Course Completion Rates Are Down. Here’s What to Do About It.
Most online courses don’t get finished.
That’s not a guess. It’s what the data shows.
Even paid courses, even well-produced ones, are seeing completion rates under 10 percent.
If that hits a little too close to home, you’re not alone. Most people who start a course stop somewhere in the middle. And the reasons usually have less to do with the student and more to do with the course structure.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the most common issues I see and what I recommend instead.
Why People Don’t Finish
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
The course is too long
There are too many lessons and not enough clarity
Students get overwhelmed or distracted
They don’t feel a real connection to the material
Life pulls them away and there’s no clear path back
It’s not that they didn’t care. It’s that the course didn’t keep momentum.
Let’s Fix That
Here’s what I look at when I help someone rebuild a course that students actually finish:
1. Simplify the Scope
Most first-time course creators try to teach everything. But people finish what feels clear and doable.
What’s the one problem this course solves?
What outcome does it promise?
Cut anything that doesn’t serve that.
2. Focus on the First Win
The first lesson sets the tone.
If someone walks away from Module 1 feeling like they accomplished something, even something small, they’re more likely to keep going.
That might be a mindset shift. It might be setting something up. Just make sure it moves them forward.
3. Shorten Your Lessons
This is a big one.
Most students don’t want to watch a 45-minute video. Break it down. Keep each lesson focused on a single action or concept.
Aim for 5 to 10 minutes. Give them a place to pause and apply. That’s what creates real learning.
4. Build Momentum into the Design
Use visual progress bars. Add a checklist. Automate reminder emails. Or send a quick encouragement note halfway through the course.
None of this has to be complicated. It just has to make them feel like you’re still there with them.
5. Make it Feel Personal
People don’t finish courses when they feel disconnected. You don’t have to do live calls to make it personal. But don’t be a voice behind slides the whole time.
Use your face. Your story. Your voice.
Even a one-minute video intro in each module can go a long way.
Course Completion Is Your Responsibility Too
If students aren’t finishing, it doesn’t mean your content isn’t good. But it might mean the structure needs some attention.
It’s fixable. And when you shift your course from content-heavy to outcome-focused, your students start finishing. They start getting results. And that’s what sells your work long term.
Want to Rework a Course That’s Not Landing?
I help coaches and creatives simplify their course content so it’s easier to finish and easier to sell.
If you're ready to create something your students actually complete, let’s talk.
Book a free strategy session and we’ll look at what’s working and what needs to change.
