Admission Test Scores and Colleges’ Retention Rates

Most higher education institutions eliminated standardized test requirements for applicants following the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of college admission criteria on college student retention has been the subject of extensive research in higher education. This literature suggests that admission c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of higher education theory and practice 2024-07, Vol.24 (7), p.97-105
Main Authors: Ma, Alyson C., Bouvet, Florence, Campbell, Jason, Sumner, Steven, Ratcliff, Ryan, Narwold, Andrew, Sandy, Jon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Admissions policies
College admissions
COVID-19
Educational Needs
Enrollments
Females
Grade Point Average
Outcomes of Education
School Holding Power
Standardized Tests
Student retention
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Summary:Most higher education institutions eliminated standardized test requirements for applicants following the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of college admission criteria on college student retention has been the subject of extensive research in higher education. This literature suggests that admission criteria play a significant role in influencing student retention rates. However, the impacts of test-optional admissions procedures have been relatively understudied. Using a dataset of admissions requirements, institutional profiles, measures of collegiate success, financial aid, and demographics of full-time, first-year students at public or not-for-profit private 4-year institutions for the 2021-2022 academic year, we find that, of the different criteria used in admission policies, required or recommended letters of recommendation and graduation rates combined have an impact on college retention rates. Required or recommended admission test scores positively increase retention rates, albeit not robustly.
ISSN:2158-3595
DOI:10.33423/jhetp.v24i7.7094