Case Study: Idaho State University boosts student retention and cuts course material costs with Top Hat

Idaho State University boosts course pass rates from 70% to 98% with Top Hat

Idaho State University faced a significant challenge in its Comm 1101 course, where the high cost of a traditional $100 textbook created a barrier to student success. With only a third of students purchasing the required materials, fail rates were around 30% and retention suffered. Course coordinator Dr. Nancy Legge also struggled to find a publisher's platform that offered the flexibility to customize content for the course's unique argumentative speech focus without technical issues.

The university implemented Top Hat's dynamic courseware platform, integrating a digital textbook with custom materials to create a seamless and affordable online experience. This solution from Top Hat reduced the cost of course materials by 50% and led to a dramatic improvement in outcomes. The pass rate for the course jumped from 70% to 98%, and over 90% of students now purchase the required resources, greatly improving student retention and success.

Idaho State University