Researchers See College Benefits for Students Who Took AP Courses

Students who take Advanced Placement courses in high school appear more likely to graduate from college within four years and have higher grade point averages in college than similar students who aren’t exposed to such classes, according to an unpublished study by researchers in Texas.

The study, which was financed in part by the College Board, the New York City-based nonprofit that sponsors the AP program, followed students who graduated from high school from 1998 to 2002 and enrolled at any public college or university in Texas.

“Overall, the results from this study provide strong support for AP program benefits over non-AP experiences for students and their subsequent GPA, credits earned, and graduation performance,” concluded the study conducted by University of Texas researchers Linda L. Hargrove and Barbara Dodd, along with Donn Godin, a researcher at the Texas...