Nearly 10 out of 10 higher education leaders say their institutions rely on quality digital learning solutions for instructional delivery, according to new Huron research

The BRIDGE Coalition today released a new research paper, authored by Huron, a global professional services firm, examining the impact of high-quality digital learning solutions in higher education. Drawing on peer-reviewed research, federal datasets, independent evaluations and interviews with higher education leaders, the paper finds that these solutions play an increasingly important role in advancing higher education.

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As only about 8% of higher education courses relied on print-only materials in 2023–24, the research examines the evidence behind today's digital learning solutions, often known as courseware or interactive eTextbooks. The research looks at their impact on learning outcomes, instructional quality, faculty support, accessibility, and affordability, and identifies actions for higher education leaders, faculty, and learning solution providers.

The full research paper, The Evolution of Learning Solutions in Higher Education:
Evidence of impact on teaching, learning, and student success, is available here.

As higher education institutions face financial pressure and growing scrutiny over the value of a degree, quality learning solutions can help improve student outcomes, personalize learning, and support more affordable models. Their value, however, depends on evidence, educational quality, accessibility, and demonstrable student impact.

Among the report’s findings:

• Learning solutions have become core instructional infrastructure. The results from Huron’s survey found that 10 out of 10 of higher education leaders agree or strongly agree their institutions rely on these tools as a core component of instructional delivery. Nearly 10 out of 10 agree or strongly agree that quality learning solutions are evolving beyond content into integrated instructional systems.
• Value of learning solutions is increasing. Two-thirds of higher education leaders say the value of quality learning solutions has increased in the last 3 to 5 years.
• Course materials represent a small share of college costs. They account for about 1% of a student’s total yearly budget, and student spend on required course materials is the lowest in about a decade.
• Well-designed learning technologies, including adaptive and AI-powered tools, can improve learner outcomes. Research links well-implemented courseware to higher completion, stronger exam performance, and improved mastery, with the largest gains accruing to students facing the greatest barriers to success.
• Evidence should be at the center. The ultimate measure of value is learner progress. Institutions should assess whether learning solutions help learners access the support they need, stay engaged, complete courses, and develop workforce-ready skills, while considering the full cost of infrastructure, accessibility, and ongoing support.

“As the work of teaching and the experiences of learners continue to evolve, it is important to ground strategic conversations about the role of learning solutions in higher education in a rigorous review of the evidence for improved outcomes,” said Peter Stokes, Managing Director at Huron. “Our goal with this work was to take a thoughtful, disciplined look at the existing body of evidence, consider where findings converge and where important questions remain, and synthesize that research into practical insights for higher education leaders. The result is an evidence base that reflects both the promise of these learning solutions and the conditions needed for them to deliver meaningful value.”

The research draws on more than 60 sources, including peer-reviewed research and federal datasets, as well as 15 interviews with more than 20 higher education leaders across public and private institutions, four-year institutions, HBCUs, HSIs, and community colleges. Together, these perspectives provide a broad evidence base for evaluating learning technologies through the lens of evidence, educational quality, accessibility, and student success.

About BRIDGE

The BRIDGE Coalition is a consortium of organizations that champion course materials grounded in learning science and powered by technology to drive better outcomes in higher education and the workforce. Our mission is to empower educators and inspire students to open doors to academic and career success. To learn more about BRIDGE or to join the consortium, contact info@BRIDGEcoalition.org.

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