The COVID-19 pandemic pushed nearly every college course online in March 2020. As the Fall 2020 term began, with a little more time and planning, colleges and universities continued to grapple with how they will navigate course delivery while keeping students and staff healthy. As institutions look toward the coming school years, what can they expect regarding course completion rates and year-to-year persistence and retention? Do racial and income achievement gaps increase or decrease in an online environment?
This report will synthesize research regarding online versus face-to-face course outcomes in undergraduate courses and provide recommendations for faculty, advisors, and institutions on how to best implement online education.