Today’s college students face three fundamental learning challenges. They’re time-poor, navigating individual barriers and, more often than not, are underprepared.

In an era of shifting enrollment trends and increased accountability, student success is paramount. Learners need to have the right tools at their disposal, and the confidence that they can succeed to expand what's possible.

How Genio improves student outcomes

Our 2025 Learner Impact Report explores how Genio Notes empowers students to thrive, drawing from data from hundreds of students across the United States.

Key findings from the report include:

  • Boosted grades: 45% of students improved their GPA after using Genio Notes.
  • Increased confidence: 76% of students felt more confident in their note taking skills.
  • Reduced stress: 78% of users reported less stress while studying, and 76% found exam prep easier.
  • Improved Persistence: 81% of students enjoyed their courses more with Genio Notes, and 74% improved their study skills.

By directly tackling learning challenges, bolstering confidence, reducing stress, and enhancing study skills, Genio Notes offers a scalable solution to help more students thrive and succeed in the evolving higher education landscape.


Introduction 

Today’s college students face several fundamental learning challenges. They’re time-poor, navigating individual barriers and, more often than not, are underprepared.

When these realities are combined with an increasingly complex higher education environment, that consistently tests their ability to balance the demands placed on them, it’s easy to see why so many learners find themselves under significant pressure.

At the same time, many are first-generation learners, working parents, or manage disabilities and mental health challenges. This New Majority Learner is now the norm rather than the exception, and institutions are expected to support them with scalable, effective tools that drive positive outcomes; all against a backdrop of spiralling disengagement, technological advances challenging active learning and a need to develop long term skills as students seek alternative pathways.

At Genio, we believe every student deserves the chance to thrive, regardless of background, barrier, or bandwidth. That’s why we built our note taking and study tool, designed to empower independent learning and boost academic success, that has successfully driven positive learner outcomes for more than 160,000 students and 1000 higher education institutions worldwide.

To ensure we continue on the right path and maintain our positive impact for all learners, each year we conduct our Learner Impact survey. This helps us to assess not only how they are using Genio Notes to navigate the learning experience and to gauge the positive effect of our tools, but to inform iterative improvements as we seek to continuously optimize for learner engagement and optimal outcomes.

When conducting the survey, we investigated a range of metrics that we know are critical indicators of retention and completion; areas of major significance to institutions given that, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, overall persistence rates are down.

This year, the results are derived from two surveys conducted in October 2024 and February 2025. These were sent to Genio Notes users based in the United States, gathering in depth data from 600 individuals.

Metric Institutional value
Improved grades ▶ Academic achievement
Increased confidence ▶ Student self-efficacy
Reduced stress ▶ Learner wellbeing and retention
Improved study skills ▶ Student persistence and long-term success

Genio Notes improves academic performance 

45% of students improved their GPA after using Genio Notes 

  • Students saw an average GPA increase of +0.15 (5%)

  • New Genio Notes users saw an even greater jump of +0.19 GPA (6%)

  • Students at risk of failing (GPA < 2.0) saw a +1.27 GPA increase (79%)

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Genio Notes lifts grades 

"My grades were better, not just my understanding, but applying what I’ve learned."
- Amy Ellgard, Mt San Jacinto Community College

Genio Notes improves student confidence and engagement

  • 76% felt more confident in their note taking skills with Genio Notes. 

  • New users reported a 16% increase in confidence to study effectively from class

  • Confidence gains were highest among first-generation, ESL, and adult learners


Genio Notes builds learners' belief in themselves

"Being able to take notes at a speed that works for me makes me more confident in my ability to learn."
- AJ Schertz, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Genio Notes reduces academic stress 

  • 78% of users said Genio Notes made studying less stressful

  • 76% said exam prep was easier with Genio Notes

  • Students with mental health challenges who used Genio Notes without formal accommodations still saw stress drop by 11%

Genio Notes supports student wellbeing

"I don’t have to stress about writing everything down during lectures, I can actually focus.
Studying is less overwhelming and more effective."
- Ciaran Harland, CUNY BMCC

Genio Notes improves student persistence 

  • 81% said Genio Notes helped them enjoy their course more

  • 88% of working students said Genio Notes improved their course experience

  • Genio Notes helps bridge the skills gap: 74% said it improved their study skills

  • 78% said they review notes more often with Genio Notes 

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Genio Notes drives enjoyment and continuation

"I was able to have a routine where I could enjoy my college life while still doing better in classes."
- Nadine Kauffman, University of Wisconsin - Platteville

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Who benefits the most from using Genio Notes ?

Genio Notes’ impact is strongest for students most at risk of leaving college:

1. New Majority Learners 

Non-traditional learners now constitute the New Majority in higher education. Across the United States, 40.2% of students are over the age of 22 and 69.3% work while studying. Part-time learners constitute 39.2% of the student population and the number of neurodiverse learners has increased by 267% since 2004.

The conventional concept of a college student is no longer accurate. And, across the board, individuals within these defined characteristics have been historically underserved by traditional education. There are many possible reasons for this, but the fact remains that non-traditional learners have been disadvantaged compared to their peers.

As such, more students than ever are turning to technologies like Genio Notes to give them the support they need on their learning journey.

2. Students with additional needs

16.5% of learners identified as neurodivergent in 2022, marking a 267% increase since 2004. Similarly, 4.3% of learners identified as disabled, a 72% increase since 2008.

Evidently, this is a significant demographic shift yet, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 65% of students don’t report their additional needs, particularly if it is not visible, to their school. This means this particular student population is actually significantly higher than the statistics would suggest.

The question for institutions to answer is: how is this experienced, for both students and teachers, in a learning environment? And how can they improve the outcomes for these learners? Enter Genio Notes

3. 'At risk' students

While all learners are susceptible to fundamental learning challenges around confidence and stress, some students succumb to the pressures more than others.

When those students are deemed to be “at risk” by their institution (with a GPA under 2.0), providing the right support is more important than ever. In these cases, having access to a technology such as Genio Notes can be even more critical for increasing the percentage of positive student outcomes amongst those most likely to be suffering.

 

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Why it matters

In an era of declining enrollment and increased accountability, student success is institutional survival.
Genio Notes delivers measurable ROI for colleges and universities:

mortarboard  Boosts GPA and academic momentum

ICON_lightbulb  Builds essential learning skills

jigsaw   Improves retention and reduces equity gaps

ICON_box file  Scales support without increasing faculty or advisor burden

Genio Notes is more than a note taking tool. It’s a scalable, affordable intervention that helps every learner succeed, particularly those who’ve been historically underserved.
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How Genio Notes helps in boosting academic grades 

For all students, the importance of good grades, and a high GPA score, cannot be overstated. This is particularly true for those students that need to maintain a certain GPA in order to stay in their program, graduate, or qualify for scholarships.

Academic performance is also a significant contributor to student engagement levels, with a decline in grades often aligning with a spiral into disengagement. Likewise, trends often indicate that grades typically go down year-over-year, as students tackle more challenging levels in their education.

This context, and the rise of the New Majority who are more likely to be on GPA dependent scholarships, shows just how vital it is for institutions to empower them with the tools they need to succeed.

Genio Notes is here to help learners overcome the barriers restricting their academic performance. When given access to our tools, from the get go, students can thrive. Each and every day we hear of how our technology has positively impacted the academic performance of learners the world over. This year was no different.

Key takeaways: 

  • Students new to Genio Notes saw a +0.19 increase in their GPA on average - a 6% improvement.

  • 45% of students improved their GPA over the semester.

  • 66% of students increased or maintained their GPA over the semester.

  • Students saw an average increase of +0.15 in their GPA - a 5% increase.

  • Building on our 2024 data, this shows that Genio Notes not only helps students boost their grades, but helps them maintain higher performance.

How Genio Notes helps in boosting grades for New Majority Learners

  • Students who identified as parents had the biggest GPA increase over the semester. At 11.4% it was over double the average across all respondents. They also ended the semester as the group with the highest GPA average (3.58).

  • Students who identified as 25 years or older saw the next biggest GPA increase at 9% (+0.29).

  • First-generation and working students saw their GPA increase slightly more than than
    the baseline (4.4%) by 4.9% and 5.1% respectively.

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How Genio Notes helps in boosting grades for students with additional needs 

  • Students with a disability who receive an accommodation saw their GPA rise by 5.2% on average. In stark contrast, students with a disability who do not receive an accommodation saw their GPA drop by 2.7% over the semester.

  • Students with a mental health challenge who receive an accommodation saw their GPA rise by 3.8% on average. In contrast, those who did not receive an accommodation for their mental health challenge(s) saw their GPA drop by 0.7% on average.

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How Genio Notes helps in boosting grades for 'at-risk' students 

  • All but two students increased their grades over the semester, by an average of +1.27, a 79% increase. This suggests that the interventions for this at-risk group were highly effective.

  • 86% of ‘At-Risk’ students said they felt Genio Notes helped them achieve better grades.

 

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How Genio Notes helps to improve academic confidence 

Alongside having the means to achieve their potential, students need to be empowered to develop the skills that will set them up for life. In light of this, Genio Notes  is there to augment, rather than replace the learning process. To scaffold how learners engage with educational content rather than doing the work for them.

The end result is more confident learners. Not only are they better able to navigate the challenges of higher education, they are able to overcome academic stress leading to improved prospects both within and beyond their college life.

Key takeaways:
  • Students new to Genio Notes reported a 16% increase in their confidence to study effectively from class after a semester of using the software.
  • 76% of all respondents agreed that Genio Notes helped them become more confident with their note taking.
  • Between 76-83% of learners in New Majority segments consistently reported that Genio Notes helped them become more confident with their note taking.

How Genio Notes helps to improve academic confidence for New Majority Learners 

All groups reported being significantly more confident in studying from class after a semester of using Genio Notes for the first time, with increases ranging from 20% to 25%.

• First-generation students reported a 20% increase in confidence in studying effectively from class.
• Students aged 25 years or older reported a 21% increase in confidence in studying effectively from class.
• ESL (English as a second language) students reported feeling 23% more confident in studying effectively from class.

New Majority Learners also agreed that Genio Notes  helped them become more confident in their note taking, with 76% to 83% of students agreeing across these groups.

Users felt Genio Notes helped them remember information discussed in lectures, which is particularly helpful for parents who may have other distractions or responsibilities, as well as those with memory loss or processing difficulties.

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How Genio Notes helps to improve academic confidence for students with additional needs 

  • 77% of students with a disability who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes has helped them become more confident with their note taking.

  • 79% of students with a mental health challenge who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes has helped them become more confident with their note taking.

  • Students using Genio Notes for the first time in each of these categories said they enjoyed studying more after a semester with the software.

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How Genio Notes helps in reducing academic stress 

Stress and learning don’t mix well. A stressful learning environment can negatively impact concentration, inhibit information processing and affect overall wellbeing. This can create a complex cocktail of barriers for learners to overcome, simply to be able to access the content being provided on their course.

Likewise, learners are constantly bombarded with information, from digital notifications to simply processing the world around them. This, inevitably, can lead to cognitive overload, fuelling a cycle of disengagement, where learners question their ability to succeed.

However, this end result is not inevitable. With Genio Notes , learners can find greater balance. By ensuring relevant information is captured with the flexibility to process it at a pace, place and time that suits them, learners are in a much better place to reduce their stress levels.

Key takeaways:
  • 78% of students agreed that they experience less stress because of Genio Notes.
  • 76% of students said that studying for exams were less stressful with Genio Notes. 

How Genio Notes helps in reducing academic stress for New Majority Learners 

Genio Notes helped users manage their study time more efficiently, allowing them to balance their academic work with parenting responsibilities. ESL (English as a second language) students reported feeling 14% less stressed after a semester of using Genio Notes, with an 11% improvement on study / life balance.

  • 88% of working students said that Genio Notes allows them to enjoy their course more.

  • 82% of first-generation students said that they experience less stress because they use Genio Notes, providing a sense of security in not missing crucial information. 

How Genio Notes helps in reducing academic stress for students with additional needs

Students with a disability but without an accommodation reported feeling more stressed about studying than their peers, rating their stress at 4.0 compared to 3.6 for those with an accommodation.

86% of the students without an accommodation said they experience less stress because they use Genio Notes. Students using Genio Notes for the first time in each of these categories reported feeling less stressed about their studies after Genio Notes for a semester.

• 7% lower - Students with a disability + receiving accommodations
• 4% lower - Students with a disability + not receiving accommodations
• 7% lower - Students with a mental health challenge + receiving accommodations
• 11% lower - Students with a mental health challenge + not receiving accommodations

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How Genio Notes helps in elevating learning skills 

Alongside academic achievement, confidence and stress levels, a critical aspect of the positive impact that Genio Notes provides is in the development of invaluable learning skills. These skills are useful not only to help students with the transition from high school to higher education, but also to use in life beyond the classroom and in the workplace. Many students, particularly first-generation, cite a key reason they struggle is a lack of understanding how to study.

Higher education is more often than not, a totally new environment, with a much greater emphasis on self advocacy. By using Genio Notes , students can bridge this gap, enhancing their study skills to improve how they digest content, learn from it and harness that new found knowledge.

Key takeaways:
  • 88% of students say that Genio Notes has helped them better manage large amounts of information.
  • 78% of students say that they review notes more with Genio Notes.
  • 74% of students say that Genio Notes has helped improve their study skills.
  • 76% of students say they have become more confident with note taking.
  • 81% of students say that Genio Notes has allowed them to enjoy their course more.

How Genio Notes helps in elevating learning skills for students with additional needs 

  • 74% of students with a disability who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes has helped them improve their study skills.

  • 74% of students with a mental health challenge who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes has helped them improve their study skills.

  • 88% of students with a disability who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes helps them better manage large amounts of information.

  • 89% of students with a mental health challenge who receive an accommodation said that Genio Notes helps them better manage large amounts of information.

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How Genio Notes helps to achieve positive student outcomes across institution types 

In much the same way that each student will have a unique experience of a learning environment, the type of institution at which the learning takes place will have an impact on everything from academic achievement to
student confidence, stress levels and learning skills.

Here we’ll break down how the difference in experience manifests itself across community, public four year and private colleges.

1. Community colleges 
Students saw their GPA increase by +0.37 on average - a 12% increase. From 2.95 to 3.32 on average.
Genio Notes improved community college student outcomes in key areas:

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2. Public four year colleges
Students saw their GPA increase by +0.12 on average - a 3.5% increase. From 3.36 to 3.48 on average.

Genio Notes improved community college student outcomes in key areas:

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3. Private colleges


Students saw their GPA increase by +0.12 on average - a 4% increase. From 3.3 to 3.43 on average.

77% of private college students using Genio Notes say that they are confident in studying effectively from class.

84% say that Genio Notes has enabled them to enjoy their course more.


Conclusion 

Research findings for the Learner Impact Report 2025 establish Genio Notes as far more than a note taking tool; it is a critical intervention addressing the pressing challenges of student success within today's complex, pressured, and unequal higher education environment.

Supporting an increasingly diverse New Majority of learners, Genio Notes  empowers independent learning, helps students overcome numerous barriers, and demonstrably drives positive outcomes. An average GPA increase of 5%, at-risk students achieving a remarkable 79% improvement, and 78% experiencing reduced stress, crucial for the wellbeing of diverse learners, only serves to highlight Genio Notes' ability to boost academic performance and combat declining persistence.

Ultimately, this evidence demonstrates the impact that Genio Notes  can have as a strategic asset for institutions committed to student success. By directly tackling learning challenges, bolstering confidence, reducing stress, and enhancing study skills, Genio Notes  offers a scalable solution to help more students thrive and succeed in the evolving higher education landscape, representing a vital investment in a more equitable future for all learners.

Download the report below and discover ways your institution can benefit from Genio Notes.
Empower learners of all abilities

Empower learners of all abilities

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