A new report authored by Huron and commissioned by the BRIDGE Coalition, The Evolution of Learning Solutions in Higher Education: Evidence of Impact on Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, examines this transformation and the growing body of evidence behind it. 

Drawing on more than 60 sources—including peer-reviewed research, federal datasets, and independent evaluations with higher education leaders, the report evaluates learning solutions across: learning outcomes, instructional quality, faculty support, accessibility, and affordability. 

Its central conclusion is clear: learning solutions providers and the instructional materials and services they deliver have become essential components of higher education’s instructional infrastructure. The report urges institutions to consider how effectively  learning solutions providers support educators, expand access, improve learning, and help students progress toward academic and career goals. 

1. The Learning Solutions of Today Have Become Core Instructional Infrastructure 

The transition from print to digital learning is already well underway. In the 2023–24 academic year, only about 8% of higher education courses relied exclusively on printed materials. 

The capabilities of today’s learning solutions extend far beyond textbooks. They combine content with virtual simulations, adaptive assessments, analytics tools with personalized study plans and accessibility support, all seamlessly integrated into a student’s course. Increasingly, these tools function as integrated instructional systems rather than stand-alone products. 

This evolution is reflected in the perspectives of the higher education leaders participating in Huron’s research. All agreed or strongly agreed that their institutions rely on today’s learning solutions as a core part of instructional delivery. Moreover, two-thirds of the leaders interviewed said the value of learning solutions has increased during the past three to five years. 

Key Takeaway: These findings suggest that institutions should evaluate learning solutions with the same seriousness they apply to other forms of educational infrastructure. That includes asking what a solution enables, what evidence supports its effectiveness, what it costs to implement and maintain, and what the institution would need to provide if those capabilities were absent. 

2. Well-Designed Learning Technology Can Improve Student Outcomes 

The report finds that well-designed and effectively implemented learning technologies, including adaptive and AI-enabled tools, can improve student performance. Research connects quality courseware with improved student engagement, increased content mastery, stronger exam results, and higher course completion rates. Some of the greatest gains can occur among students who face the most significant barriers to success. 

AI-based digital learning tools can offer students immediate feedback and personalized practice. They can also help instructors recognize where students are struggling and intervene before those challenges become insurmountable. When implemented intentionally, these learning solutions can provide the structure and support students need to develop foundational knowledge, build confidence, and continue progressing toward a credential. 

Key Takeaway: Technology alone does not guarantee improved student outcomes. Success depends on the quality of the content, alignment with course objectives, thoughtful implementation, faculty engagement, and the availability of ongoing support. 

3. Faculty Support Is Part of the Solution’s Value 

Instructors are being asked to meet a wide range of student needs while managing growing demands on their time. Quality learning solutions can help faculty develop courses, create and grade assessments, monitor student progress, provide timely feedback, and adjust instruction based on evidence. 

The most effective solutions do not replace the instructor. Instead, they expand an instructor’s capacity to teach and support students. 

This makes training and implementation support critical. Faculty need more than access to a digital platform; they need help understanding how to integrate it into their course design, align it with learning objectives, interpret student data, and use its capabilities effectively. 

Key Takeaway: Evaluating a learning solution should include the quality of the accompanying instructor's resources, professional development, technical assistance, and implementation support. 

4. Evidence Based Decision Making: Affordability and Quality Should Be Evaluated Together  

The report’s most important recommendation is that evidence, not assumptions about a particular format or model, should guide decisions about what learning solutions best meet the needs of the faculty and students. 

Affordability remains a legitimate concern for students and institutions, but the report places course material costs within the broader college-cost landscape. 

Required course materials now account for approximately 1% of a student’s total annual college budget, and student spending on those materials is at its lowest level in roughly a decade at approximately $341 per year. These trends reflect the growth of digital delivery, rental options, competition among providers, and institution-led affordable access programs. 

The findings also suggest that price alone provides an incomplete measure of value. A lower-cost resource may require an institution to assume additional expenses for accessibility, technology integration, content updates, assessment development, academic integrity, faculty training, and student support. 

The ultimate measure of value is learner progress. Institutions should assess whether a learning solution helps students: 

• Seamlessly access the resources and support they need. 

• Engage meaningfully with course content and master essential knowledge. 

• Complete courses and develop competencies that translate to the workforce 

Key Takeaway: This approach moves the conversation beyond simple comparisons between print and digital or copyrighted and open educational resources. Instead, it centers the questions that matter most: Does the solution work? For which students? Under what conditions? At what total cost? And what evidence demonstrates its impact? 

The full Huron report provides a framework for institutions, faculty, policymakers, and learning-solution providers to evaluate that opportunity—and to ensure that innovation remains firmly connected to the outcomes higher education exists to achieve.