An Assessment of Master's Degree Programs Pre and Post Pandemic

Abstract

In this study, graduate “programs of strategic emphasis” at a state university in Florida, USA during the spring semesters of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 were examined. The students’ application, enrollment, performance, and graduation data for the four semesters were collected and analyzed. Due to COVID-19, all courses had to be delivered purely online in the latter spring semester of 2020. Facing various challenges and uncertainties, the Graduate School worked with all programs to update their programs and remove admission barriers, including graduate record examination (GRE) requirements. After the onset of the pandemic, the number of applicants increased (p < 0.001), the number of students enrolled increased (p < 0.001), and the yield rate of enrolled new students compared to applicants decreased (p < 0.001). Despite the removal of admission barriers, the undergraduate grade point averages (GPA) of new applicants did not decrease (p = 0.500), graduate GPA in the first semester increased (p < 0.001), and overall graduate GPA increased (p < 0.001). Finally, graduation rates increased after the onset of the pandemic (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that despite challenges due to the pandemic, removal of admission barriers did not adversely affect student outcomes.