College students in online courses achieve learning outcomes comparable to students in in-person courses.

the verdict

CONTESTED PARTIAL

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 6 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that college students in online courses achieve learning outcomes comparable to students in in-person courses?

Partly. The retrieved studies are mixed and mostly partial: several report lower grades, persistence, or completion for online college students, while a few report comparable or improved outcomes in specific settings. No item provides a general, measured comparison of learning outcomes across college courses.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 2 sources for, 6 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 2

Students’ Perception of Online Equine Courses and How It Affects Their Learning

2023

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Luck, L., Speck, B., Karr, L., & Golick, D. (2023). Students’ Perception of Online Equine Courses and How It Affects Their Learning. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.56103/nactaj.v67i1.148

Evidence against · 6

Are Students Ready for Online Learning?

2018

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Are Students Ready for Online Learning?. (2018). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijabe.2018010101

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More for · 1

Enhancing Students’ Self-Directed Learning Ability in Political Courses through Small Private Online Course: A Case Study of Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College

2025

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Enhancing Students’ Self-Directed Learning Ability in Political Courses through Small Private Online Course: A Case Study of Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v14n5p368

More against · 5

Virtual Classrooms: How Online College Courses Affect Student Success

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Virtual Classrooms: How Online College Courses Affect Student Success. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20151193

Effectiveness of Fully Online Courses for College Students: Response to a Department of Education Meta-Analysis

2014

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Shanna, J. & R., B. T. (2014). Effectiveness of Fully Online Courses for College Students: Response to a Department of Education Meta-Analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.7916/D85M63SM

Online vs in-person learning in higher education: effects on student achievement and recommendations for leadership | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

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Online vs in-person learning in higher education: effects on student achievement and recommendations for leadership | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. (n.d.). nature.com. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-023-02590-1

THE RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-REGULATED LEARNING AND ACADEMIC RISK FACTORS TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ONLINE MATHEMATICS COURSES

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THE RELATIONSHIP OF SELF-REGULATED LEARNING AND ACADEMIC RISK FACTORS TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ONLINE MATHEMATICS COURSES. (n.d.). digitalcommons.spu.edu. http://digitalcommons.spu.edu/soe_etd/29

Facilitating Significant Learning in Asynchronous Online Courses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis and Discussion

2023

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Whitehead, P. (2023). Facilitating Significant Learning in Asynchronous Online Courses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis and Discussion. eric.ed.gov. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1407722

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