Covid-19 and College Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Analysis

Using an unbalanced panel of close to 12,000 academic records, and difference-in-differences models event study analyses with individual fixed effects, we evaluate the impact COVID-19 pandemic on lower-income students' performance during spring 2020 semester relative their higher-income peers. We find a differential effect by pre-COVID-19 performance. Top-performing students experienced decrease in both grades (5% lower) earned credits (11% fewer) In contrast, bottom quartile fall 2019 cumulative GPA distribution outperformed peers 9% higher GPA. After ruling out alternative mechanisms, suggestive evidence from survey data that top-performing lower may be driven greater challenges online learning disproportionate intake incomplete courses Among bottom-performing students, concerns maintaining financial aid than income have led them use credit/no credit grade option instead letter grade.