Academic Course Grades as Better Predictors of Graduation from a Commuter-Type College Than SAT Scores

Abstract

High school transcripts of 400 college freshmen were randomly selected from an enrollment of 1990 students who entered an urban, commuter-type college in 1979. Those who were graduated four years later or who were still enrolled in good standing provided academic profiles in which the number of academic courses taken in high school was the best predictor of college success. High school rank was the second best predictor, while the high school grade point average was third best, and the SAT score, fourth. When academic courses were considered alone, the number of high school units passed in mathematics was the best predictor.