Bimodal Realities: Academic Achievement and Persistence of Traditional Undergraduate Students in Online Courses

This study aimed to evaluate the academic success of traditional undergraduate students in online general education coursework. This quantitative study uses student grades and credit completion data to examine differences between online and face-to-face students and the extent of those differences. When comparing the two modalities, the findings indicate a significant difference between final course grades and no significant difference in persistence to course completion. We recommend that higher education institutions align outcomes for courses offered in multiple modalities and continue to provide various course modalities for the traditional undergraduate student population.