Homework Gap Report: The 10 Best and Worst States for Online Learning

Here’s how the loss of ACP funding affects the US students’ access to internet (and what to do about it)

Brianne Sandorf
May 13, 2024
Icon Time To Read4 min read

Funding for the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program is going to be completely out by the end of May—raising concerns about internet access for U.S. students and how they’re impacted by the “homework gap.”

The National Education Association calls the homework gap "the barriers students face when working on homework assignments without a reliable internet source at home."

Since 2021, the U.S. has made strides in closing the homework gap with assistance programs like the ACP, which provides up to $30 monthly toward internet payments. But without the programs, we suspect the gap to only worsen. We did a deep dive into how lack of ACP funding might affect students' homework completion and how to potentially overcome those obstacles.

Student internet access at a glance

In our deep dive into student internet access, we learned a few interesting facts:

  • Nearly 3 million children (4.57%) in the U.S. don't have access to the internet.
  • Almost 1 million children (27%) still don't have a computer at home.
  • Only 27% of students under age 18 with no high-speed internet connection go on to complete a postsecondary program. That's in contrast to 96.66% of those with a high-speed internet connection.
  • The states with the biggest homework gaps all have poverty rates of 8% or higher.
  • The top 10 states with the biggest homework gaps relied on government-assisted internet programs with an enrollment rate of 36% or higher.
  • 4% of households in the United States enrolled in the ACP.
Homework gap 2024 map
Internet is crucial to daily life
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Internet access has gone from a nice-to-have utility to a necessary utility. In a recent survey, 70% of Americans told Reviews.org that affordable internet access is essential to their daily lives.

“As a software dev, I can tell you that the internet is way more ingrained in every facet of our daily lives, more than we'll ever be able to gather. No internet means no opportunities,” says Sean Spittle, the lead software developer and managing partner at inspection software firm InspectNTrack.

However, the average internet connection costs $81 a month, or $972 a year. Unfortunately, not everyone has $1,000 to spare.

10 best states for online learning

Top 10 best states for online learning

Rank
State
% of households enrolled in ACP
% under 18 w/o a computer and broadband subscription
Average internet speed
1North Dakota5.53%5.52%139Mbps
2South Dakota6.95%8.49%110Mbps
3New Hampshire7.21%2.50%161Mbps
4Utah7.48%3.35%139Mbps
5Idaho8.31%3.56%87Mbps
6Wyoming9.32%3.93%75Mbps
7Alaska9.71%4.28%57Mbps
8Iowa9.74%5.87%110Mbps
9Vermont9.86%4.17%112Mbps
10New Jersey10.33%5.51%183Mbps

In an unexpected win, rural North Dakota leads as the best state for online learning. Only 5.53% of North Dakotan households were enrolled in the ACP, and only 5.52% of individuals under 18 lack essential technology access.

New Hampshire follows closely, boasting a mere 2.50% of individuals under 18 without a computer and broadband subscription. North Hampshirites also enjoy a high average internet speed of 161Mbps.

Reviews.org's home state, Utah, also stands out with just 3.35% of individuals under 18 lacking necessary technology access and a solid average internet speed of 139Mbps.

10 worst states for online learning

Top 10 worst states for online learning

Rank
State
% of households enrolled in ACP
% under 18 w/o a computer and broadband subscription
Average internet speed
1Louisiana31.89%9.28%127Mbps
2Kentucky26.07%7.02%117Mbps
3Ohio24.53%7.07%125Mbps
4Nevada24.43%5.77%155Mbps
5New York24.16%9.92%156Mbps
6Michigan23.65%5.32%124Mbps
7Oklahoma23.56%6.28%137Mbps
8New Mexico23.23%9.22%98Mbps
9California22.48%4.30%156Mbps
10North Carolina22.36%5.73%125Mbps

Going purely by the numbers, Louisiana leads as the worst state for online learning. A total 31.89% of Louisianan households were enrolled in the ACP. The end of ACP funds means nearly one-third of Louisianans may struggle to access affordable internet for remote education.

Nevada also stands out. It has the highest average internet speed (155Mbps) among the top 10 worst states. But despite good connectivity, Nevadans still have a high ACP enrollment rate. Part of this less-than-ideal online learning trend may be due to Nevada’s historic economic disparity across racial lines.

How to close the homework gap

Michael D. Smith, a professor of information technology at Carnegie University and author of the 2023 book The Abundant University: Remaking Higher Education for a Digital World, says that accessible internet is crucial to today’s educational setup, especially for those who’ve opted for online-only higher education. “Finding free Wi-Fi at a public library, or Panera, or a friend's house is nowhere near as convenient as having it at home,” Smith says.

Students need access to low-cost, accessible internet connections to complete their school work. A 2021 study in Ghana found “internet access influences academic standards among students, as those with internet access have shown a higher improvement in academic performance than those without.”

With that in mind, here are a few lower-cost internet options that might work for families with limited financial resources.

Most affordable internet options for lower-income students
Provider
Price
Download speeds
Upload speeds
Details
AT&T Fiber Internet 300$55/mo.*Up to 300 MbpsUp to 300 Mbps
Connect$19.99/mo. for 12 mos. w/1 yr contract.Up to 150 MbpsUp to 10 Mbps
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited$50/mo.Up to 245 MbpsUp to 31 Mbps
Astound Broadband Internet 600 Mbps$25/mo.Up to 600 MbpsUp to 35 Mbps
Fios 300 Mbps$49.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay^Up to 300 MbpsUp to 10 Mbps
* Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more.
For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
^ Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

Not all of these plans are available everywhere, but most areas in the U.S. have access to at least one.

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See if affordable internet is accessible where you live.

If you don’t live in an area with affordable internet, you might be able to use free public Wi-Fi hotspots. While these won’t work for every student, they’re a viable alternative to home internet access.

And although (as Professor Smith says) using Wi-Fi at a library, a friend's place, or a Panera is less convenient than internet in the home, lower-income families can take advantage of such resources in a pinch. According to the Pew Research Center, half of lower-income families using the library already report that their children visit to complete homework rather than to check out books or enjoy library programs.

Methodology

To source our list, we ranked each state’s online learning situation from best to worst using three factors.

  • 33% of the score came from the percentage of students without home computer access or broadband subscriptions by state, according to the latest US Census data from the 2022 American Community Survey. Higher percentages of households with no broadband subscriptions positively impacted the score.
  • 33% of the score came from the percentage of American households who enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program before the Universal Service Administrative Co. capped applicants in March 2024. Higher percentages of enrolled households positively impacted the score.
  • 33% of the score came from the average internet speed by state from Reviews.org. Higher speeds negatively impacted the score.
Brianne Sandorf
Written by
Brianne has a degree in English and creative writing from Westminster College. She's spent the last 10+ years writing professional, research-based content about technology, luxury retail brands, chicken sandwiches, and everything in between. Before joining Reviews.org, Brianne wrote safety and security content for ASecureLife.com. Her pieces and quotes are published across the web, including on MSN.com, Social Catfish, and Parents.com. Brianne loves to read, write, travel, cook, and spend time with her family. Contact her at brianne@reviews.org.

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