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Can Online Delivery Increase Access to Education?

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua Goodman
  • Julia Melkers
  • Amanda Pallais

Abstract

Most research on online education compares student performance across online and in-person formats. We provide the first evidence that online education affects the number of people pursuing education by studying Georgia Tech’s Online MS in Computer Science, the earliest model offering a highly ranked degree at low cost. A regression discontinuity in admission shows that program access substantially increases overall educational enrollment. By satisfying large, previously unmet demand for midcareer training, this program will boost annual production of American computer science master’s degrees by at least 7%. Online options may open opportunities for populations who would not otherwise pursue education.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Goodman & Julia Melkers & Amanda Pallais, 2019. "Can Online Delivery Increase Access to Education?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(1), pages 1-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/698895
    DOI: 10.1086/698895
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacqmin, Julien, 2018. "Why are some online courses more open than others?," MPRA Paper 89929, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Rahul Singh & Moses Stewart, 2025. "Placebo Discontinuity Design," Papers 2507.12693, arXiv.org.
    3. Lastra-Anadón, Carlos & Muñiz, Manuel Antonio, 2017. "Technological change, inequality and the collapse of the liberal order," Economics Discussion Papers 2017-43, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    4. Dahlstrand Rudin, Amanda, 2022. "Defying distance? The provision of services in the digital age," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118042, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Mauricio Villamizar‐Villegas & Freddy A. Pinzon‐Puerto & Maria Alejandra Ruiz‐Sanchez, 2022. "A comprehensive history of regression discontinuity designs: An empirical survey of the last 60 years," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1130-1178, September.
    6. George Agiomirgianakis & Theodore Lianos & Nicholas Tsounis, 2019. "Returns to Investment in Distance Learning: the Case of Greece," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(3), pages 94-100, March.
    7. Jacqmin, Julien, 2019. "Providing MOOCs: A FUN way to enroll students?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 32-39.
    8. Javier Orozco-Messana & Juan Miguel Martínez-Rubio & Ana Maria Gonzálvez-Pons, 2020. "Sustainable Higher Education Development through Technology Enhanced Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Fulya Ersoy, 2021. "Returns to effort: experimental evidence from an online language platform," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(3), pages 1047-1073, September.
    10. Assaad, Ragui & Aydemir, Abdurrahman B. & Dayıoğlu, Meltem & Kırdar, Murat Güray, 2026. "Wage returns to human capital resulting from an extra year of primary school: Evidence from Egypt," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    11. Emara, Noha & Atkinson, Mycaeri & Karn, Sumit & Tryon, Tiffany, 2025. "Analyzing non-linear and interactive impacts of distance learning on college enrollment post-COVID-19," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 2112-2125.
    12. Joshua Travis Brown & Jamie N. Castle & Fred A. Volk & Hannah E. Murch, 2026. "Student Conversion: A New Measure and Model for Postsecondary Student Success," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 67(2), pages 1-31, March.
    13. David Carey, 2017. "Adapting to the changing labour market in New Zealand," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1420, OECD Publishing.
    14. Wenhua Di & Nathaniel Pattison, 2020. "Distant Lending, Specialization, and Access to Credit," Working Papers 2003, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    15. Albert Whata & Charles Chimedza, 2021. "Credibility of Causal Estimates from Regression Discontinuity Designs with Multiple Assignment Variables," Stats, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Amanda Dahlstrand, 2022. "Defying distance? The provision of services in the digital age," CEP Discussion Papers dp1889, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    17. Li, Haizheng & Liu, Qinyi & Su, Yan & Ederer, Peer, 2023. "Policy initiatives, self-sorting, and labor market effects of tertiary education for adult workers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 205-221.
    18. Kameshwari Shankar & Punit Arora & Maria Christina Binz-Scharf, 2023. "Evidence on Online Higher Education: The Promise of COVID-19 Pandemic Data," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 48(2), pages 242-249, May.
    19. Jacqmin, Julien, 2022. "Why are some Massive Open Online Courses more open than others?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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