Despite lack of standardization, high school grade-point average (HSGPA) is frequently the best single predictor of first-year postsecondary GPA (FYGPA). This study evaluated the extent to which HSGPA reflected standardized test scores, social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies, demographics, and high-school characteristics. Dominance analysis…

The purpose of this descriptive, quantitative study is to explore the matriculation rates for first-time, full-time freshmen who were previously enrolled in dual enrollment courses while in high school at one of the 13 public community colleges in Tennessee. Percentages, means, standard deviations, ranges, percentages, and proportions were used to…

First-year mathematics instructors at universities across North America and the globe have been noticing a decline in the mathematics skills and preparation of their incoming students, who have been failing out of first-year mathematics courses at alarming rates. Though some universities have implemented placement or diagnostic tests to measure…

The proliferation of Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment taken by high school students expanded over the past few decades due concerted efforts to make the accelerated mechanisms more available to historically underrepresented groups and to reduce the cost of higher education. Supported by years of research correlating improved first-year…

Regional comprehensive universities offer accessible and diverse undergraduate educational programs, while grappling with funding cuts and affordability. The study's first research question underscores the enduring importance of factors such as student characteristics, pre-college characteristics, and financial situations. The findings highlight…

In Kentucky, the number of high school students participating in dual credit programs is on the rise, increasing the need for research to explore the effects of dual credit on postsecondary academic outcomes. This research brief focuses on two areas: second-year persistence and first-year grade point average (GPA) in college. The study shows that…

Utilizing course grade data from 22 four-year higher education institutions, this study highlights the trends in first-year grade point average (FYGPA) between the 2017-2018 and 2021-2022 academic years, the period immediately before and after the pandemic disrupted both K12 and higher education. Results showed that while FYGPAs generally…

Objective: Children with ADHD exhibit deficits in academic motivation compared to their peers. Yet conceptualizations of motivation according to prominent motivation theories connected to achievement have not been studied in college-bound youth with ADHD symptoms. Method: This study examined motivation according to these theories, differences in…

Many students use financial aid to pay for their collegiate education, specifically gift aid and student loans. While gift aid is free, it has not kept up with increasing college costs, which has led to borrowing student loans. Students believe borrowing loans are an investment in their employment goals (Baker et al., 2017; Dwyer et al., 2012;…

A small public historically Black college and university (HBCU) is offering the Providing Opportunities with Education and Readiness (POWER), a summer program to improve precollege high school students' academic performance and subsequent retention once in college. The problem investigated by this study was the low retention rates and grade point…

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between high school sport participation among university students and whether previous sports participation was associated with current levels of exercise self-efficacy, resilience, and psychological need satisfaction physical activity behaviors. Participants: College freshmen (n = 152) in the United States…

Background/Context: Although dual enrollment (DE) programs have indicated positive impact on various high school and postsecondary outcomes, access to DE programs remains unequal; historically marginalized students are less likely than other students to attempt college credits in high school. Despite DE being a widely adopted program at the state…

This research brief examines the impact of dual credit participation on second-year persistence and first-year GPA, broken down by gender. It also explores whether dual credit courses can help narrow the gap in outcomes between female and male students. The first brief in this series (ED611821) already revealed a gap in dual credit participation…

The transition from high school to university can be difficult and stressful for many students who are not sure of how to be successful in their courses and become engaged in extracurricular activities beyond the classroom. This paper describes the design and outcomes of the Preparation for Academic Success in Science (PASS) transition program in…

This research brief examines the impact of dual credit participation on second-year persistence and first-year GPA among low-income and underrepresented minority (URM) students. The brief also explores whether dual credit opportunities help close outcome gaps affecting these student groups. Low-income is defined by a student's federal Pell grant…