Digital and online platforms have undergone a significant transformation in recent years, and their adoption by educational institutions is steadily increasing. It is therefore essential to evaluate the influence of these factors on students’ learning effectiveness. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present research is to examine the impact of educational digital literacy, educational aspiration, and self-directed learning on e-learning motivation and e-learning effectiveness. The mediating role of e-learning motivation is also explored in this study. A seven-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed to collect data from students, who constituted the study population. A convenience sampling technique was employed, resulting in a usable response rate of 57.41%. The data were analyzed using Smart PLS 4 as the analytical tool and SEM as the statistical technique. The findings reveal that educational digital literacy, educational aspiration, and self-directed learning have a significant positive effect on online learning motivation. Furthermore, e-learning motivation demonstrates a strong relationship with e-learning effectiveness. The results also confirm the mediating role of e-learning motivation between educational digital literacy, educational aspiration, self- directed learning, and e-learning effectiveness. This study contributes theoretically by highlighting the effect of these variables on e-learning effectiveness. The findings are also practically valuable for policymakers and educational institutions seeking to enhance students’ academic performance.