The State of Online Engagement in Higher Education
A national survey of higher ed leaders reveals what's working, what's falling short, and where institutions are investing next.
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75% of higher ed leaders say online students engage less than their on-campus peers. So why are so few institutions doing anything differently?
This report cuts through the noise with real data from administrators across the country — revealing the strategies gaining traction, the gaps that persist, and where institutions are investing next. Whether you're refining your current approach or building something new, this is the benchmark you've been missing.
75%
of leaders say online students engage less than on-campus peers.
22%
say their LMS effectively supports student engagement.
70%
plan to increase investment in engagement over the next 3 years.
ABOUT THIS SURVEY
This report is grounded in responses from higher education administrators across the country, collected via an online survey distributed to more than 15,000 higher ed leaders in InScribe's network and promoted through LinkedIn. All responses were collected confidentially and analyzed in aggregate.
Who responded: Participants represented a range of institution types — including public and private four-year universities, community colleges, and technical and vocational schools — and reported online student populations ranging from under 5,000 to over 25,000. Respondents held senior leadership roles including President/Chancellor, Provost, Dean, Vice President, Director, and faculty with leadership responsibilities, spanning areas such as Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Online Learning, Enrollment Management, and IT/Digital Infrastructure.
What we asked: The survey explored three core areas: how institutions currently understand and prioritize student engagement, what strategies and platforms they're using for both on-ground and online learners, and what barriers are limiting their ability to scale engagement efforts. Respondents also shared open-ended perspectives on what's working, what's missing, and where they're investing next.
KEY FINDINGS
What the data reveals about engagement today
Drawing on responses from public and private four-year institutions, community colleges, and technical schools across the country.
91%
of institutions rank engagement as a top priority — yet most struggle to put it into consistent practice.
3.8 vs 2.9
Average engagement strategy effectiveness score: in-person vs online, on a 5-point scale.
85%
cite limited staff resources as the primary barrier to meaningful online engagement.
35%
of institutions feel they have sufficient data to measure and improve engagement impact.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE REPORT
A full picture of the engagement landscape
The online vs. in-person engagement gap
Why the gap persists and how it varies by institution type and size.
Barriers institutions face
Staff capacity, funding, silos, and the compounding problem of engagement fatigue.
What actually works
The Personalized Persistence Framework TM — four layers of intentional support that scale.
Engagement in action
Case studies from NAU, Fort Hays State, UNT, and WGU Academy with measurable outcomes.
INSTITUTIONS LEADING THE WAY
Connection, when structured, drives real results
66%
Of new residential students engaged with the Virtual Advising Hub in the fall term.
1,000+
Active participants in Tiger-2-Tiger digital community within months of launch.
+13%
Increase in persistence among virtual community participants since launch.
“Creating meaningful engagement online is harder, and it requires more than the LMS alone.”
THIS REPORT IS PART OF A 2-PART SERIES
Bridging the Engagement Gap in Online Education
This report builds on our 2025 guide — start there for the framework behind the findings, including practical steps for designing engagement at your institution.
Get the full report
Free for higher education professionals. Includes all survey data, case studies, and the engagement roadmap.