Midterm Grades and Student Persistence

Midterm grades have been implemented in higher education settings since the 1980s, but few studies have directly examined their effects on students’ final grades. The current study analyzed data from 8,007 students enrolled in a required general education course at a large state university. The study included 66 course sections taught by 19 instructors who modified their teaching practices between Fall 2022 and Spring 2024, shifting from not issuing midterm grades to issuing midterm grades. Our findings suggested that issuing midterm grades increased final grades for most students with cumulative GPAs below 3.5. Additionally, midterm grades had a positive impact on the final grades of first-generation college students and African American/Black students. The presence of midterm grades also decreased the overall withdrawal rate of students and specifically decreased the withdrawal rate of African American/Black students. Midterm grades improved final grades for students in online and hybrid classes, but not for students in face-to-face classes. In general, we found that midterm grades had a positive impact on the most vulnerable students. Findings from the current study can serve as a guide for higher education policymakers as they continue to examine their institutions’ midterm grade policies.