Creating Learning Environments That Support Student Success in Higher Education
GPAs and graduation rates matter, but as colleges and universities face growing challenges around recruitment, retention, and engagement, diving below the surface to uncover what contributes to student success in higher education has become more urgent. Increasingly, institutions are pairing traditional measures like grades and end-of-course surveys with real-time insights into students’ day-to-day learning experiences. These everyday experiences influence motivation, well-being, and a sense of belonging—factors that play a critical role in whether students thrive.
This guide explores what student success in college looks like today, the barriers to student success that still exist, and how evidence-based tools like PERTS’ Ascend are helping institutions create more inclusive, effective, and measurable pathways to student success.
7 Learning Conditions That Impact Student Success in Higher Education
Discover the seven research-backed learning conditions that drive academic engagement, motivation, and persistence—and how Ascend helps colleges track and improve them.
What Is Student Success in Higher Education?
Student success in higher education is the ability of students to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals through supportive, equitable learning environments. It goes beyond grades and graduation rates, encompassing the skills, confidence, and connections students need to thrive during college and beyond. As colleges and universities adapt to meet the needs of diverse student populations, it is essential that they prioritize strategies that support students in every part of their college experience.
Defining Student Success in Higher Education Goes Beyond GPA and Graduation Rates
Student success in higher education is often defined by traditional metrics like GPAs, graduation rates, and post-graduation employment rates. While these indicators are important, true student success depends on a holistic view that accounts for factors like student well-being, belonging, engagement, and long-term outcomes.
Beyond academic milestones, student success in higher education can be reflected in experiences such as:
-
Feeling a strong sense of purpose and belonging on campus
-
Feeling motivated and having the resilience to persist through challenges
-
Gaining the confidence and habits needed for long-term academic and career success
A 2021 study by Kazar shows that when institutions prioritize a more comprehensive model of success, they are better equipped to serve diverse student populations and to close persistent equity gaps. By embracing this broader perspective, colleges and universities can better support the whole student.
Student Success in Higher Education and Its Role in Institutional Performance
Focusing on student success in higher education is not only beneficial for learners—it’s also critical for institutions. As highlighted by this Modern Campus article (2025), when students feel supported, engaged, and motivated, they are more likely to stay enrolled, complete their degrees, and transition successfully into the workforce.
Improving student success helps institutions:
-
Boost retention and persistence rates, which directly affect funding and rankings
-
Increase graduation rates, especially among historically underserved student populations
-
Demonstrate workforce readiness by equipping students with the skills employers seek
-
Achieve accreditation standards and meet state/federal performance metrics
Ultimately, prioritizing student success strengthens an institution’s mission, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
The Link Between Student Engagement, Motivation, and Academic Progress
Research consistently shows that student engagement and motivation are key drivers of academic progress and personal growth. When students feel connected to their learning, their peers, and their instructors, they are more likely to thrive academically and persist toward graduation.
Much research shows that cultivating a growth mindset, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating optimal learning conditions can significantly increase student motivation and outcomes. These evidence-based practices don’t just help students pass classes; they help them unlock their full potential.
By understanding and leveraging the factors that fuel motivation and engagement, institutions can boost student success in transformative ways.
Barriers to Student Success in Higher Education
Despite growing awareness and investment in student-centered approaches, many institutions still face challenges that make it difficult for all students to thrive. Understanding these barriers is a critical first step in designing more equitable, evidence-based strategies that improve student success in higher education.
Limited Access to Timely Support and Actionable Feedback
A 2025 study by D. P. Fisher and colleagues found that many students struggle not because of a lack of ability, but because they don’t receive the right support at the right time. When feedback on performance is delayed or unclear, students miss opportunities to adjust their learning strategies or seek help. Without timely, actionable guidance, even highly motivated learners can fall behind. Ensuring that all students have frequent, meaningful interactions with instructors and advisors is essential to closing this gap.
Low Student Engagement or Sense of Connection in the Classroom
A lack of connection with course content, instructors, or peers can significantly hinder academic progress. Research from MIT highlights that “belonging uncertainty may result in disengagement and poor academic outcomes,” while a strong sense of belonging can influence students’ persistence and academic success.
Additionally, research by Hernandez and Darling-Hammond (2022) shows that creating identity-safe classrooms—where students feel recognized, respected, and valued—has been shown to enhance engagement and academic outcomes.
Underuse of Student Experience Data
Colleges and universities have access to powerful data on how students experience their learning environments, but this information is often underutilized. Without timely, actionable insights, it’s challenging to adapt teaching strategies and supports that foster student success.
Research shows that actively using student experience data in daily decision making is a powerful driver of student success in higher education. Additionally, when educators go beyond one-time evaluations and engage in ongoing cycles of feedback, they can identify and respond to students’ needs in real time. This approach leads to more inclusive learning environments, stronger student engagement, and improved academic outcomes.
Missing Early Signs of Disengagement
Often, the signs of student disengagement appear long before a student withdraws or fails a course. Without effective, real-time tools, these signals can be easy to miss.
A study by Chipchase, L., et al (2017) shows that early identification of disengagement is key: students who receive timely, targeted interventions are significantly more likely to persist and succeed. By recognizing social, emotional, or academic struggles early, institutions can take action at the right time to help students stay on track and feel connected.
How Ascend Is Moving the Needle on Student Success in Higher Education
Improving student success in higher education begins with a deeper understanding of how students are experiencing their learning environments. The Ascend program by PERTS helps improve student success in higher education by turning student feedback into real-time insights and action for faculty and administrators.
By focusing on motivation, belonging, and engagement, colleges using Ascend are increasing persistence and improving academic outcomes.
Gain Real-Time Insight into the Student Experience
Leading institutions are moving beyond end-of-term surveys. Ascend helps them gather real-time student feedback that highlights how students are engaging—and where support is needed most.
Detect Early Signs of Disengagement to Keep Students on Track
Ascend enables colleges to identify early dips in motivation, focus, or connection—critical indicators that students may be at risk of falling behind. Early support leads to better retention and outcomes.
Empower Faculty with Actionable, Research-Based Teaching Practices
By connecting real-time data to evidence-based strategies, Ascend helps instructors make high-impact adjustments that improve student motivation and academic progress.
Create Consistency Across the Student Experience and Support Network
Ascend provides a shared framework that ensures all students receive predictable, relevant support across classrooms, departments, and support services.
Drive Measurable Gains in Motivation, Belonging, Academic Progress, and Career Readiness
Institutions using Ascend report improvements in motivation, belonging, grades, and persistence—setting students up for long-term academic and career success.
Research shows that when students have more positive learning experiences, their grades improve and withdrawal rates drop. Hear first-hand from students how Ascend helps make that possible.
Better Learning Conditions, Better Outcomes
Inside the Ascend Solution for Student Success
The Ascend program is a scalable solution that helps colleges and universities create more responsive learning environments and improve student success in college. Each element of the program is designed to help educators understand student experiences, take evidence-based action, and create lasting change in the classroom.
A Framework That Helps Instructors Improve Learning Conditions
Give faculty fast, clear insights into what students are experiencing. Ascend makes it easy for instructors to identify classroom barriers and apply small, research-based changes that foster engagement, motivation, and belonging.
Data That Drives Timely, Targeted Support
Catch early signs of student disengagement before it's too late. Ascend highlights where students may be struggling—academically or emotionally—so staff can step in with meaningful, personalized support that drives retention and completion.
Practical Resources That Connect Insight to Action
Provide faculty with research-based instructional strategies that support the unique needs of all students. Ascend links feedback data to easy-to-apply teaching strategies so educators can respond quickly and effectively, without needing to overhaul their entire approach.
A Scalable Approach to Improve Student Success
Create a unified framework that supports all students. Ascend helps institutions align efforts across departments, ensuring that students receive consistent, equitable support no matter where or how they engage.
What I really like about Ascend is the real-time data to see what is working and what is not working in my class… I really felt supported in my ability to create change [so all students feel valued, respected, and capable of earning a college degree].
Heather Robbins
Senior Lecturer
University of Toledo
Start Using Ascend in Your Institution Today
Student success in higher education is essential for improving retention and preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong success. The Ascend program by PERTS helps faculty and staff with the tools needed to create more engaging learning environments.
Let’s get started—bring Ascend to your institution today.
Measure and Enhance Student Success in Higher Education with PERTS
Understanding and improving how students experience their learning environments is essential to driving student success in higher education. Our experts are ready to help you measure, analyze, and strengthen the factors that empower all students to thrive academically and beyond.