Predictive Validity of High School GPA and ACT Composite Score on Graduating College GPA: Examining First-Year College GPA as a Mediator

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The study concludes that both high school GPA (HSGPA) and ACT scores are significant predictors of college success, particularly first-year college GPA (FYGPA) [2] - FYGPA mediates the relationship between ACT scores and cumulative GPA (CGPA), but not between HSGPA and CGPA [2] - The interaction between HSGPA and ACT scores is a significant predictor of CGPA, emphasizing the importance of consistent achievement across both measures for better outcomes [2] Summary by Sections Introduction - Prior research indicates that both ACT scores and HSGPA are important predictors of college success, with HSGPA often being a stronger predictor than ACT scores [10][11] - The current study aims to explore how FYGPA mediates the effects of ACT scores and HSGPA on CGPA [14] Methods - The analytical sample included ACT-tested students from a southern state, tracked for six years to determine degree completion [17] - Key measures included ACT Composite Score, Cumulative High School GPA, First-Year College GPA, and Cumulative Graduating College GPA [18][19][21][22] Results - The average ACTC score was 23.48, average HSGPA was 3.52, and both average FYGPA and CGPA were 3.38 [29] - The sample consisted of 7,516 students, with a higher representation of female students and a majority being White [29] - Path analysis indicated that FYGPA is a mediator of the effect of ACTC score on CGPA, while HSGPA did not show significant predictive power in this model [44] Discussion - The findings highlight the importance of using both HSGPA and ACT scores for predicting long-term college success, such as CGPA [85] - The study suggests that colleges should consider both measures in admissions processes to better identify students needing academic support [85]