Comparing Academic Readiness Requirements for Different Postsecondary Pathways: What Admissions Tests Tell Us

Abstract

Ensuring postsecondary readiness is a goal of K-12 education, but it is unclear whether high school students should get different messages about the required levels of academic preparation depending on their postsecondary trajectories. This study estimated readiness benchmark scores on a college admissions test predictive of earning good grades in majors associated with middle-skills occupations at 2-year postsecondary institutions. Results generally indicated similarity between those scores, the corresponding scores for students preparing for high-skills jobs requiring a bachelor's degree, and established readiness benchmarks for the general college-going population. Subsequent analyses revealed small variation between readiness benchmarks for different college majors. Overall, results suggest that high school graduates need a strong academic foundation regardless of the postsecondary path they choose.