be financially sustainable substitutes for some non-selective postsecondary education, but there are substantial risks. The analysis suggests that MOOCs will be financially sustainable substitutes for only a small share of highly selective postsecondary education (HSPE) and are likely to collapse the economic model that allows HSPE institutions to invest in advanced education and research. I outline a non-MOOC model of online education that may allow HSPE institutions to sustain their distinctive activities and to reach a larger number of students.
- DOI
- 10.1257/aer.104.5.528
- Volume
- 104
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 528-533
- Language
- en
- Sources
- bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref