Grade Inflation or Grade Increase Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • AbstractAcademics worry grade inflation lowers standards; whereas, employers are concerned grades may not distinguish students abilities. These concerns are dismissed if higher grades reflect improved academic achievement and not inflation. Potential grade inflation is examined using data from 17,696 classes between 1985 and 2019 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Evidence of systemic grade increase is found after controlling for institution, instructor, and student characteristics. Grade increases are partially explained by recruiting better and more female students. Grade inflation, however, may be associated with increased hiring of graduate students and other instructors.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND APPLIED ECONOMICS

author list (cited authors)

  • Yeritsyan, A., Mjelde, J. W., & Litzenberg, K. K.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Yeritsyan, Anna||Mjelde, James W||Litzenberg, Kerry K

publication date

  • January 2022