Perceived Risks and Psychological Well-Being in Online Education: Implications for Grade Expectations and Future Enrollment

Due, in part, to the recent economic conditions, new models of education are creating unprecedented competition to the traditional models of the university (Jones 2012). The dual challenges of providing high-quality services and controlling costs continue to drive educational institutions to seek creative solutions. The 2011 Survey of Online Learning reveals that the number of students taking at least one online course has now surpassed 6 million. Nearly one-third of all students in higher education is taking at least one online course; and 65 % of higher education institutions now say that online learning is a critical part of their long-term strategy (Allen and Seaman 2011; Johnson et al. 2011).