Education is still highly polarized in the United States, often favoring traditional students from middle, upper-middle-and upper-class backgrounds. Fewer students from minority backgrounds can complete un undergraduate, and even fewer can complete a master’s or doctoral degree and other professional degrees. Campuses involuntarily contribute to the gap between minority and traditional students at colleges and universities and make it more complicated to build a “bridge” between these students.
Online education can contribute to a more heterogeneous environment, where students from different backgrounds can gain confidence and share their way of thinking. The online environment is not only important for learning but for the budling of a community. It can support collaboration, peer learning empowerment, and communication between students from different backgrounds. Similarly, the online environment can also support female students, especially in male-dominated fields. Understanding and collaborating with each other can lead to deeper learning and higher students satisfaction.