Major Study of 11,800 Students Reveals Genio Notes Significantly Improves Academic Outcomes and Reduces Dropout Risk

New research shows note-taking technology increases GPAs by 3.6% while reducing dropout intentions by 28%, with particularly strong benefits for New Majority learners and students with accommodations

CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Genio, a provider of learning tools that significantly improve student success, today released The Impact of Genio on Student Success and Retention in Higher Education. This comprehensive, mixed-methods study shows that Genio Notes reduces dropout intentions for higher education students while increasing academic performance and engagement. The research, conducted by LXD Research across multiple institutions during the 2024-2025 academic year, analyzed data from more than 11,800 students using Genio Notes along with detailed surveys with more than 2,100 of these students.

Taking notes during class is a valuable exercise that not only enables students to record knowledge for future reference, but also enables students "to make connections between idea units and engage in deep processing of course content," according to a review of the literature on this topic from Harvard University.
The study revealed statistically significant improvements across four critical areas:

• Academic Performance: Student GPAs increased by 3.6%, rising from 3.34 to 3.46.
• Dropout Prevention: Students' dropout intentions declined by 28%, falling from 7% to 5%.
• Student Engagement: High-usage students (using Genio Notes more than 50 times per semester) demonstrated greater academic engagement — a measure of how deeply students are engaged with the material — compared to low-usage students.
• Stress Reduction: Notable reductions in academic stress levels, with particularly strong benefits for New Majority learners—the 67% of students who are working adults, parents, first-generation students, and those from underrepresented backgrounds—and students with learning disabilities.

Genio Notes is a research-based, intelligent note-taking system that empowers students to engage with lecture content more efficiently. Using the company's "capture, organize, refine, and apply" (CORA) methodology, the platform integrates audio recordings, transcripts, notes, and slides into comprehensive, searchable study resources.

Students can highlight key points, add annotations, and revisit materials at their own pace, with features specifically designed to support accessibility and diverse learning needs. Additionally, drawing only on the application's captured notes, the app can create custom quizzes to test a student's knowledge. In this way, Genio Notes removes unproductive friction while increasing students' cognitive exertion, the intellectual struggle that is required to master new concepts.

"As a working parent, I can't always give 100% attention in class. [Genio Notes] lets me capture everything and review when my kids are asleep. It's the difference between passing and failing for me," said one student who participated in the study.

The study's findings come at a critical time for higher education, as institutions grapple with rising student attrition rates and mounting financial pressures. Recent research shows that student churn costs higher education institutions $10.72 billion annually, with first-year students accounting for just over 45% of those losses.

"This research validates what we've observed in classrooms across the globe," said Dave Tucker, founder and CEO of Genio. "When we support the challenges of learning and give students tools that fit naturally into how they study, extraordinary things happen. These aren't just statistics; they represent thousands of students who are now more confident, less stressed, and better equipped to achieve their academic goals. Genio Notes provides a research-backed solution that transforms the learning experience to increase student success, confidence and retention."

Genio achieves ESSA Level 3
The results of this study have enabled Genio Notes to achieve ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Level 3. ESSA is a four-tiered standard under the U.S. Department of Education that identifies research-backed solutions for learners. The research was conducted by LXD Research, an independent research firm that evaluates educational programs with ESSA-aligned methods.

Download the complete study here.

About Genio
Genio's mission is to unlock better learning for everyone, with courses that develop learning skills and tools that put knowledge into action. Genio's products are beautifully simple, meaningfully structured, and effortlessly connected. Trusted by more than 1,000 institutions globally, Genio has assisted learners in over 1.6 million classes, empowering 91% of learners using Genio's tools to improve and maintain their grades while reducing stress and boosting confidence. Especially as non-traditional students become the new majority learner, Genio helps institutions increase persistence and grow graduation rates.

For more information on Genio, visit https://genio.co.

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SOURCE Genio