The better format is the one that fits your life. Online classes suit students who need to fit school around work or family. In-person classes suit students who want a set routine and regular face-to-face time with instructors. Research does not show a reliable learning advantage for either format. The real question is which one works best for you.
Online learning is now a regular part of college. In fall 2024, 54.7% of U.S. students took at least one distance education course. A little over a quarter of all students (26.5%) studied exclusively online. Private nonprofit colleges saw the same shift: 46% of their students took distance courses in 2024, up from 32% in 2019.
Unity offers both paths: fully online, asynchronous degrees through Unity Distance Education and in-person degrees through Unity at Pineland in New Gloucester, Maine. If you want to change formats later, your advisor can help. Here is how the two compare and how to decide which one fits you.
Online vs in-person classes at a glance
| Online (Unity Distance Education) | In person (Unity at Pineland) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you learn | Anywhere, fully online | On site in New Gloucester, Maine |
| Schedule | Asynchronous coursework with weekly due dates | Scheduled classes and on-site learning |
| Course length | Five-week courses, with the option to take one at a time | Five-week courses |
| Start dates | Eight bachelor’s terms per year (five for master’s) | Eight bachelor’s terms per year |
| Tuition per credit | $470 (bachelor’s) | $375 (bachelor’s) |
| Estimated annual cost, 30 credits | About $15,000 (tuition, graduation fee, course materials) | About $16,760 (tuition, fees, insurance, course materials) |
| Housing | Not needed | Optional, through a partnership with USM Gorham |
| Support | Dedicated advisor from day one | Career Imagineers and Career Coaches, plus on-site access to faculty and field experts |
| Applied learning | Project-based coursework | Expert-led projects and field experience at Pineland |
| Best for | Students who need to study around work or family | Students who want to learn on site in Maine |
Costs are Unity’s published estimates. Housing and meals are extra. Your actual cost depends on course load and aid, so try the Net Price Calculator for online or in-person study.
Is online school better than in-person school?
Both are great choices. The best fit depends on your goals, schedule, and how you like to learn. Students often choose based on:
- how they prefer to learn
- their academic and career goals
- their work and family responsibilities
- how far they live from campus
Online learners are mostly working adults. Risepoint’s 2026 Voice of the Online Learner survey found that 89% of online students were working while they studied. More than half (56%) had at least one child under 18. Unity at Pineland is built for students who want to learn on site in Maine, alongside classmates and instructors.
Benefits of online classes
Flexibility that fits around real life
Unity’s online courses are asynchronous, so there are no set class meeting times. You complete lectures and assignments whenever it suits you, provided you meet weekly due dates. Courses run five weeks, and you can take one at a time. New terms start throughout the year. If life gets in the way, pause and pick up again later without losing financial aid eligibility.
That freedom comes with a trade-off: you set your own pace, so you need your own system. Block out study time at the start of each course and treat it like a fixed appointment. Our tips for taking online classes can help.
Support that goes with you
Online does not mean on your own. Every Unity Distance Education student gets a professional advisor from day one. Your advisor handles course planning and financial aid questions and keeps your long-term goals in view.
Applied learning without relocating
Online courses at Unity are built around projects. You might collect soil samples or contribute to wildlife research, applying what you learn right where you live. Career partners extend that into the field. American Conservation Experience offers conservation crew terms and emerging-professional programs on public lands, and Discover Eden runs two- to three-week summer tours in South Africa. Students there take part in hands-on wildlife conservation and marine biology work alongside conservation professionals.
Cost
Tuition for Unity’s online bachelor’s degrees is $470 per credit. For 30 credits a year, Unity estimates about $15,000 once the graduation fee and course materials are added. More than 70% of students qualify for Pell Grants. The Net Price Calculator shows what you might pay after aid.
Online is not automatically cheaper everywhere, since fees and materials still apply. You do avoid commuting costs and the expense of relocating for school. See tuition and financial aid for current rates.
Benefits of in-person classes
Routine and structure
Many students do better with a set weekly rhythm. Scheduled classes give your week a shape. Being on site also separates school from home, which helps when your house is busy or noisy.
Hands-on learning with experts nearby
Unity at Pineland is based at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine. Unity has offered immersive, hands-on education since 1965. Classroom learning is paired with real-world projects led by experts. Students choose from 11 programs. Options range from Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation to Sustainable Data Science and Technology.
Face-to-face connection
In person, questions get answered in the moment. Relationships with instructors and classmates form naturally. Pineland students also meet field experts and work on collaborative projects, which can lead to professional connections before graduation.
Campus living and the full cost
Unity at Pineland tuition is $375 per credit, or $11,250 for 30 credits. Unity estimates costs to be $16,760 per year before housing once fees, insurance, and course materials are added. The $3340 insurance costs can be waived with a copy of a current, approved health insurance plan. See tuition details.
Living on campus is optional. Students who want to can live at Woodward Hall on the USM Gorham campus through a partnership with the University of Southern Maine. A standard double room is listed at $3,485 per semester. The 19-meal plan is $3,136 per term. Learn more about housing and dining.
Do students learn better online or in a classroom?
Research does not point to a clear winner. A 2009 U.S. Department of Education analysis is often cited as proof that online students outperform classroom students. In its published form, the advantage was significant for blended courses but not for purely online courses compared with face-to-face. Those blended courses often involved extra learning time and course elements that the classroom groups did not receive. In other words, format alone does not explain results.
What matters in either format is course design and student engagement. Does the course build in real interaction? Can students get feedback and support quickly? That is why Unity pairs online courses with advisors and project-based work. In-person programs lean on expert-led field experience.
Some skills are simply easier to build in person, such as lab and field techniques. Many other fields translate well to online study when assignments are practical and partnerships put students in the field.
Unity’s own results are encouraging. In the most recent survey results, 87% of Unity graduates, across online and in-person programs, were employed or pursuing advanced degrees after graduation.
How to choose
Choose online if:
- you work or care for family and need to study around other obligations
- you live far from Maine or cannot relocate
- you prefer to set your own pace and are comfortable managing deadlines
- you want to start soon and avoid housing costs
Choose in person if:
- you want a fixed weekly routine and a dedicated place to study
- you learn best through live conversation and immediate feedback
- you want hands-on work alongside instructors and classmates
- you are ready to relocate to Maine and want the option of living near campus
Frequently asked questions
Is online school better than in-person school?
Neither is better overall. Online classes offer flexibility and let you study from anywhere. In-person classes offer routine and live interaction, plus hands-on learning on site. The better option is the one that fits your life and how you learn best.
Do students learn better online or in person?
Research does not show a consistent advantage for either format. Outcomes depend more on how well a course is designed and supported than on where the class meets.
Is online college cheaper than in-person college?
It depends on the school. At Unity, tuition is $470 per credit online and $375 per credit at Unity at Pineland. Estimated annual totals for 30 credits are about $15,000 online and $16,760 in person before housing. Students who live on campus also pay for housing and meals. Online students avoid those costs, along with commuting.
How do online classes work at Unity?
Unity Distance Education courses are asynchronous and run five weeks, with new terms starting throughout the year. Each student works with a dedicated advisor from day one.
What can I study in person at Unity?
Unity at Pineland offers 11 in-person programs with an environmental and sustainability focus, from Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation to Environmental Crime Investigation and Enforcement.
Find the format that fits
Explore online degrees or in-person programs at Pineland. You can visit Pineland or contact Unity to talk through your options with a team member. Not sure where to start? Chat with Una about your career goals and find the program that suits you best. Whichever format you choose, Unity is here to help you get started.
