Skip to content
  • About Us
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
  • Community College FAQs
  • Research Areas
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Policy Resources
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
  • More
    • Events
    • Research Projects
    • Events
    • Research Projects
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs

Lessons From Two Experimental Studies of Multiple Measures Assessment

By Dan Cullinan & Elizabeth M. Kopko

Prior research suggests that using only standardized placement test scores to determine which new college students should take developmental coursework is inadequate, as many students may be unnecessarily assigned to developmental courses. MDRC and CCRC recently completed two experimental studies of multiple measures assessment, in which colleges use high school GPA, placement test scores, and other measures to assign incoming students to developmental or college-level courses in math and English. One study took place at seven City of New York (CUNY) community colleges; the other study was conducted at four Minnesota community colleges and one Wisconsin community college. Results from both studies indicate the student outcomes improve under multiple measures assessment as compared to status quo placement based on test scores alone. This brief describes findings from the studies and offers recommendations for institutions seeking to reform their assessment and placement practices.

  • Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR)

Download Links

Download brief
January 2022

Related Publications

June 2025

The Long-Term Effectiveness of Multiple Measures Assessment: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

October 2023

The Long-Term Effects of Multiple Measures Assessment at SUNY Community Colleges

October 2022

Five Principles for Reforming Developmental Education: A Review of the Evidence

Additional Resources

For more policy briefs and fact sheets, visit CCRC’s Policy Resources page.

Stay in Touch!

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest on our research, including publications, blog posts, and upcoming events.
Subscribe

Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
Box 174 | 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027

  • 212.678.3091
  • ccrc@columbia.edu
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram

© 2025. All rights reserved.

RESEARCH AREAS

  • Dual Enrollment
  • Developmental Education
  • Guided Pathways
  • Advising & Student Supports
  • Teaching & Learning
  • Transfer
  • College to Career
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Developmental Education
  • Guided Pathways
  • Advising & Student Supports
  • Teaching & Learning
  • Transfer
  • College to Career
  • CC FAQs
  • About CCRC
  • Biennial Report
  • CCRC Staff
  • Employment
  • CC FAQs
  • About CCRC
  • Biennial Report
  • CCRC Staff
  • Employment
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Policy Resources
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Policy Resources
  • Events
  • About Us
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • Research Areas
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Community College FAQs
  • News
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
  • More
    • Events
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
    • Research Projects