Calculation of FTE students (using fall student headcounts)
The number of FTE students is calculated based on fall student headcounts as reported by the
institution on the IPEDS Enrollment (EF) component (Part A). 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. This formula is used to produce
an FTE that is used annually in the Digest of Education Statistics.
• Part-time undergraduate enrollment
o Public 4-year (.403543)
o Private (not-for-profit and for-profit) 4-year (.392857)
o Public 2-year and <2-year (.335737)
o All other institutions (.397058)
• Part-time first-professional enrollment
o Public 4-year (.600000)
o Private (not-for-profit and for-profit) 4-year (.545454)
• Part-time graduate enrollment
o Public 4-year (.361702)
o Private (not-for-profit and for-profit) 4-year (.382059)
Calculation of FTE students (using instructional activity)
The number of FTE students is calculated based on the credit and/or contact hours reported by
the institution on the IPEDS Enrollment (EF) component and the institution's calendar system,
as reported on the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. The following table indicates the
level of instructional activity used to convert the credit and/or contact hours reported to an
indicator of full-time equivalents (FTE students):
• Quarter calendar system
o Enrollment level (One FTE over 12-month period)
Undergraduate 45 credit hours, 900 contact hours
Graduate 36 credit hours
• Semester/trimester/4-1-4 plan/other calendar system
o Enrollment level (one FTE over 3-month period)
Undergraduate 30 credit hours 900 contact hours
Graduate 24 credit hours
For institutions with continuous enrollment programs, FTE is determined by dividing the number
of contact hours attempted by 900. FTE for first-professional students is calculated using the
unduplicated headcounts reported on the enrollment component. The first-professional
unduplicated headcount does not differentiate between full-time and part-time students, thus it
is apportioned based on the numbers of full- and part-time first-professional students reported
in part A (fall counts) of the enrollment component from the previous collection year (which
refers to the same academic year students). The resulting number of full-time students will be
added to one-half of the number of part-time students to arrive at an FTE for first-professional
students.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
CEU
One CEU (Continuing Education Unit) is normally defined as 10 contact hours of participation in
an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable
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