Is the GRE a Predictor of Student Success Outcomes? An Analysis of the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health’s Community Health Promotion Program.

Abstract

The Graduate Record Exam is a standardized test commonly used by graduate and professional admissions programs that have recently been disputed as ineffective in evaluating candidates for graduate programs (Miller & Stassun, 2014). To address this issue, this case study is designed to address the central research question, “what is the predictive ability of the Graduate Record Exam of student outcomes within the Community Health Promotion program?” A series of generalized linear models testing pre-admission indicators of undergraduate GPA and GRE scores and their ability to predict various student success measures (GPA Metrics) were used. The sample (n=613) included matriculated student data in the Community Health Promotion program dating from 1964. The results of the tests shown in all three SPH-specific models, the only indicator, undergraduate GPA, significantly and positively predicted performance in SPH coursework. Of the tests, there are no significant effects of either verbal or quantitative GRE scores in the results. Various generalized linear models testing dichotomous groups, including White and Students of Color and identified gender-based on gendered options in previous application modules reflect similar results that undergraduate GPA being the only positive and significant predictor of student success. The implications suggest GRE scores lack positive association or correlation with student success outcomes, and the ability of the GRE scores to predict student success outcomes are minimal and unreliable for the Community Health Promotion program. This case study contributes to current research regarding the predictive ability of the graduate record exam of student outcomes in the Public Health field. Keywords: predictive ability, predictive reliability, student success measures, student success outcomes, GRE verbal, GRE quantitative, Cumulative GPA, Undergraduate GPA, Community Health Promotion (CHP) core, School of Public Health (SPH) core