Common Data Set

A. General Information

A1 - Address Information | A2 - Source of institutional control |

A3 - Classify your undergraduate institution | A4 - Academic year calendar |

A5 - Degrees offered by your institution | A6 - Campus Belonging Webpage

A1 - Address Information

Name of College/University:  Texas A&M University
Street Address Line 1:  400 Bizzell St.
Street Address Line 2:
Street Address Line 3:
City:  College Station
State:  TX
Zip:  77843
Country:  United States
Main Phone Number (Area Code):  979
Main Phone Number: 845-3211
Main Phone Number (Ext):
WWW Home Page Address:  www.tamu.edu
Main Institution Email:  

Admissions Office

Admissions Office Street Address (if different):  750 Agronomy Road, Suite 1601
Street Address (if different) Line 2:
Street Address (if different) Line 3:
City:  College Station
State:  Texas
Zip:  77843
Country:  United States
Admissions Phone Number (Area Code):  979
Admissions Phone Number:  845-1060
Admissions Phone Number (Ext):
Admissions Toll-Free Phone Number (Out-of-State Area Code):
Admissions Toll-Free Phone Number:
Admissions Toll-Free Phone Number (Ext):
Admissions Email Address:  admissions@tamu.edu

If there is a separate URL for your school’s online application, please specify: https://apply.commonapp.org/login?ma=1183

If you have a mailing address other than the above to which applications should be sent, please provide:
N/A

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A2 - Source of institutional control (Check only one):

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A3 - Classify your undergraduate institution:

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A4 - Academic year calendar:

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A5 - Degrees offered by your institution:

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A6 - Campus Belonging Webpage

If your institution has an office or department dedicated to fostering a welcoming and supportive campus climate for individuals from all backgrounds, please provide the URL of the corresponding Web page: N/A

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B. Enrollment and persistence

B1 - Institutional Enrollment - Males and Females | B2 - Enrollment Racial/Ethnic Category |

B3 - Persistence | B4-B21 - Graduation Rates | B22 - Retention Rates

B1 - Institutional Enrollment - Males and Females

Provide numbers of students for each of the following categories as of the institution's official fall reporting date or as of October 15, 2025.

• Note: Report students formerly designated as “first professional” in the graduate cells.
• For information on reporting study abroad students please see: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/pdf/Reporting_Study_Abroad_Students.pdf  
• In cases where non-binary gender information is provided, IPEDS recommends distributing across the two-binary categories.
• Dual Enrollment: If your institution enrolls high school students in college courses for credit either within a dual enrollment program or outside of a dual enrollment program, you may report the unduplicated count as part of the full- or part-time “All other undergraduates” section. 

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B2 - Enrollment Racial/Ethnic Category

Provide numbers of undergraduate students for each of the following categories as of the institution’s official fall reporting date or as of October 15, 2025. 

• Include international students only in the category "Nonresidents."
• Complete the “Total Undergraduates” column only if you cannot provide data for the first two columns.
• Report as your institution reports to IPEDS: persons who are Hispanic should be reported only on the Hispanic line, not under any race, and persons who are non-Hispanic multi-racial should be reported only under "Two or more races."
• New guidance from IPEDS for reporting aggregate data:
  • Racial/ethnic designations are requested only for United States citizens, residents, and other eligible non-citizens.
  • Eligible non-citizens include all students who completed high school or a GED equivalency within the United States (including DACA and undocumented students) and who were not on an F-1 non-immigrant student visa at the time of high school graduation.
  • More information about other eligible (for financial aid purposes) non-citizens is available at StudentAid.gov
  • Nonresident - A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a student visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely. Do not include DACA, undocumented, or other eligible noncitizens in this category.
  • NOTE - Nonresidents are to be reported separately, in the boxes provided, rather than included in any of the seven racial/ethnic categories or in race/ethnicity unknown.

Dual Enrollment: If your institution enrolls high school students in college courses for credit either within a dual enrollment program or outside of a dual enrollment program, you may report the unduplicated count as part of the non-degree-seeking students included in the “Total Undergraduates (both degree & non-degree-seeking)” section.

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B3 - Persistence

Number of degrees awarded by your institution from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

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B4-B21 - Graduation Rates

The items in this section correspond to data elements collected by the IPEDS Web-based Data Collection System’s Graduation Rate Survey (GRS).

For complete instructions and definitions of data elements, see the IPEDS GRS Forms and Instructions for the 2025-2026 Survey.

In the following section for bachelor’s or equivalent programs, please disaggregate the Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 cohorts (formerly CDS B4-B11) into four groups:

• Students who received a Federal Pell Grant*
• Recipients of a subsidized Stafford Loan who did not receive a Pell Grant
• Students who did not receive either a Pell Grant or a subsidized Stafford Loan
• Total (all students, regardless of Pell Grant or subsidized loan status)

*Students who received both a Federal Pell Grant and a subsidized Stafford Loan should be reported in the "Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant" column.

For each graduation rate grid below, the numbers in the first three columns for Questions A-G should sum to the cohort total in the fourth column (formerly CDS B4-B11).

For Bachelor’s or Equivalent Programs

Please provide data for the Fall 2019 cohort if available. If Fall 2019 cohort data are not available, provide data for the Fall 2018 cohort.

Fall 2019 Cohort

Fall 2018 Cohort

For Two-Year Institutions

Please provide data for the 2022 cohort if available. If 2022 cohort data are not available, provide data for the 2021 cohort.

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B22 - Retention Rates

Report for the cohort of all full-time, first-time bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered in Fall 2024 (or the preceding summer term). 

The initial cohort may be adjusted for students who departed for the following reasons:

• Death
• Permanent Disability
• Service in the armed forces
• Foreign aid service of the federal government
• Official church missions
• No other adjustments to the initial cohort should be made.

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C. Firsts-Time, First-Year Admission

C1-C2: Applications | C3-C5: Admission Requirements | C6-C7: Basis for Selection |

C8: SAT and ACT Policies | C9-C12: First-time, first-year Profile | C13-C20: Admission Policies |

C21-C22: Early Decision and Early Action Plans

C1-C2: Applications

C1 - First-time, First-year Students

First-time, first-year students: Provide the number of degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled (full- or part-time) in Fall 2025. 

• Include early decision, early action, and students who began studies during summer in this cohort.
• Applicants should include only those students who fulfilled the requirements for consideration for admission (i.e., who completed actionable applications) and who have been notified of one of the following actions: admission, non-admission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution).
• In cases where non-binary gender information is provided, IPEDS recommends distributing across the two-binary categories.
• Note that recent high school graduates and other students without prior postsecondary experience will still be considered "first-time students" for fall enrollment reporting purposes even if they enrolled in the summer prior to  fall enrollment.

If available, please provide residency breakdowns for total applicants, admits, and enrolled students: Fall 2025

Please report based on known physical address at time of application. 

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C2 -  First-time, first-year wait-listed students

Students who met admission requirements but whose final admission was contingent on space availability

Do you have a policy of placing students on a waiting list?
No

If yes, please answer the questions below for Fall 2025 admissions:

N/A

Is your waiting list ranked?
N/A

If yes, do you release that information to students?
N/A

Do you release that information to school counselors?
N/A

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C3-C5: Admission Requirements

C5 - Distribution of high school units required and/or recommended

Specify the distribution of academic high school course units required and/or recommended of all or most degree-seeking students using Carnegie units (one unit equals one year of study or its equivalent). If you use a different system for calculating units, please convert.

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C6-C7: Basis for Selection

C7 - Importance of Academic and Non-Academic Factors

Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in your first-time, first-year, degree-seeking general (not including programs with specific criteria) admissions decisions.

Please provide additional information if the importance of any specific academic or nonacademic factors differ by academic program: N/A

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C8 - SAT and ACT Policies

Entrance Exams

Does your institution make use of SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants?
Yes

If yes, place check marks in the appropriate boxes below to reflect your institution’s policies for use in admission for students applying for Fall 2027.

In addition, does your institution use applicants' test scores for academic advising?
N/A

Latest date by which SAT or ACT scores must be received for fall-term admission             

December 1

Please indicate which tests your institution uses for placement (e.g., state tests):

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C9-C12: First-time, first-year Profile 

Percent and number of first-time, first-year students enrolled in Fall 2025 who submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.

• Include information for ALL enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted test scores.
• Do not include partial test scores (e.g., mathematics scores but not critical reading for a category of students) or combine other standardized test results (such as TOEFL) in this item.
• Do not convert SAT scores to ACT scores and vice versa.
• If a student submitted multiple sets of scores for a single test, report this information according to how  you use the data. For example:
  • If you consider the highest scores from either submission, use the highest combination of scores  (e.g., verbal from one submission, math from the other).
  • If you average the scores, use the average to report the scores.

For each assessment listed below, report the score that represents the 25th percentile (the score that 25 percent of the first-time, first-year population scored at or below) and the 75th percentile score (the score that 25 percent scored at or above).

Percent of first-time, first-year students with scores in each range:

C10 - High School Rank

Percent of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who had high school class rank within each of the following ranges (report information for those students from whom you collected high school rank information)

*Top half + bottom half = 100%

C11 - High School GPA

Percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who had high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale).

Report information only for those students from whom you collected high school GPA.

If you are able to report GPA ranges separately for students that also submitted at least one test score versus those who did not submit a test score, please do so in the respective columns. If you are unable to report these data, please report the ranges for all students.

C12 - Average GPA

Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students who submitted GPA:  
N/A

Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school GPA:  
N/A

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C13-C20: Admission Policies

C13 - Application Fee

If your institution has waived its application fee for the Fall 2026 admission cycle please select no.

Does your institution have an application fee?
Yes

Amount of application fee: 
$75

Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?
Yes

If you have an application fee and an on-line application option, please indicate policy for students who apply on-line:

Can on-line application fee be waived for applicants with financial need?
Yes

C14 - Application closing date

Does your institution have an application closing date?
Yes

C15 - Acceptance During Terms Other Than Fall

Are first-time, first-year students accepted for terms other than the fall?
N/A

C16 - Notification to applicants of admission decision sent (fill in one only)

C17 - Reply policy for admitted applicants (fill in one only)

Deadline for housing deposit (MMDD): 
N/A

Amount of housing deposit:
$75

Refundable if student does not enroll?

C18 - Deferred admission

Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission?
No

If yes, maximum period of postponement:

N/A

C19 - Early admission of high school students

Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year students one year or more before high school graduation?
No

C20 - Common Application: Question removed from CDS. (Initiated during 2006-2007 cycle)

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C21-C22: Early Decision and Early Action Plans

C21 - Early Decision

Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and that asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year applicants for fall enrollment? 
No

If “yes,” please complete the following: 
N/A

First or only early decision plan closing date
N/A

First or only early decision plan notification date
N/A

Other early decision plan closing date
N/A

Other early decision plan notification date
N/A

Number of early decision applications received by your institution:
N/A

Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan:
N/A

Please provide significant details about your early decision plan: 
N/A

C22 - Early action

Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?
Yes

If “yes,” please complete the following: 
October 15th

Early action closing date:
N/A

Early action notification date: 
N/A

Is your early action plan a “restrictive” plan under which you limit students from applying to other early plans?
No

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D. Transfer Admission

D1-D2: Fall Applicants | D3-D11: Application for Admission |

D12-D17: Transfer Credit Policies | D18-D22: Military Service Transfer Credit Policies

D1-D2: Fall Applicants

D1 - Transfer Students

Does your institution enroll transfer students? (If no, please skip to Section E)
Yes

If yes, may transfer students earn advanced standing credit by transferring credits earned from course work completed at other colleges/universities?
No

D2 - Transfer Student Count

Provide the number of students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled as degree-seeking transfer students in Fall 2025.

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D3-D11: Application for Admission

D3 - Indicate terms for which transfers may enroll:

Must a transfer applicant have a minimum number of credits completed or else must apply as an entering first-year student?
Yes

D4 - If yes, what is the minimum number of credits and the unit of measure?  

D5 - Indicate all items required of transfer students to apply for admission:

D6 - High School GPA

If a minimum high school grade point average is required of transfer applicants, specify (on a 4.0 scale):
N/A

D7 - College GPA

If a minimum college grade point average is required of transfer applicants, specify (on a 4.0 scale):
2.5

D8 - Any Other Requirements

List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:
N/A

D9 - Reply Dates

D10 - Open Admission Policy

Does an open admission policy, if reported, apply to transfer students?
No

D11 - Additional Requirements

Describe additional requirements for transfer admission, if applicable: 
N/A

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D12-D17: Transfer Credit Policies

D12 - Lowest Grade

Report the lowest grade earned for any course that may be transferred for credit:  
D

D13 - Maximum Credits From a Two-Year Institution

Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution:

D14 - Maximum Credits From a Four-Year Institution

Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution:

D15 - Minimum Credits to Earn an Associate Degree

Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn an associate degree:

D16 - Minimum Credits to Earn a Bachelor's Degree

D17 - Other

Describe other transfer credit policies:
N/A

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D18-D22: Military Service Transfer Credit Policies

D18 - Military/Veteran Transfer Credits

Does your institution accept the following military/veteran transfer credits:

D19 - American Council on Education (ACE)

Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred based on military education evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE): 

D20 - College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred based on Department of Defense supported prior learning assessments (College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)):
N/A

D21 - Website Information

Are the military/veteran credit transfer policies published on your website?
Yes

If yes, please provide the URL where the policy can be located:
https://aggieveterans.tamu.edu/

D22 -Policies Unique to Your Institution

Describe other military/veteran transfer credit policies unique to your institution:
N/A

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E. Academic Offerings and Policies

E1 - Special Study Options | E3 - Areas Requiring Course Work

E1 - Special Study Options

Special study options: Identify those programs available at your institution. Refer to the glossary for definitions.

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E2 - Has been removed from the CDS.

E3 - Areas Requiring Course Work

Areas in which all or most students are required to complete some course work prior to graduation:

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F. Student Life

F1 - First-Time, First-Year Student Categories | F2 - Activities Offered | F3 - ROTC | F4 - Housing

F1 - First-Time, First-Year Student Categories

 Percentages of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students and degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2025 who fit the following categories:

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F2 - Activities Offered

 Activities offered. Identify those programs available at your institution. 

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F3 - ROTC

 ROTC (program offered in cooperation with Reserve Officers' Training Corps)

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F4 - Housing 

 Housing: Check all types of college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing available for undergraduates at your institution.

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G. Annual Expenses

H. Financial Aid

Definitions | Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates | Aid to Undergraduate Degree-seeking Nonresidents | Process for First-Year Students | Types of Aid Available

Please refer to the following financial aid definitions when completing Section H.

• Awarded aid: The dollar amounts offered to financial aid applicants.
• Financial aid applicant: Any applicant who submits any one of the institutionally required financial aid applications/forms, such as the FAFSA.
• Indebtedness: Aggregate dollar amount borrowed through any loan program (federal, state, subsidized, unsubsidized, private, etc.; excluding parent loans) while the student was enrolled at an institution. Student loans co-signed by a parent are assumed to be the responsibility of the student and should be included.
• Institutional scholarships and grants: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants for which the institution determines the recipient.
• Financial need: As determined by your institution using the federal methodology and/or your institution's own standards.
• Need-based aid: College-funded or college-administered award from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify. This includes both institutional and non-institutional student aid (grants, jobs, and loans).
• Need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify.
• Need-based self-help aid: Loans and jobs from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must demonstrate financial need to qualify.
• Non-need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants, gifts, or merit-based aid from institutional, state, federal, or other sources (including unrestricted funds or gifts and endowment income) awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement, merit, or any other non-need-based reason. When reporting questions H1 and H2, non-need-based aid that is used to meet need should be counted as need-based aid.
• Note: Suggested order of precedence for counting non-need money as need-based:Non-need institutional grants
  1. Non-need tuition waivers
  2. Non-need athletic awards
  3. Non-need federal grants
  4. Non-need state grants
  5. Non-need outside grants
  6. Non-need student loans
  7. Non-need parent loans
  8. Non-need work
• Non-need-based self-help aid: Loans and jobs from institutional, state, or other sources for which a student need not demonstrate financial need to qualify.
• Private student loans: A nonfederal loan made by a lender such as a bank, credit union or private lender used to pay for up to the annual cost of education, less any financial aid received.
• External scholarships and grants: Scholarships and grants received from outside (private) sources that students bring with them (e.g., Kiwanis, National Merit scholarships). The institution may process paperwork to receive the dollars, but it has no role in determining the recipient or the dollar amount awarded.
• Work study and employment: Federal and state work study aid, and any employment packaged by your institution in financial aid awards.

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Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates

H1 - Dollar Amounts Awarded

Enter total dollar amounts awarded to enrolled full-time and less than full-time degree-seeking undergraduates (using the same cohort reported in CDS Question $B$1, “total degree-seeking” undergraduates) in the following categories.

• If the data being reported are final figures for the 2024-2025 academic year (see the next item below), use the 2024-2025 academic year's CDS Question $B$1 cohort.
• Include aid awarded to international students (i.e., those not qualifying for federal aid). 
• Aid that is non-need-based but that was used to meet need should be reported in the need-based aid column.
• For a suggested order of precedence in assigning categories of aid to cover need, see the entry for “non-need-based scholarship or grant aid” on the last page of the definitions section.

Indicate the academic year for which data are reported for items H1, H2, H2A, and H6 below:

Which needs-analysis methodology does your institution use in awarding institutional aid? (Formerly H3)

I. Instructional Faculty and Class Size

I-1 - IPEDS/AAUP Census Count of Instructional Faculty

Please report the number of instructional faculty members in each category for Fall 2025. Include faculty who are on your institution’s payroll on the census date your institution uses for IPEDS/AAUP.

The following definition of full-time instructional faculty is used by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) in its annual Faculty Compensation Survey (the part time definitions are not used by AAUP). Instructional Faculty is defined as those members of the instructional-research staff whose major regular assignment is instruction, including those with released time for research. Use the chart below to determine inclusions and exclusions:

• Full-time instructional faculty: faculty employed on a full-time basis for instruction (including those with released time for research)
• Part-time instructional faculty: Adjuncts and other instructors being paid solely for part-time classroom instruction. Also includes full-time faculty teaching less than two semesters, three quarters, two trimesters, or two four-month sessions. Employees who are not considered full-time instruction faculty but who teach one or more non-clinical credit courses may be counted as part-time faculty.
• Minority faculty: includes faculty who designate themselves as Black, non-Hispanic; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or Hispanic. 
• Doctorate: includes such degrees as Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, and Doctor of Public Health in any field such as arts, sciences, education, engineering, business, and public administration. Also includes terminal degrees formerly designated as “first professional,” including dentistry (DDS or DMD), medicine (MD), optometry (OD), osteopathic medicine (DO), pharmacy (DPharm or BPharm), podiatric medicine (DPM), veterinary medicine (DVM), chiropractic (DC or DCM), or law (JD).  
• Terminal master’s degree: a master’s degree that is considered the highest degree in a field: example, M. Arch (in architecture) and MFA (master of fine arts in art or theater).

I-2 - Student to Faculty Ratio

Report the Fall 2025 ratio of full-time equivalent undergraduate and graduate students (full-time plus 1/3 part time) to full-time equivalent instructional faculty of undergraduate and graduate students (full-time plus 1/3 part time). In the ratio calculations, exclude both faculty and students in stand-alone graduate or professional programs such as medicine, law, veterinary, dentistry, social work, business, or public health in which faculty teach virtually only graduate level students.

Do not count undergraduate or graduate student teaching assistants as faculty.

Fall 2025 Student to Faculty ratio: 20 to 1 (based on 68,366 students and 3,410 faculty)

1-3 - Undergraduate Class Size

In the table below, please use the following definitions to report information about the size of classes and class sections offered in the Fall 2025 term.

• Class Sections:  A class section is an organized course offered for credit, identified by discipline and number, meeting at a stated time or times in a classroom or similar setting, and not a subsection such as a laboratory or discussion session. Undergraduate class sections are defined as any sections in which at least one degree-seeking undergraduate student is enrolled for credit. Exclude distance learning classes and noncredit classes and individual instruction such as dissertation or thesis research, music instruction, or one-to-one readings. Exclude students in independent study, co-operative programs, internships, foreign language taped tutor sessions, practicums, and all students in one-on-one classes. Each class section should be counted only once and should not be duplicated because of course catalog cross-listings.
• Class Subsections:  A class subsection includes any subsection of a course, such as laboratory, recitation, and discussion subsections that are supplementary in nature and are scheduled to meet separately from the lecture portion of the course. Undergraduate subsections are defined as any subsections of courses in which degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled for credit. As above, exclude noncredit classes and individual instruction such as dissertation or thesis research, music instruction, or one-to-one readings. Each class subsection should be counted only once and should not be duplicated because of cross-listings.

Using the above definitions, please report for each of the following class-size intervals the number of class sections and class subsections offered in Fall 2025. For example, a lecture class with 800 students who met at another time in 40 separate labs with 20 students should be counted once in the “100+” column in the class section column and 40 times under the “20-29” column of the class subsections table. 

Number of Class Sections with Undergraduates Enrolled

Undergraduate Class Size (provide numbers)

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J. Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred

J. Degrees conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025

For each of the following discipline areas, provide the percentage of diplomas/certificates, associate, and bachelor’s degrees awarded. To determine the percentage, use majors, not headcount (e.g., students with one degree but a double major will be represented twice). Calculate the percentage from your institution’s IPEDS Completions by using the sum of 1st and 2nd majors for each CIP code as the numerator and the sum of the Grand Total by 1st Majors and the Grand Total by 2nd major as the denominator. If you prefer, you can compute the percentages using 1st majors only.

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Common Data Set Definitions

All definitions related to the financial aid section appear at the end of the Definitions document.
 
Items preceded by an asterisk (*) represent definitions agreed to among publishers which do not appear on the CDS document but may be present on individual publishers’ surveys. 
 

Additional guidance for some terms, particularly those common with the IPEDS survey, may be found on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W|

*Academic advisement: Plan under which each student is assigned to a faculty member or a trained adviser, who, through regular meetings, helps the student plan and implement immediate and long-term academic and vocational goals.

Accelerated program: Completion of a college program of study in fewer than the usual number of years, most often by attending summer sessions and carrying extra courses during the regular academic term.

Admitted student: Applicant who is offered admission to a degree-granting program at your institution.

*Adult student services: Admission assistance, support, orientation, and other services expressly for adults who have started college for the first time, or who are re-entering after a lapse of a few years.

American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and maintaining tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Applicant (first-time, first year): An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any) and who has been notified of one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement on waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution).

Application fee: That amount of money that an institution charges for processing a student’s application for acceptance. This amount is not creditable toward tuition and required fees, nor is it refundable if the student is not admitted to the institution.

Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Associate degree: An award that normally requires at least two but less than four years of full-time equivalent college work.

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Bachelor’s degree: An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes ALL bachelor’s degrees conferred in a five-year cooperative (work-study plan) program. (A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies.) Also, it includes bachelor’s degrees in which the normal four years of work are completed in three years.

Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Board (charges): Assume average cost for 19 meals per week or the maximum meal plan.

Books and supplies (costs): Average cost of books and supplies. Do not include unusual costs for special groups of students (e.g., engineering or art majors), unless they constitute the majority of students at your institution.

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Calendar system: The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.

Campus Ministry: Religious student organizations (denominational or nondenominational) devoted to fostering religious life on college campuses. May also refer to Campus Crusade for Christ, an interdenominational Christian organization.

*Career and placement services: A range of services, including (often) the following: coordination of visits of employers to campus; aptitude and vocational testing; interest inventories, personal counseling; help in resume writing, interviewing, launching the job search; listings for those students desiring employment and those seeking permanent positions; establishment of a permanent reference folder; career resource materials.

Carnegie units: One year of study or the equivalent in a secondary school subject.

Certificate: See Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma.

Class rank: The relative numerical position of a student in his or her graduating class, calculated by the high school on the basis of grade-point average, whether weighted or unweighted.

College-preparatory program: Courses in academic subjects (English, history and social studies, foreign languages, mathematics, science, and the arts) that stress preparation for college or university study. 

Common Application: The standard application form distributed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals for a large number of private colleges who are members of the Common Application Group. 

*Community service program: Referral center for students wishing to perform volunteer work in the community or participate in volunteer activities coordinated by academic departments.

Commuter: A student who lives off campus in housing that is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated with the college. This category includes students who commute from home and students who have moved to the area to attend college. 

Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities: Programs designed to support postsecondary students with intellectual disabilities obtain instruction in academic, career and technical, and independent living  subjects in preparation for employment.

Clock hour: A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as contact hour.

Continuous basis (for program enrollment): A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that enroll students at any time during the academic year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.

Cooperative education program: A program that provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government.

Cooperative housing: College-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing in which students share food and housing expenses and participate in household chores to reduce living expenses.

*Counseling service: Activities designed to assist students in making plans and decisions related to their education, career, or personal development.

Credit: Recognition of attendance or performance in an instructional activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential.

Credit course: A course that, if successfully completed, can be applied toward the number of courses required for achieving a degree, diploma, certificate, or other recognized postsecondary credential.

Credit hour: A unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15-week period in a semester or trimester system or a 10-week period in a quarter system. It is applied toward the total number of hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential.

Cross-registration: A system whereby students enrolled at one institution may take courses at another institution without having to apply to the second institution.

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Deferred admission: The practice of permitting admitted students to postpone enrollment, usually for a period of one academic term or one year.

Degree: An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful completion of a program of studies.

Degree-seeking students: Students enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized by the institution as seeking a degree or recognized postsecondary credential. At the undergraduate level, this is intended to include students enrolled in vocational or occupational programs.

*Developmental services: Instructional courses designed for students deficient in the general competencies necessary for a regular postsecondary curriculum and educational setting.

Differs by program (calendar system): A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying length. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a school might offer a two-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a three-month program in January, April, and October.

Diploma: See Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma.

Distance learning: An option for earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television, internet, satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or other means.

Doctor’s degree-research/scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.

Doctor’s degree-professional practice: A doctor’s degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as “first-professional” and may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (L.L.B. or J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry (O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.

Doctor’s degree-other: A doctor’s degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor’s degree - research/scholarship or a doctor’s degree - professional practice.

Double major: Program in which students may complete two undergraduate programs of study simultaneously.

Dual enrollment: Refers to high school students enrolled in college courses for credit. In accordance with IPEDS, student performance is recorded on a college transcript and postsecondary credit is awarded for a passing grade in the course. Dual enrollment includes: All postsecondary courses, independent of course delivery mode, course location, course instructor, whether secondary credit is also offered, and whether the student enrolls through a formal state/local program or enrolls outside a formal state/local program. Dual enrollment excludes: Credit-by-exam models such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) in which the student is not enrolled in a postsecondary institution.

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Early action plan: An admission plan that allows students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification dates. If admitted, the candidate is not committed to enroll; the student may reply to the offer under the college’s regular reply policy.
Early admission: A policy under which students who have not completed high school are admitted and enroll full time in college, usually after completion of their junior year.

Early decision plan: A plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision (and financial aid offer if applicable) well in advance of the regular notification date. Applicants agree to accept an offer of admission and, if admitted, to withdraw their applications from other colleges. There are three possible decisions for early decision applicants: admitted, denied, or not admitted but forwarded for consideration with the regular applicant pool, without prejudice.

English as a Second Language (ESL): A course of study designed specifically for students whose native language is not English.

Exchange student program-domestic: Any arrangement between a student and a college that permits study for a semester or more at another college in the United States without extending the amount of time required for a degree. See also Study abroad.

External degree program: A program of study in which students earn credits toward a degree through independent study, college courses, proficiency examinations, and personal experience. External degree programs require minimal or no classroom attendance.

Extracurricular activities (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admissions process given for participation in both school and nonschool-related activities of interest to the college, such as clubs, hobbies, student government, athletics, performing arts, etc.

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First-time student: A student attending any institution for the first time at the level enrolled. Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended a postsecondary institution for the first time at the same level in the prior summer term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credit earned before graduation from high school).

First-time, first-year student: A student attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).

First-year student: A student who has completed less than the equivalent of 1 full year of undergraduate work; that is, less than 30 semester hours (in a 120-hour degree program) or less than 900 clock hours.

Food and housing (charges)—on campus: Assume double occupancy in institutional housing and 19 meals per week (or maximum meal plan).

Full-time student (undergraduate): A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more clock hours a week each term.

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Geographical residence (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admission process given to students from a particular region, state, or country of residence.

Grade-point average (academic high school GPA): The sum of grade points a student has earned in secondary school divided by the number of courses taken. The most common system of assigning numbers to grades counts four points for an A, three points for a B, two points for a C, one point for a D, and no points for an E or F. Unweighted GPA’s assign the same weight to each course. Weighting gives students additional points for their grades in advanced or honors courses.

Graduate student: A student who holds a bachelor’s or equivalent, and is taking courses at the post-baccalaureate level.

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*Health services: Free or low cost on-campus primary and preventive health care available to students.

High school diploma or recognized equivalent: A document certifying the successful completion of a prescribed secondary school program of studies, or the attainment of satisfactory scores on the Tests of General Educational Development (GED), or another state-specified examination.

Hispanic or Latino: A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Honors program: Any special program for very able students offering the opportunity for educational enrichment, independent study, acceleration, or some combination of these. 

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Independent study: Academic work chosen or designed by the student with the approval of the department concerned, under an instructor’s supervision, and usually undertaken outside of the regular classroom structure.

In-state tuition: The tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements.

International student: See Nonresident.

International student group: Student groups that facilitate cultural dialogue, support a diverse campus, assist international students in acclimation and creating a social network. 

Internship: Any short-term, supervised work experience usually related to a student’s major field, for which the student earns academic credit. The work can be full- or part-time, on- or off-campus, paid or unpaid.

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*Learning center: Center offering assistance through tutors, workshops, computer programs, or audiovisual equipment in reading, writing, math, and skills such as taking notes, managing time, taking tests.
 
*Legal services: Free or low cost legal advice for a range of issues (personal and other).

Liberal arts/career combination: Program in which a student earns undergraduate degrees in two separate fields, one in a liberal arts major and the other in a professional or specialized major, whether on campus or through cross‑registration.

Living learning community: Residential programs that allow students to interact with students who share common interests. In addition to living together, students may also participate in shared courses, special events, and group service projects.

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Master's degree: An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of generally one or two full-time equivalent academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree. Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "first-professional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work. 

Minority affiliation (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admission process for members of designated racial/ethnic minority groups.

*Minority student center: Center with programs, activities, and/or services intended to enhance the college experience of students of color.

Model United Nations: A simulation activity focusing on conflict resolution, globalization, and diplomacy. Assuming roles as foreign ambassadors and “delegates,” students conduct research, engage in debate, draft resolutions, and may participate in a national Model UN conference.  

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Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

*New student orientation: Orientation addressing the academic, social, emotional, and intellectual issues involved in beginning college. May be a few hours or a few days in length; at some colleges, there is a fee.

Nonresident: A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.

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*On-campus day care: Licensed day care for students’ children (usually age 3 and up); usually for a fee.

Open admission: Admission policy under which virtually all secondary school graduates or students with GED equivalency diplomas are admitted without regard to academic record, test scores, or other qualifications.

Other expenses (costs): Include average costs for clothing, laundry, entertainment, medical (if not a required fee), and furnishings.

Out-of-state tuition: The tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the institution’s or state’s residency requirements.

Outside a dual enrollment program:  High school students who simply enroll in credit courses through your institution, and are treated as regularly enrolled college students.

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Part-time student (undergraduate): A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credits per semester or quarter, or fewer than 24 clock hours a week each term.

Permanent Resident or other eligible non-citizen: A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who has been admitted as a legal immigrant for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status (and who holds either a registration card [Form I-551 or I-151], a Temporary Resident Card [Form I-688], or an Arrival-Departure Record [Form I-94] with a notation that conveys legal immigrant status, such as Section 207 Refugee, Section 208 Asylee, Conditional Entrant Parolee or Cuban-Haitian).

*Personal counseling: One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals for students who want to explore personal, educational, or vocational issues.

Post-baccalaureate certificate: An award that requires completion of an organized program of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s; designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of master.

Post-master’s certificate: An award that requires completion of an organized program of study of 24 credit hours beyond the master’s degree but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.

Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma: Includes the following three IPEDS definitions for postsecondary awards, certificates, and diplomas of varying durations and credit/contact/clock hour requirements:

Less Than 1 Academic Year: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) or in less than 900 clock hours by a student enrolled full-time.

At Least 1 But Less Than 2 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 credit hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 clock hours.

At Least 2 But Less Than 4 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 60 but less than 120 credit hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 clock hours.

Private institution: An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials.

Private for-profit institution: A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation, other than wages, rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk.

Private nonprofit institution: A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages, rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent nonprofit schools and those affiliated with a religious organization.

Proprietary institution: See Private for-profit institution.

Public institution: An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials, and which is supported primarily by public funds.

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Quarter calendar system: A calendar system in which the academic year consists of three sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The range may be from 10 to 15 weeks. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.

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Race/ethnicity: Category used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. A person may be counted in only one group.

Race/ethnicity unknown: Category used to classify students or employees whose race/ethnicity is not known and whom institutions are unable to place in one of the specified racial/ethnic categories.

Recognized Postsecondary Credential: Includes both Title IV eligible degrees, certificates, and other recognized postsecondary credentials. Any credential that is received after completion of a program that is eligible for Title IV federal student aid. Credentials that are awarded to recognize an individual’s attainment of measurable technical or industry/occupational skills necessary to obtain employment or advance within an industry occupation. (Generally based on standards developed or endorsed by employers or industry associations).

Religious affiliation/commitment (as admission factor): Special consideration given in the admission process for affiliation with a certain church or faith/religion, commitment to a religious vocation, or observance of certain religious tenets/lifestyle. 

*Religious counseling: One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals for students who want to explore religious problems or issues.

Required fees: Fixed sum charged to students for items not covered by tuition and required of such a large proportion of all students that the student who does NOT pay is the exception. Do not include application fees or optional fees such as lab fees or parking fees. 

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Secondary school record (as admission factor): Information maintained by the secondary school that may include such things as the student’s high school transcript, class rank, GPA, and teacher and counselor recommendations.

Semester calendar system: A calendar system that consists of two semesters during the academic year with about 16 weeks for each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.

Student-designed major: A program of study based on individual interests, designed with the assistance of an adviser.

Study abroad: Any arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying in another country. Can be at a campus abroad or through a cooperative agreement with some other U.S. college or an institution of another country. 

*Summer session: A summer session is shorter than a regular semester and not considered part of the academic year. It is not the third term of an institution operating on a trimester system or the fourth term of an institution operating on a quarter calendar system. The institution may have 2 or more sessions occurring in the summer months. Some schools, such as vocational and beauty schools, have year-round classes with no separate summer session.

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Talent/ability (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students with demonstrated talent/abilities in areas of interest to the institution (e.g., sports, the arts, languages, etc.).

Teacher certification program: Program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for certification as teachers in elementary, middle/junior high, and secondary schools.

Transfer applicant: An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any) and who has previously attended another college or university and earned college-level credit. 

Transfer student: A student entering the institution for the first time but known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution at the same level (e.g., undergraduate). The student may transfer with or without credit.

Transportation (costs): Assume two round trips to student’s hometown per year for students in institutional housing or daily travel to and from your institution for commuter students.

Trimester calendar system: An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.

Tuition: Amount of money charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per term, per course, or per credit. 

*Tutoring: May range from one-on-one tutoring in specific subjects to tutoring in an area such as math, reading, or writing. Most tutors are college students; at some colleges, they are specially trained and certified.

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Unit: a standard of measurement representing hours of academic instruction (e.g., semester credit, quarter credit, clock hour).

Undergraduate: A student enrolled in a four- or five-year bachelor’s degree program, an associate degree program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate.

Unduplicated Count of High School Students Enrolled for Credit include all high school students enrolled in college courses for credit within or outside of a dual enrollment program, in accordance with the following IPEDS definitions:

Undergraduate Research: Opportunities offered to undergraduate students to make original contributions in an academic discipline via the exploration of a specific research topic. Research opportunities may or may not be associated with a specific course or earn credit.

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*Veteran’s counseling: Helps veterans and their dependents obtain benefits for their selected program and provides certifications to the Veteran’s Administration. May also provide personal counseling on the transition from the military to a civilian life.

*Visually impaired: Any person whose sight loss is not correctable and is sufficiently severe as to adversely affect educational performance.

Volunteer work (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students for activity done on a volunteer basis (e.g., tutoring, hospital care, working with the elderly or disabled) as a service to the community or the public in general.

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Wait list: List of students who meet the admission requirements but will only be offered a place in the class if space becomes available. 

Weekend college: A program that allows students to take a complete course of study and attend classes only on weekends. 

White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Within a dual enrollment program: Program within an organized system with special guidelines that allows high school students to take college-level courses. The guidelines might have to do with entrance or eligibility requirements, funding, limits on course taking, etc.

*Women’s center: Center with programs, academic activities, and/or services intended to promote an understanding of the evolving roles of females.

Work experience (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students who have been employed prior to application, whether for relevance to major, demonstration of employment-related skills, or as explanation of student’s academic and extracurricular record.

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Financial Aid Definitions

External scholarships and grants: Scholarships and grants received from outside (private) sources that students bring with them (e.g., Kiwanis, National Merit scholarships). The institution may process paperwork to receive the dollars, but it has no role in determining the recipient or the dollar amount awarded.

Financial aid applicant: Any applicant who submits any one of the institutionally required financial aid applications/forms, such as the FAFSA. 

Indebtedness: Aggregate dollar amount borrowed through any loan program (federal, state, subsidized, unsubsidized, private, etc.; excluding parent loans) while the student was enrolled at an institution. Student loans co-signed by a parent are assumed to be the responsibility of the student and should be included.

Institutional scholarships and grants: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants for which the institution determines the recipient.

Financial need: As determined by your institution using the federal methodology and/or your institution's own standards. 

Need-based aid: College-funded or college-administered award from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify. This includes both institutional and non-institutional student aid (grants, jobs, and loans).

Need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify.

Need-based self-help aid: Loans and jobs from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a student must demonstrate financial need to qualify.

Non-need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants, gifts, or merit-based aid from institutional, state, federal, or other sources (including unrestricted funds or gifts and endowment income) awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement, merit, or any other non-need-based reason. When reporting questions H1 and H2, non-need-based aid that is used to meet need should be counted as need-based aid. 

Note: Suggested order of precedence for counting non-need money as need-based:

1. Non-need institutional grants
2. Non-need tuition waivers
3. Non-need athletic awards
4. Non-need federal grants
5. Non-need state grants
6. Non-need outside grants
7. Non-need student loans
8. Non-need parent loans
9. Non-need work

Non-need-based self-help aid: Loans and jobs from institutional, state, or other sources for which a student need not demonstrate financial need to qualify.

Work study and employment: Federal and state work study aid, and any employment packaged by your institution in financial aid awards.

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