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COVID-19 diagnoses and university student performance: evidence from linked administrative health and education data

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  • Timothy F. Harris

    (Illinois State University)

  • C. Lockwood Reynolds

    (Kent State University)

Abstract

We analyze the impact of COVID-19 diagnoses on student grades, retention, and on-time graduation at a large public university in the USA. Even though COVID-19 rarely causes major health complications for university students, diagnosis and quarantine may cause non-trivial disruptions to learning. Using event study analysis, we find that a COVID-19 diagnosis decreased a student’s term grade point average (GPA) modestly by 0.09 standard deviations in the semester of diagnosis without significant effects afterward. The results were more pronounced for male students, individuals with face-to-face instruction, and those with higher GPAs before the pandemic. We do not find a significant increase in the incidence of failing or withdrawing from a course due to diagnosis. In addition, we find no general evidence that the diagnoses delayed graduation or significantly altered first-year retention. However, the University experienced significant grade inflation during the pandemic, like other institutions, which exceeded the estimated effects of any COVID-19 diagnoses.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy F. Harris & C. Lockwood Reynolds, 2025. "COVID-19 diagnoses and university student performance: evidence from linked administrative health and education data," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 68(2), pages 603-637, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:68:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s00181-024-02653-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-024-02653-5
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Higher education; Student success; Student absences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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