The Determinants of First-Year Academic Performance in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, 1990-1999

This research identifies and quantifies the determinants of first-year academic performance in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, 1990-1999. Forty-eight percent of the variation in first-semester college grades was explained by high school grades, standardized test scores, socioeconomic variables, high school characteristics, credit hours completed, and major field of study. Approximately 62% of the variation in second-semester grades was explained. First-semester college grades explained 43% of second-semester grades. Several statistically significant relationships are detected, and the implications for students, advisors, and administrators are discussed.