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Recent Trends in College Readiness and Subsequent College Performance

Schools and universities across the country are still grappling with the long aftermath of the covid pandemic, seeking an appropriate balance between academic rigor and accommodation for students affected by extended learning disruptions. To better inform those discussions, we’ve conducted research to examine trends in first-year grade point averages and test scores.

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Recent Trends in College Readiness and Subsequent College Performance: With Faculty Perspectives on Student Readiness

This study examines trends in first-year grade point average (FYGPA) during the period immediately before and after the pandemic disrupted both K-12 and higher education. Results showed that while FYGPAs generally increased at institutions with more selective admission standards, especially private, more selective institutions, FYGPAs remained relatively unchanged at the less selective institutions. High school grade point average (HSGPA) generally increased among incoming students at nearly every institution while SAT® scores generally decreased. College faculty were also surveyed to better understand college readiness trends over the same period. Results suggest that the characteristics of incoming students as well as their academic performance in college are weaker now than in the past. Implications for future higher education research and facilitating nuanced K-12 and higher education conversations on more effectively preparing students for college are discussed.

NEW REPORT COMING SOON: follow-up report focused on College Faculty Perspectives on Post-Pandemic College Readiness

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