Class Schedule and Student Performance: Evidence From Introductory Corporate Finance Classes

By analyzing a sample of 230 students enrolled in introductory corporate finance classes, this study examines whether differences in scheduling formats—Monday-Wednesday-Friday (MWF) with 50-minute lectures versus Tuesday-Thursday (TR) with 75-minute lectures—impact student performance when the course design is consistent. The findings, supported by nonparametric tests and ordinary least squares regressions, indicate that TR students perform slightly better than their MWF counterparts, although the difference is not statistically significant. Additionally, the results reveal that accounting and finance majors outperform students in other disciplines, particularly in 75-minute classes. These findings suggest that college administrators may consider eliminating Friday classes and consolidating courses into MW or TR schedules, at least for introductory corporate finance classes, without adversely affecting student performance.