Studies show that the number of students getting their degrees online is growing every year. Over the next few decades, researchers predict that a third or more of all college students could be participating in online degree programs, and more brick-and-mortar universities will begin offering courses online to keep up with this trend. With the demand for distance learning growing, finding out which programs are the largest can help you make a decision about your education.

When researching the largest online university in the United States, there is no cut and dry answer. Statistics on student numbers are changing every day thanks to the fact that many colleges offer rolling admission. With a rolling admission program, you don’t have traditional fall and spring semesters. Instead, you start the class whenever you enter the program, which could be in the summer or in the middle of a traditional semester.

Even with online colleges that offer more traditional semesters, getting an exact count of students enrolled can be difficult. With online universities, there is a high rate of transferring students or non-traditional students. In other words, many students enroll just to take one or two course online, which they can then transfer to a traditional campus college to complete their educations.

There are, however, some online schools that are undoubtedly larger than others. Keep in mind that “larger” doesn’t always mean “better.” It truly depends on the program. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Am I just a number or face in the crowd when I enroll in this program, or do I get a personalized education even though the school has a large student body?
• How many students are enrolled in each class and what is the student to teacher ratio?
• Are my classes taught by live professors, or are my courses mostly made up of pre-recorded videos and reading material?
• Does the school have services for students like help with resumes and cover letters, alumni networking, and technical support?
• Is the school accredited with organizations in my field of study?
• What percentage of students has a job within a year of graduating?

In some sense, many online schools are “larger” than typical campus colleges. They may be smaller in terms of student numbers or even degrees offered, but the experience you get is often larger, since you’ll be able to network and learn without the restriction of location. When you go to school online, you can work with professors who are the best in their fields, even if they live on the other side of the world. You’ll also connect with students from across the United States. All colleges have a certain percentage of out-of-state and international students, but online, your class will be a real melting pot of students with different cultures and experiences. All of this adds to your overall educational experience.

Over the next several years, the online university claiming to be the “largest” will likely vary. What is most important is you find a program that works for you educational and career goals. Take time to search for a college that meets all of your educational and personal needs.