Out of 18.7 million students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2021, 60% opted for distance education courses. Among the exclusive distance learning students, 69.3% were enrolled in public institutions, with the remaining 30.7% in private ones.  As schools reopened in 2021, traditional degree-seeking students returned to in-person learning, prompting universities and students to prioritize in-person learning experiences, while the overall growth of online education continued. Distance learning reduced overall costs for students by eliminating travel and lodging expenses, making education more convenient and accessible to a wider range of learners. Conversely, online learning can also have drawbacks, such as decreased student engagement and challenges with social interaction. As the pandemic situation improved, students who struggled with remote learning chose to return to traditional in-person classes marking a decline of 3 million distance learning students compared to fall 2020.