California Community Colleges Offer 40 Percent of Courses Online
About 40 percent of California community college courses are now delivered online. Officials say the format increases access for working students while creating challenges with engagement and academic support.
CalMattersThe state's community college system enrolls more than 2 million students, making it the largest higher-education system in the country. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have continued to take classes from home even after campuses reopened for in-person instruction.
College officials state that online courses expand access for students who work full time or have children. The funding model, which ties state support to enrollment numbers, creates an incentive for campuses to expand online offerings.
Students and faculty cite reduced participation, isolation, and impersonal instruction as common drawbacks. In asynchronous classes, where lectures are pre-recorded, some students report difficulty staying engaged. Lupe Archundia, a 39-year-old student at San Joaquin Delta College who works full time and has two children, said pre-recorded microeconomics lectures were several years old and included quiz answers posted in advance.
She said she initially studied three hours per quiz but later took shortcuts after discovering the answers were available.
Alex Breitler, spokesperson for Delta College, said online options allow adults with work and family responsibilities to attend college. Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy, director of programs and strategy at College Futures Foundation, stated that personalized advising and support structures remain essential for online learners.
A 2025 study found students generally perform worse in online courses than in face-to-face classes, though the gap has narrowed.
