Tough delves into the issue of college completion in the United States. Despite the country’s high college enrollment rate compared to other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, US college completion rates are alarmingly low, ranking second to last, just ahead of Italy. Tough views this decline in college completion as perplexing given the escalating value of a college education, with individuals holding a bachelor’s degree now expected to earn 83% more than those with only a high school diploma.

The book Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities (2009), authored by former college presidents William G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson, sheds light on this issue. Their research reveals that a student’s high school GPA emerges as a more accurate predictor of college completion than standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT.

Further supporting this argument, Angela Duckworth’s studies on middle and high school students reveal that GPA, which is indicative of self-control and perseverance over several years, is a better predictor of college success than standardized tests, which are more aligned with IQ. This suggests that character traits such as motivation, perseverance, and effective study habits are crucial for navigating higher education.