Postsecondary Gaps in Recovery From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From Public Colleges and Universities

Abstract

We study changes in postsecondary student performance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic using administrative data on all 2015–2022 high school graduates in North Carolina who enrolled in an in-state public institution. Successful course completion rates increased briefly at 4-year institutions at the start of the pandemic, but at both 2- and 4-year institutions, success rates and credit earning decreased for later cohorts. These declines have persisted for certain groups, including students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged and academically weaker students, as well as female students. The findings point to ongoing academic challenges faced by vulnerable college student populations in the postpandemic period.

Keywords

postsecondary education credit earning persistence achievement gaps COVID-19 pandemic

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