South India’s tech hubs drive online schooling growth, accounting for 69% of metro enrolments

India's southern technology hubs are emerging as the biggest adopters of online schooling, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai accounting for nearly 69% of all metro enrolments at Vikalp Online School, according to the company's FY27 internal analysis.The data shows that metro cities contribute 47% of the institution's overall student base in India. Among these urban centres, Bengaluru leads with 27% of metro enrolments, followed by Hyderabad at 23% and Chennai at 19%.The findings point to a growing preference for online education models in cities with strong digital infrastructure and a large concentration of technology professionals. Together, the three southern cities significantly outpace other metropolitan markets, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Kolkata.While metro cities remain the largest contributors, the analysis suggests that online schooling is gradually gaining traction beyond India's biggest urban centres. Tier 1 cities account for 35% of enrolments, while Tier 2 cities contribute 18%, indicating broader acceptance of alternative education models across the country.Dinesh Gupta, Founder and CEO of Vikalp India, said the concentration of students in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai reflects increasing awareness of flexible and personalised learning options among urban families. He added that interest in online schooling is expanding nationwide as parents seek education pathways tailored to individual student needs.The trend also highlights how digitally connected cities are influencing changes in education preferences. As families become more comfortable with remote learning and technology-enabled classrooms, online schools are finding greater acceptance among students looking for alternatives to conventional schooling models.The growing participation from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities suggests that online education is no longer limited to major metropolitan centres. Industry observers say wider internet access, increasing digital literacy and changing expectations around personalised learning are helping drive adoption across a broader geographic base.Also read: Agentic AI training doubles as enterprises ramp up workforce readiness for AI era: Report