University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Predicting College Graduation: Are Admissions Test Scores and High School Performance Measures Adequate

Murphy, Marilyn M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/80338

Description

Title
Predicting College Graduation: Are Admissions Test Scores and High School Performance Measures Adequate
Author(s)
Murphy, Marilyn M.
Issue Date
1999
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
  • Coombs, Fred,
  • Loeb, Jane
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Administration
Language
eng
Abstract
"Admission to most institutions of higher education is based primarily on test scores and high school performance. These measures should properly be used to predict first-year grades; however, their de facto use is in choosing who will most likely graduate. I found the best predictors of college graduation are the number of terms enrolled and the mean hours earned per term, not the grades earned, though cumulative grades are the third best predictor. The results varied somewhat by race/ethnic group. Also important to success are changing majors and the percentage of terms at a ""C"" grade or better. Not significant are sex, admissions test score, and beginning in a math or science curriculum. Two factors show a negative relationship to graduation: the first-term hours and high school rank. If grades are not the best predictors of success in college, then the admissions process should not rely solely on test score and high school rank."
Graduation Semester
1999
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/80338

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