As tuition becomes a more prominent tool to address financial challenges of colleges and universities, it is critically important to examine the implications of tuition increases on institutions and their students. The goal of this study is to examine the effects of tuition increases at public 4 year and community colleges on institutions'…

Recently, multiple studies have focused on the phenomenon of "undermatching"--when students attend a college for which they are overqualified, as measured by test scores and grades. The extant literature suggests that students who undermatch fail to maximize their potential. However, gaps remain in our knowledge about how student…

Using a conceptual model, this study examines the variables associated with the "U.S. News and World Report" peer assessment ratings of graduate and professional schools in business, education, engineering, law, and medicine. What are the correlates of prestige among the nation's leading graduate and professional schools, and are they consistent…

College rankings and guidebooks have become big business. The prominent role played by rankings and guidebooks is problematic because the criteria used to evaluate institutions have little to do with the quality of education students receive. Designed as an alternative to college rankings, NSSE assesses student engagement in activities that…

The demographic technique of direct standardization was used to assess the selectivity of selective private colleges. Results showed selectivity rankings varied greatly according to whether crude or adjusted acceptance rates were used. Adjusted rates reduced comparison problems for colleges with variable-quality applicant pools. (MSE)

Two studies examining the effect of grade inflation on the piling up of grades in fewer grade categories and on the reliability of grade point averages found that reliability suffered significantly only in graduate study in which almost all grades were in two categories, A and B. Some other small effects were found in different rating scales. (MSE)

Three areas (business, psychology, and sociology/anthropology) at Kansas State University were studied. Significant differences were found in the orientations and the criteria that are being used and that should be used (according to the respondents) for performance evaluation. All agreed that teaching should be an important evaluative criterion.…

The distributions of indices of academic abilities and achievements of entering freshmen classes and of classes at the end of the first year of college over an eight-year period are compared. Data show a decline in ACT test scores, increases in high school grades of college entrants, and the stability of test scores and increases in college grades…

A study examined the processes used by 322 college-bound students, in the course of a year, to choose a college. Sources of information, decision-making activities, and college selection criteria were considered. Results indicate shifts in information sources and decision-making activities, differences in higher ability students, and gender…

A study in one private university classified four academic disciplines as hard or soft and pure or applied, then compared student evaluations of courses for organization, breadth of coverage, group interaction, enthusiasm, grading, and individual rapport. Results suggest a single evaluation form may not be appropriate for all disciplines.…

Study of students (n=546) from two colleges found selective college students procrastinated more. Academic procrastination was motivated by task aversion at selective college, by fear of task failure at nonselective college. Nonselective college procrastinators more often used both legitimate and nonlegitimate excuses. Excuses were self-generated…

A study investigated who uses the "U.S. News and World Report,""Money," and other national magazine rankings of colleges and universities, and what types of freshmen find these rankings useful in choosing a college. It also analyzed the for-profit sector's encroachment into a critical educational arena, college access, and…

A graduation efficiency index for colleges and universities is computed by subtracting transfer credits from minimum degree credit requirements, dividing remainder by the sum of a student's enrollment census day credits. Analysis of results for University of Washington bachelor's degree recipients, show nontransfers graduated with more efficiency…