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The purpose of this study was to determine if freshman students based on their age, ethnicity, and gender who enter a community college with a GED credential will have a higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) after their first semester than traditional high school graduates. Findings from this study will aid individuals in developing a more accurate perception of the academic abilities of GED graduates. The academic performance of GED graduates was compared with traditional high school graduates after their first semester at a rural community college in the Fall 2007 semester. Intact data from the students' academic records were used for this study (n=680). Graduates were compared on gender, race, and age. Data were analyzed with the t-test and a multiple linear regression. There was not a statistically significant difference in the mean GPA between GED graduates and traditional high school graduates. It was also found that there was a statistically significant difference between the ethnic groups, as whites had higher mean GPAs than the nonwhite students. There was not a statistically significant difference between the mean GPAs among the male and female students. The age of the college students had no influence on GPAs.
Advisor: | Davis, James Ed |
Commitee: | Johnson, WC, Mathews, Jerry, Taylor, Walter N. |
School: | Mississippi State University |
Department: | Instructional Systems, Leadership, and Workforce Development |
School Location: | United States -- Mississippi |
Source: | DAI-A 70/12, Dissertation Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Community college education |
Keywords: | Academic performance, Academic performance in community college, Community college, GED students, Grade point averages and college, High school students, Rural education, Traditional high school students and GED graduates |
Publication Number: | 3386301 |
ISBN: | 978-1-109-51640-1 |