Meeting ROI Goals with Hypothesis: A Smart Investment in Student Success

Why ROI Matters in Higher Education

Every edtech investment in higher education must justify its cost—not just in terms of initial funding, but in how well it improves student success, faculty efficiency, and institutional goals. As colleges and universities evaluate digital learning tools, they need solutions that demonstrate real, measurable impact on retention, engagement, and learning outcomes.

For many institutions, measuring ROI (Return on Investment) for engagement and learning tools presents a challenge. Unlike financial investments, where outcomes are clear-cut, the effectiveness of a student success tool can be more difficult to quantify.

This is where Hypothesis makes a difference. More than just another edtech tool, Hypothesis is a strategic investment that fosters student engagement, increases course completion rates, and improves learning outcomes. 

The result is higher retention rates, better student performance, and increased faculty efficiency—all of which contribute to a strong ROI.

How Hypothesis Drives ROI in Higher Education

1. Increasing Student Engagement & Retention

A higher level of student engagement leads to better outcomes—students who actively interact with course materials are more likely to stay enrolled, complete their courses, and succeed academically.

Case Study: Cerritos College

• After implementing Hypothesis, Cerritos College saw a 32% increase in retention rates in composition and drama courses.
• Before Hypothesis: 12 students completed the course, 7 dropped.
• After Hypothesis: 18 students completed the course, only 1 dropped.
• More engaged students led to higher retention and lower dropout rates.

2. Improving Student Performance & Learning Outcomes

Research shows that interactive annotation leads to deeper comprehension and stronger critical thinking skills. When students actively engage with course materials, they retain more information and perform better on assessments.

Case Study: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

• After switching from traditional discussion boards to Hypothesis, UAF faculty saw:
  • Failure rates decrease by 5-33% across multiple courses.
  • Grades improve by 4-24%, showing a direct correlation between social annotation and student success.
• When students engage with course content in a meaningful way, their academic performance improves.

3. Faculty Efficiency & Time Savings

Instructors are often overwhelmed with the time it takes to moderate discussion boards, review assignments, and provide feedback. Hypothesis reduces this workload by embedding discussions directly into course readings, eliminating the need for separate, disconnected conversations.

How Hypothesis Improves Faculty Efficiency:

• Reduces time spent managing discussion boards since annotations happen within the text itself.
• Enables faculty to engage with students at the moment of learning rather than responding to passive posts after the fact.
• Streamlines grading, making it easier to track participation and provide feedback efficiently.
• Faculty spend less time on administrative tasks and more time engaging with students.

4. Seamless LMS Integration = Lower Implementation Costs

One major barrier to adopting new edtech tools is implementation complexity and cost. Many platforms require separate logins, additional training, or heavy IT involvement, creating friction for both faculty and students.

How Hypothesis simplifies implementation and reduces costs:

• Integrates directly with existing LMS platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, etc.).
• No additional accounts, passwords, or external apps needed—students use the tools they’re already familiar with.
• Requires minimal IT support, reducing institutional overhead.
• Scales across departments—once implemented, it can be used across courses and disciplines.

This makes Hypothesis a cost-effective, easy-to-adopt solution that doesn’t add extra work for faculty or IT teams.

Real-World ROI: Institutions Seeing Results with Hypothesis

Colleges and universities that have adopted Hypothesis have seen measurable improvements in retention, grades, and faculty efficiency.

Cerritos College & UAF Case Studies:

• Higher student retention and lower dropout rates.
• Improved learning outcomes—students engage more deeply with readings, leading to better grades and comprehension.
• Faculty time savings, allowing instructors to focus on teaching rather than administrative work.

These successes highlight how Hypothesis aligns with institutional ROI goals, making it a sustainable, cost-effective investment for higher education.

Conclusion: A High-Impact, Cost-Effective Investment

Institutions need edtech solutions that go beyond engagement metrics and provide real, measurable value.

Hypothesis improves:

• Student engagement, leading to higher retention rates.
• Student performance, resulting in better grades and deeper learning.
• Faculty efficiency, saving time and reducing administrative burdens.
• Scalability and cost-effectiveness by integrating seamlessly within existing LMS platforms.

For colleges and universities looking to maximize ROI while enhancing student success, Hypothesis is a proven solution that delivers long-term benefits.