Student Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

Full-time fall headcount plus a weighted share of part-time headcount, per IPEDS.

Definition

The total full-time equivalent for all undergraduate and graduate students, calculated from fall headcounts as reported on the IPEDS Fall Enrollment (EF) component, Part A. The methodology is defined in the IPEDS Glossary by the National Center for Education Statistics.

How it is calculated

Part-time headcount is multiplied by the IPEDS factors and added to full-time headcount.

This is not the FTE used in the Student-Faculty Ratio, which counts each part-time student as one third.

Where it is used

Related terms

  • Student Headcount
    The count of all students of any enrollment status at census.
  • Student-Faculty Ratio
    FTE students divided by FTE instructional staff, excluding stand-alone graduate and professional programs.
Topic
Students & Enrollment
Source of definition
IPEDS
Data source
Metric student_fte, entered by hand
Updated
Fall census
Also known as
FTE students, Student FTE

References

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