2025 Digital Accessibility Index
Education
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Accessibility barriers limit access to online learning
For students and educators, digital platforms are essential tools—but many education websites still fall short on accessibility, creating barriers to learning, coursework, and academic resources.
One of the biggest challenges is poor color contrast. Education websites had one of the highest rates of contrast violations per page, making it difficult for students with low vision to read course materials, access schedules, or complete assignments.
Navigation is another key issue. Ambiguous links, inaccessible forms, and keyboard barriers can make it harder for students to register for courses, access learning materials, or submit assignments. When educational platforms lack accessibility, they limit opportunities for students with disabilities and create unnecessary obstacles to success.
On average, education sites had the second-highest rate of page elements that failed minimum color contrast requirements
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Bar chart showing WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast test failure rates by sector: Education 27.9%, Hospitality 29.6%, Finance 24.2%, Software 24.7%, Government 23.7%, Healthcare 22.9%, Retail 18.1%
INDUSTRY COMPARISON
Where do education websites fall short?
We scanned 53,336 pages across 1,193 education websites, focusing on key areas like student portals, enrollment forms, and resource libraries.
Education sites had one of the highest rates of missing or faulty image alt text (66.6% page fail rate) — a significant challenge for students who rely on screen readers to engage with visual learning materials such as charts, graphs, and instructional images.
Inaccessible images limit access to visual learning materials
Education sites had an average of 17.5 inaccessible images per page. Missing alt text on graphs, charts, and course diagrams can make it difficult for students with visual disabilities to fully engage with course materials.
Low color contrast makes course materials harder to read
The average education page had 87.7 violations of WCAG's minimum color contrast requirements — obscuring critical details on learning materials for students with low vision.
Keyboard accessibility barriers disrupt site navigation
Education websites had an average of 8.2 keyboard accessibility issues per page. These barriers can prevent keyboard-only users from navigating student portals, accessing learning materials, or submitting assignments.
Inaccessible links can slow down learning
The average education page had 4.9 inaccessible links, which can make it difficult for all students to locate critical resources like class materials, academic calendars, or support services.
Inaccessible forms can create obstacles for students
Education websites had 4.2 inaccessible forms, labels, or buttons per page — making it difficult for students to create accounts, register for courses, or submit assignments.
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INFOGRAPHIC
Digital Accessibility for School Districts & Universities
Get the latest insights into the accessibility of education sites.
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