How do I check an online course business’s student completion and refund patterns?

Request a progress export that shows how far each student got, not only whether they finished. Look for the lesson where many students drop off. A sharp drop usually points to one weak module or a point where the course gets difficult. Ask the seller whether they have noticed it and what they did about it.

Pull the refund log next and note the date of each refund relative to the purchase. Early refunds may come from buyers who expected something different from the sales page. Later ones may reflect disappointment in the content itself. Ask what reasons students gave and whether the seller tracked them.

Compare cohorts. Students who joined through one promotion may behave differently from those who came through search or word of mouth. Check student reviews, community posts and support messages for complaints that match the data. Also ask whether the seller changed the course after the problem areas became clear, because a course that has never been updated may need work from you after the sale. Ask who answered refund requests and what they were told to say. If staff approved every request without questions, the refund log may understate how many students were unhappy, so read the support messages too.

Key takeaways

• Look for the lesson where students stop, not just the finish rate.
• Read refund timing alongside the reasons students gave.
• Compare behaviour across cohorts and traffic sources.