How Many Hours Per Week Is an Online College Course?

Are you planning to enroll in college as an online student? Perhaps you plan to take some classes in person and others online. Either way, you're curious how much time your online classes are going to require.

Keep reading. In this article, we'll talk about how many hours a week for online courses. We'll also answer some related questions you may have.

How Many Hours a Week Do Online College Courses Take?

A question many prospective distance-learning students face is: How many hours a week for online college?

Online courses allow some added flexibility over traditional campus-based courses. However, generally speaking, they require the same amount of weekly study time.

Students taking classes online typically report spending between 15 and 20 hours a week on their studies, but this will largely depend on how many courses they are taking.

Undergraduate students can expect to spend about six to eight hours of weekly study time on each three-credit-hour course. So, if you are taking four of these courses at a time, you will spend about 24 to 32 hours a week on your studies.

That said, the amount of time you spend each week on an online college course will vary depending on several factors.

First, some students naturally progress through their studies more quickly than others. Those who are quick learners will not have to spend as much time studying each week.

But even students who learn quickly may struggle with some subjects. If you find particular courses more challenging than others, you may have to spend extra time studying.

On the other hand, subjects you are good at or that you have a lot of practical experience in may require less of a weekly commitment.

Graduate-level students generally have to spend more time studying each week than undergraduate students because the courses are more challenging.

Finally, the amount of time you have to spend on a course may depend on the course content itself. Some courses may be structured to involve a greater time commitment, while others may be less intensive.

How Much Time Does it Take to Complete a College Course Online?

Though college courses typically allow students to study on their own time, most courses still have deadlines. Some students are required to complete a certain amount of work per week, for example.

Even courses that allow for maximum flexibility require students to complete all coursework within a certain timeframe. However, the length of this timeframe may vary.

Many schools offer online classes in a typical semester-based format. In other words, the course runs for 14 to 16 weeks, and all coursework must be completed during that time.

Other schools offer shorter online courses, allowing students a greater amount of flexibility but requiring them to finish each course more quickly.

For example, Arizona State University offers its online courses in 7.5-week blocks. Many schools provide their online courses in eight-week terms.

Other schools may offer accelerated classes in four, five, 10-, or 12-week sessions. So, the amount of time it takes to finish an online course will depend on how the course is structured.

How Do Online Students Get Feedback?

If you are taking an online class, you may be wondering how you're going to interact with your professors and peers. Will you be all alone on your educational journey? How will you get feedback on your work?

Online classes are designed for flexibility, not isolation. In fact, many online courses have live video sessions that allow remote students to participate in discussions with non-remote classmates.

These sessions are usually held via Zoom or a similar program and require attending class at a set time. Online students can contribute to discussions and communicate directly with teachers and other students in these sessions.

Not all online classes have live sessions, but there are always ample opportunities to connect with your professor and classmates.

You can reach out to them through discussion boards, forums, and chat rooms, as well as through social media. You may also be able to connect via phone calls and emails.

If you live close to your school, you may want to schedule a time to meet your online instructors on campus to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

The good news is that instructors teaching online classes understand the unique challenges of learning online and are usually willing to connect over the phone or computer to provide any feedback or advice you need.

How Do Online Students Balance Work and Study?

As noted, online classes provide a lot of flexibility as far as choosing when to study. But they still require a significant amount of study time.

If you're taking online courses, it may be because you have family or work commitments to work around. If so, having flexible classes will benefit you, but it can still be challenging to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Strong time-management skills are a must if you hope to balance work, study, and family. You'll need to be able to schedule time for each of the things that matter most to you.

Set aside a specific time to study each day, as well as a specific time to work. If your work schedule is fluid or unpredictable, try to determine your weekly schedule as early as possible so you can plan your studies around it.

To avoid neglecting your family during this time, focus on quality over quantity. Explain that you have to have time for work and school, but make a point of identifying what's important with your family and being available for those moments.

Having a schedule and being organized is the best way to balance the various aspects of your life as you attempt to prioritize and stay on track to meeting your goals.

Enroll in an Online Course Today

Most online undergraduate courses will require about six to eight hours of study apiece each week. Online courses may take anywhere from four to 16 weeks to complete.

Now that you know how many hours a week for online college you can make an informed decision about your education.