|
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURSE LOAD
AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE EARNED BY ENTERING FRESHMEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS AT AUSTIN
by
Gary M. Lavergne, Director of Research
Office of Admissions
The University of Texas at Austin |
Cindy Hargett, Senior Systems Analyst
Office of Admissions
The University of Texas at Austin |
Printer Friendly PDF Version
The Approach
This study looks at entering freshmen enrolled during the fall semesters
of 1996, 1998, and 1999. Mean GPAs at the end of the semester were computed
and sorted by the number of hours attempted. Since it is the intent of
this investigation to look at the relationship between course load burdens,
these GPAs do not include grades earned via credit-by-examination.
SAT score intervals were used to control for academic ability. This
allowed for looking at the performance of students with comparable abilities
(at least as measured by the ACT/SAT). It addresses the concern that higher
GPAs for heavier course loads may have resulted from more academically-able
students flourishing while carrying more credit hours.
The data was also disaggregated by racial/ethnic group. This was to
determine whether there were significant course load and GPA pattern differences.
Fall 1996 data were included in order to determine whether GPA trends
differed during a semester in which a classic admissions model was used
and was heavily influenced by college admissions test scores and affirmative
action. Fall 1998 and 1999 admissions included the automatic admission
of Texas explicit top 10% students (see HB 588 Reports) and less reliance
on test scores.
Results
Table 1 shows a clear trend towards higher percentages of students attempting
only 12 or 13 hours (46.81% in 1996 compared to 54.63% in 1999). At the
same time the portion of students attempting 14-17 hours is decreasing
(from 47.70% in 1996 to about 39% in 1999).
Table 1
Course Load Patterns of Entering Freshmen
1996-1998-1999
| |
1996
|
1998
|
1999
|
|
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
|
12 Hours
|
1473 |
26.91 |
1612 |
27.10 |
1837 |
28.82 |
|
13 Hours
|
1089 |
19.90 |
1477 |
24.83 |
1645 |
25.81 |
|
14 Hours
|
1473 |
26.91 |
1344 |
22.60 |
1339 |
21.01 |
|
15 Hours
|
780 |
14.25 |
803 |
13.50 |
818 |
12.83 |
|
16 Hours
|
299 |
5.46 |
303 |
5.09 |
308 |
4.83 |
|
17 Hours
|
59 |
1.08 |
66 |
1.11 |
53 |
<1.0 |
|
18 Hours
|
6 |
<1.0 |
4 |
<1.0 |
4 |
<1.0 |
|
All Students
|
5473 |
100.00 |
5948 |
100.00 |
6374 |
100.00 |
Tables 2-7 illustrated course loads and breaks them down by SAT score
intervals and racial/ethnic groups.
For each of the three years studies, the fall semesters of 1996, 1998,
and 1999, students carrying 15-17 hours outperformed their classmates taking
12-13 hours. (Consideration: The number of students taking 17 hours is
small.)
When factoring in ACT/SAT scores, to control for academic ability, mean
GPAs are somewhat erratic at the extreme ends of the SAT scale: There seems
to be no pattern for very high or very low scoring students in any of the
years studied. For the bulk of the students near the median score, however,
mean GPAs reach their highest points at 15-17 hours attempted.
A look at racial/ethnic breakdowns during the three years studied shows
small differences among the groups. Again, each tended to perform best
when carrying 15-17 hours. In a few cases, some groups benefited by taking
13-14 instead of 15-16 hours, but even then, the differences were small.
None of the groups had highest mean GPAs with a 12-hour course load.
In summary, there is no observable evidence supporting a notion that
students taking fewer semester hours earn higher GPAs. This is true for
all students, and subgroups when separated by both ability (ACT/SAT scores),
and racial/ethnic groups. On the contrary, if there is a pattern at all,
it is that students taking moderate to moderately-heavy course loads (14-17
hours) outperform their classmates taking fewer hours (12-13 hours).
Table 2
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND SAT COMBINED SCORES
FALL 1996
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
<900
|
24
|
2.43
|
7
|
2.55
|
3
|
2.28
|
7
|
2.30
|
1
|
2.40
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
44
|
2.37
|
|
900-990
|
71
|
2.34
|
18
|
2.84
|
14
|
2.25
|
13
|
2.79
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
2.07
|
1
|
2.33
|
128
|
2.46
|
|
1000-1090
|
239
|
2.50
|
126
|
2.75
|
121
|
2.75
|
60
|
2.64
|
16
|
2.75
|
1
|
3.60
|
-
|
-
|
598
|
2.62
|
|
1100-1190
|
455
|
2.70
|
282
|
2.77
|
318
|
2.84
|
152
|
2.88
|
33
|
2.68
|
7
|
3.00
|
1
|
2.61
|
1324
|
2.74
|
|
1200-1290
|
419
|
2.76
|
327
|
2.78
|
472
|
2.94
|
215
|
3.04
|
74
|
2.86
|
19
|
2.89
|
2
|
2.67
|
1626
|
2.83
|
|
1300-1390
|
199
|
2.92
|
219
|
3.06
|
336
|
3.11
|
190
|
3.16
|
84
|
3.23
|
13
|
3.53
|
1
|
2.93
|
1082
|
3.06
|
|
1400-1490
|
60
|
3.10
|
92
|
3.20
|
160
|
3.39
|
104
|
3.47
|
65
|
3.35
|
13
|
3.43
|
-
|
-
|
521
|
3.31
|
|
>1500
|
6
|
2.92
|
18
|
3.02
|
48
|
3.49
|
39
|
3.65
|
26
|
3.65
|
5
|
3.35
|
1
|
2.40
|
148
|
3.48
|
|
Total
|
1473
|
2.71
|
1089
|
2.87
|
1473
|
3.00
|
780
|
3.09
|
299
|
3.11
|
59
|
3.20
|
6
|
2.60
|
5473
|
2.88
|
Table 3
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUND
FALL 1996
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
White
|
974
|
2.78
|
675
|
2.89
|
1009
|
3.02
|
550
|
3.10
|
178
|
3.15
|
43
|
3.28
|
4
|
2.67
|
3621
|
2.92
|
|
Native American
|
9
|
2.81
|
6
|
3.12
|
4
|
2.50
|
3
|
2.64
|
2
|
3.23
|
1
|
2.27
|
-
|
-
|
27
|
2.84
|
|
African American
|
59
|
2.38
|
31
|
2.75
|
31
|
2.38
|
18
|
2.85
|
7
|
2.63
|
4
|
2.11
|
1
|
2.61
|
157
|
2.48
|
|
Asian American
|
141
|
2.96
|
181
|
3.02
|
234
|
3.13
|
125
|
3.15
|
86
|
3.15
|
6
|
3.75
|
-
|
-
|
821
|
3.05
|
|
Hispanic
|
273
|
2.39
|
161
|
2.60
|
176
|
2.78
|
80
|
2.97
|
22
|
2.83
|
5
|
2.89
|
1
|
2.33
|
764
|
2.59
|
|
Foreign
|
17
|
3.09
|
35
|
3.02
|
19
|
3.64
|
4
|
3.48
|
4
|
2.96
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
83
|
3.21
|
|
Total
|
1473
|
2.71
|
1089
|
2.87
|
1473
|
3.00
|
780
|
3.09
|
299
|
3.11
|
59
|
3.20
|
6
|
2.60
|
5473
|
2.88
|
Table 4
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND SAT COMBINED SCORES
FALL 1998
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
<900
|
54
|
2.17
|
16
|
2.22
|
6
|
2.92
|
9
|
2.56
|
1
|
1.94
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
90
|
2.28
|
|
900-990
|
129
|
2.34
|
49
|
2.49
|
30
|
2.80
|
31
|
2.59
|
2
|
2.91
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
260
|
2.46
|
|
1000-1090
|
312
|
2.68
|
196
|
2.75
|
124
|
2.80
|
78
|
2.75
|
16
|
2.85
|
1
|
2.65
|
2
|
3.22
|
791
|
2.70
|
|
1100-1190
|
431
|
2.72
|
360
|
2.74
|
288
|
2.90
|
182
|
2.83
|
58
|
2.88
|
14
|
3.04
|
-
|
-
|
1427
|
2.76
|
|
1200-1290
|
404
|
2.88
|
455
|
2.89
|
359
|
3.06
|
223
|
3.05
|
75
|
3.01
|
9
|
3.07
|
1
|
2.72
|
1622
|
2.93
|
|
1300-1390
|
215
|
3.02
|
293
|
2.87
|
324
|
3.23
|
171
|
3.25
|
66
|
3.20
|
14
|
3.39
|
1
|
4.00
|
1122
|
3.07
|
|
1400-1490
|
56
|
3.35
|
93
|
3.10
|
173
|
3.38
|
82
|
3.56
|
67
|
3.40
|
20
|
3.64
|
-
|
-
|
510
|
3.34
|
|
>1500
|
11
|
3.30
|
15
|
2.92
|
40
|
3.54
|
27
|
3.47
|
18
|
3.58
|
8
|
3.79
|
-
|
-
|
126
|
3.45
|
|
Total
|
1612
|
2.77
|
1477
|
2.82
|
1344
|
3.09
|
803
|
3.06
|
303
|
3.14
|
66
|
3.38
|
4
|
3.29
|
5948
|
2.90
|
Table 5
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUND
FALL 1998
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
White
|
1075
|
2.84
|
901
|
2.85
|
917
|
3.08
|
548
|
3.09
|
178
|
3.19
|
38
|
3.32
|
4
|
3.29
|
3891
|
2.93
|
|
Native American
|
11
|
2.37
|
7
|
2.56
|
6
|
2.58
|
4
|
3.42
|
2
|
2.25
|
1
|
3.25
|
-
|
-
|
32
|
2.58
|
|
African American
|
56
|
2.49
|
40
|
2.76
|
30
|
3.02
|
27
|
2.85
|
3
|
2.99
|
3
|
3.10
|
-
|
-
|
163
|
2.75
|
|
Asian American
|
186
|
2.74
|
312
|
2.95
|
258
|
3.23
|
116
|
3.14
|
85
|
3.21
|
20
|
3.60
|
-
|
-
|
1035
|
3.02
|
|
Hispanic
|
265
|
2.57
|
194
|
2.46
|
119
|
2.90
|
100
|
2.82
|
29
|
2.75
|
4
|
3.18
|
-
|
-
|
755
|
2.61
|
|
Foreign
|
19
|
2.95
|
23
|
3.30
|
14
|
3.41
|
7
|
3.34
|
6
|
2.78
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
70
|
3.19 |
|
Unknown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
3.80
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3.76
|
|
Total
|
1612
|
2.77
|
1477
|
2.82
|
1344
|
3.09
|
803
|
3.06
|
303
|
3.14
|
66
|
3.38
|
4
|
3.29
|
5948
|
2.90
|
Table 6
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND SAT COMBINED SCORES
FALL 1999
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N |
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
<900
|
72
|
2.27
|
32
|
2.52
|
10
|
2.45
|
16
|
2.50
|
4
|
3.22
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
142
|
2.40
|
|
900-990
|
156
|
2.57
|
68
|
2.69
|
38
|
2.47
|
38
|
2.65
|
2
|
2.54
|
2
|
3.06
|
-
|
-
|
327
|
2.58
|
|
1000-1090
|
393
|
2.57
|
204
|
2.85
|
130
|
2.74
|
82
|
2.86
|
17
|
2.72
|
5
|
2.96
|
-
|
-
|
887
|
2.68
|
|
1100-1190
|
493
|
2.78
|
361
|
2.72
|
299
|
2.96
|
176
|
2.86
|
51
|
2.82
|
3
|
3.18
|
-
|
-
|
1494
|
2.77
|
|
1200-1290
|
421
|
2.93
|
482
|
2.87
|
354
|
3.10
|
229
|
3.08
|
79
|
2.99
|
13
|
2.91
|
-
|
-
|
1662
|
2.94
|
|
1300-1390
|
218
|
3.06
|
336
|
3.10
|
296
|
3.31
|
153
|
3.31
|
73
|
3.43
|
11
|
3.32
|
1
|
3.56
|
1149
|
3.17
|
|
1400-1490
|
64
|
2.96
|
144
|
3.25
|
171
|
3.45
|
95
|
3.42
|
60
|
3.39
|
11
|
3.46
|
3
|
3.77
|
574
|
3.31
|
|
>1500
|
20
|
3.63
|
18
|
3.28
|
39
|
3.65
|
29
|
3.43
|
22
|
3.78
|
8
|
3.87
|
-
|
-
|
136
|
3.59
|
|
All
|
1837
|
2.78
|
1645
|
2.90
|
1339
|
3.12
|
818
|
3.07
|
308
|
3.19
|
53
|
3.28
|
4
|
3.72
|
6374
|
2.92
|
Table 7
PERFORMANCE BY ENROLLED FRESHMEN BY COURSE LOAD AND RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUND
FALL 1999
FIRST SEMESTER GPA
|
|
12 Hours
|
13 Hours
|
14 Hours
|
15 Hours
|
16 Hours
|
17 Hours
|
18 Hours
|
All
|
| |
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
N
|
GPA
|
|
White
|
1220
|
2.82
|
972
|
2.93
|
856
|
3.13
|
534
|
3.12
|
185
|
3.26
|
39
|
3.32
|
3
|
3.78
|
4051
|
2.95
|
|
Native American
|
8
|
2.75
|
3
|
3.46
|
7
|
3.20
|
3
|
2.28
|
1
|
2.31
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
22
|
2.91
|
|
African American
|
93
|
2.77
|
70
|
2.94
|
36
|
2.90
|
29
|
2.63
|
7
|
2.76
|
1
|
2.93
|
1
|
3.53
|
250
|
2.82
|
|
Asian American
|
191
|
2.86
|
360
|
2.89
|
266
|
3.25
|
135
|
3.18
|
91
|
3.15
|
8
|
3.55
|
-
|
-
|
1124
|
3.00
|
|
Hispanic
|
322
|
2.58
|
210
|
2.70
|
150
|
2.83
|
112
|
2.88
|
17
|
2.79
|
3
|
2.82
|
-
|
-
|
853
|
2.68
|
|
Foreign
|
3
|
3.48
|
30
|
3.49
|
24
|
3.29
|
5
|
3.08
|
7
|
3.15
|
2
|
2.39
|
-
|
-
|
74
|
3.28
|
|
Total
|
1837
|
2.78
|
1645
|
2.90
|
1339
|
3.12
|
818
|
3.07
|
308
|
3.19
|
53
|
3.28
|
4
|
3.72
|
6374
|
2.92
|
|
