It's not in-class interactions (party? Networking? Labs?) versus being alone in a room watching lecture videos.
If students don't have to live on campus to get the credits and the degree, it opens a world of possibilities. They can work part-time/intern in a real company and network while completing their online courses. Receive salary at 18, network with other interns and older employees at the company, participate in industrial grade lab experiments if that happens at the company.
Say Google would open "3y part time internships" allowing students to enroll in a credentialing University and complete courses and get a degree online while working at the company. The in-campus experience doesn't sound very compelling now.
If students don't have to live on campus to get the credits and the degree, it opens a world of possibilities. They can work part-time/intern in a real company and network while completing their online courses. Receive salary at 18, network with other interns and older employees at the company, participate in industrial grade lab experiments if that happens at the company.
Say Google would open "3y part time internships" allowing students to enroll in a credentialing University and complete courses and get a degree online while working at the company. The in-campus experience doesn't sound very compelling now.