Full-Time Equivalency (FTE): Student

Summary

Student Full-Time-Equivalency (FTE) is the student’s percent of time enrolled in relation to a full or normal workload at the institution during the reporting period. Each institution has a policy that determines a full or normal workload. There are eight methods of computing Student FTE, based on agency (state or federal), enrollment or semester credit hours (SCH), and by term or annually.

Detailed Description

There are eight methods of computing Student FTE, based on:

  • agency (state or federal),
  • enrollment or semester credit hours (SCH),
  • and by term or annual

The information is derived from:

To calculate Enrollment FTE:                                                          

Texas State by Term (Semester) definition:

To compute a semester average FTSE enrollment of credit-hour students, use a fall or spring term of credit hours and apply the following conversion factors as applicable:

  • 1 semester undergraduate FTSE student = 15 undergraduate semester credit hours
  • 1 semester master’s FTSE student = 12 master’s semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE student = 12 first-professional semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE Optometry student = 17 semester credit hours
  • 1 semester doctoral FTSE student = 9 doctoral semester credit hours

Computation

  • (Full-time enrollment, 15 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Undergraduate FTE
  • (Full-time enrollment, 12 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Master's FTE
  • (Full-time enrollment, 9 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Doctoral FTE

Texas State Annual (Academic Year) definition:

To compute a semester average FTSE enrollment of credit-hour students, use a fall or spring term of credit hours and apply the following conversion factors as applicable:

  • 1 semester undergraduate FTSE student = 15 undergraduate semester credit hours
  • 1 semester master’s FTSE student = 12 master’s semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE student = 12 first-professional semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE Optometry student = 17 semester credit hours
  • 1 semester doctoral FTSE student = 9 doctoral semester credit hours

Computation:

  • (Full-time enrollment, taking 30 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Undergraduate FTE
  • (Full-time enrollment, taking 9 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Master's FTE
  • (Full-time enrollment, taking 6 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Doctoral FTE 

IPEDS Federal by Term (Semester) definition:

  • The number of FTE students is calculated based on the credit and/or clock hours reported by the institution. The full-time equivalent (headcount) of the institution's part-time enrollment is estimated by multiplying the factors noted below times the part-time headcount. These are then added to the full-time enrollment headcounts to obtain an FTE for all students enrolled in the fall. 
    • Full-time: Undergraduate-a student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits; Graduate - a student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
    • Part-time undergraduate enrollment for Public 4-year (.403543) or about one-third.

Computation:

  • (Full-time undergraduate enrollment, taking 12 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Undergraduate FTE
  • (Full-time graduate enrollment, taking 9 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Graduate FTE

IPEDS Federal Annual (Academic Year) definition:

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of students is a single value providing a meaningful combination of full-time and part-time students. IPEDS data products currently have two calculations of FTE students, one using fall student headcounts (using enrollments) and the other using 12-month instructional activity (using SCH). The number of FTE students is calculated based on the credit hours reported by the institution on the IPEDS 12-month enrollment (E12) component and the institution's calendar system, as reported on the IC Header component. 

  • Enrollment level (one FTE over 12-month period
    • Undergraduate 30 credit hours
    • Graduate 24 credit hours

Computation:

  • (Full-time undergraduate enrollment, 30 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Undergraduate FTE
  • (Full-time graduate enrollment, 24 or more SCH) + (1/3 * Part-time Enrollment) = Graduate FTE

 

To calculate FTE (using student SCH):                                     

THECB State by Term (Semester) definition:

To compute a semester average FTSE enrollment of credit-hour students, use a fall or spring term of credit hours and apply the following conversion factors as applicable:

  • 1 semester undergraduate FTSE student = 15 undergraduate semester credit hours
  • 1 semester master’s FTSE student = 12 master’s semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE student = 12 first-professional semester credit hours
  • 1 semester first-professional FTSE Optometry student = 17 semester credit hours
  • 1 semester doctoral FTSE student = 9 doctoral semester credit hours

Computation:

  • Undergraduate Total Semester Credit Hours (by term) divided by 15 = Undergraduate FTE
  • Master's Total Semester Credit Hours (by term) divided by 12 = Master's FTE
  • Doctoral Total Semester Credit Hours (by term) divided by 9 = Doctoral FTE

THECB State Annual (Academic Year) definition:

To compute the annual average FTSE enrollment of credit-hour stu dents, determine the total yearly number of credit hours (including summer sessions) and apply the following conversion factors as applicable:

  • 1 annual undergraduate FTSE student = 30 undergraduate semester credit hours
  • 1 annual master’s FTSE student = 24 master’s semester credit hours
  • 1 annual first-professional FTSE student = 24 first-professional semester credit hours, except Optometry which is 34
  • 1 annual doctoral FTSE student = 18 doctoral semester credit hours 

Computation:

  • Undergraduate Total Semester Credit Hours (per year) divided by 30 = Undergraduate FTE
  • Master's Total Semester Credit Hours (per year) divided by 24 = Master's FTE
  • Doctoral Total Semester Credit Hours (per year) divided by 18 = Doctoral FTE

IPEDS Federal by Term (Semester) definition:

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of students is a single value providing a meaningful combination of full-time and part-time students. IPEDS data products currently have two calculations of FTE students, one using fall student headcounts (using enrollments) and the other using 12-month instructional activity (using SCH). The number of FTE students is calculated based on the credit hours reported by the institution on the IPEDS 12-month enrollment (E12) component and the institution's calendar system, as reported on the IC Header component. 

  • Full-time: Undergraduate-a student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits; Graduate - a student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.

Computation:

  • Total Semester Credit Hours (by term) divided by 12 = Undergraduate FTE
  • Total Semester Credit Hours (by term) divided by 9 = Graduate FTE

IPEDS Federal Annual (Academic Year) definition:

The full-time equivalent (FTE) of students is a single value providing a meaningful combination of full-time and part-time students. IPEDS data products currently have two calculations of FTE students, one using fall student headcounts (using enrollments) and the other using 12-month instructional activity (using SCH). The number of FTE students is calculated based on the credit hours reported by the institution on the IPEDS 12-month enrollment (E12) component and the institution's calendar system, as reported on the IC Header component. 

  • Enrollment level (one FTE over 12-month period
    • Undergraduate 30 credit hours
    • Graduate 24 credit hours

Computation:

  • Undergraduate Total Semester Credit Hours (per year) divided by 30 = Undergraduate FTE
  • Graduate Total Semester Credit Hours (per year) divided by 24 = Graduate FTE

Computation Usage

There are other agencies that have unique Student FTE formulas and UHCL will report data using the formulas provided.

When no definition is provided and for internal reporting purposes UHCL reports as follows:

  • UHCL uses the IPEDS federal formula as the standard reporting method for term computations unless otherwise requested.
  • UHCL uses the THECB federal formula as the standard reporting method for annual computations unless otherwise requested.

Related Computations

Full-Time Equivalency (FTE): Faculty

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