We developed a Virtual Reality based assessment tool, VRLearner, to assess and help reinforce student learning outcomes in higher education. The tool was evaluated and compared with a regular assessment tool with the same contents. The evaluation results show that students, particularly underrepresented minority students from our focus group, prefer to use the VR based tool and find it is much more engaging and increased participants' sense of involvement. Our results suggest that virtual reality technology provides an opportunity to leverage learning relevant interaction, which can enhance the design of learning technology and serious games.