University of Iowa students who self-reported recent and frequent binge drinking had significantly lower grades than students who were not binge drinkers, the Des Moines Register reported March 22.

A school study found that binge drinkers had grade-point averages (GPAs) about a quarter-point lower than non-bingers; bingers were defined as students who drank five or more alcoholic drinks at a sitting more than six times during a two-week period.

"In the fall, I taught a [class about] college transition," said Associate Provost Tom Rocklin. "To be able to show to students that binge drinking hurts your GPA helped the conversation."

The findings were based on an online survey of 1,477 first-year students and 1,676 seniors, as well as interviews with more than 100 freshmen and seniors. About 70 percent of the freshmen said they had engaged in binge drinking at least once during a two-week period in college, and 46 said they had binged in high school.