Math and Success: Findings From the National College Databases

• In Event: Success in STEM Coursework

Abstract

College attendance can confer many advantages within the US. However, the benefits are not uniform and attending college also comes with significant costs. One aspect of this is the relationship between the academic achievements of incoming students and their experiences after attending college.

Previous research has shown that both math achievement and math education level are correlated with a range of positive outcomes. This study uses data from US Department of Education Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and the US Department of Education College Scorecard (Scorecard) set to further explore this issue. We find there is a significant positive relationship between math level and a range of measures of college success: future earnings, graduation rate, and loan repay rate.

Authors

• Jack Marley-Payne, Financial Life Cycle Education Corp.

• Philip Dituri, Financial Life Cycle Education

• Andrew Davidson