Relationship between scholastic aptitude, perception of university climate, and college success for Black and White students

Abstract

Computed, in racial subgroups, the correlations of university climate and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores with 2 criteria of academic success--GPA and students' estimated probability of receiving a degree. Factor analyses of a 115-item university climate questionnaire were performed separately for samples of 138 Black and 550 White college students. SAT scores were significantly related to GPA for both Blacks and Whites, although they were not related to Ss' estimated probability of recieving a degree in either racial group. Some university climate scales were significantly related to the 2 criteria. Viewing the university in a positive way was associated (a) with high criterion scores for Whites and with low criterion scores for Blacks, and (b) with high SAT scores for Whites and low SAT scores for Blacks. Although GPA was significantly correlated with estimated probability of degree in both Black and White samples, the correlation was significantly higher in the Black sample. (16 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)