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As the largest public institution in the nation, Texas A&M University continuously renews its commitment to honor its core values and expand its long-term vision and tradition of service as a land-, sea-, and space-grant research institution. This commitment is mapped to the central tenets of the university mission, namely to offer the life changing experience of a transformative education for all students at all levels in order to close equity gaps and promote social mobility. The university also understands that achieving this outcome is inseparable from the mission of developing new understandings through research and creativity.

The provision of an exceptional education is based, in part, on establishing and routinely monitoring key performance indicators for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. For each of these indicators, the university has established lower acceptable limits (also called thresholds of acceptability) as well as long-term targets to help determine if Texas A&M is providing the exceptional education it intends to provide to all its students.

 

Undergraduate Student Achievement

Texas A&M has established four key performance indicators for undergraduate student achievement:

  1. Underrepresented minorities enrollment;
  2. First-year retention;
  3. Four-year graduation rates for both first time in college students and transfer students; and
  4. Six-year graduation rates for first time in college students.


Underrepresented Minorities Enrollment

As part of its mission, Texas A&M strives to serve “persons of all racial, ethnic, and geographic groups as it addresses the needs of an increasingly diverse population and global economy.” As one measure to achieve this goal, the university will seek to have 33% of its undergraduate students from three racial and ethnic groups - African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians or Alaska Natives. At a minimum, undergraduates from these three groups should always represent more than 25% of total enrollment. This lower limit has been consistently achieved or surpassed in the past four years with steady progression towards the target.

 

Enrollment of Historically Underserved Students

Semester Lower Limit Actual Target
Fall 2017 25% 26.9% 33%
Fall 2018 25% 27.5% 33%
Fall 2019 25% 28.0% 33%
Fall 2020 25% 28.3% 33%

 

Hispanics represent the largest underrepresented minority group in the state, currently at approximately 40%. Texas A&M aspires to enroll 27% (increased from 25% as of fall 2018) of its entire undergraduate population from this demographic group with a minimum of 23% (increased from 20% as of fall 2018). Here again, the lower limit has been consistently achieved or surpassed in the past four years with steady progression towards the target.

 

Enrollment of Hispanic Students

Semester Lower Limit Actual Target
Fall 2017 20% 23.1% 25%
Fall 2018 23% 23.9% 27%
Fall 2019 23% 24.5% 27%
Fall 2020 23% 24.9% 27%


Finally, the enrollment and support of first-generation students (defined as students whose parents or guardians have not earned a bachelor’s degree) and those who come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds (as indicated by being Pell Grant eligible) is equally critical for Texas A&M to meet its mission. Given its land-grant origins (created in 1876 to offer the working class across Texas access to a broad-based education), and its mission as a public institution to serve the needs of all those across the state, Texas A&M aspires to enroll 27% of the undergraduate population comprised of first-generation students (with a minimum limit of 20%), with a similar limit and target established for those from lower-income households (as defined by those who are Pell Grant eligible).

Enrollment of First-Generation Students

Semester Lower Limit Actual Target
Fall 2017 20% 25.4% 25%
Fall 2018 20% 25.2% 27%
Fall 2019 20% 24.4% 27%
Fall 2020 20% 23.6% 27%

Enrollment of Pell Grant Eligible Students

Semester Lower Limit Actual Target
Fall 2017 20% 22.4% 25%
Fall 2018 20% 22.6% 27%
Fall 2019 20% 21.9% 27%
Fall 2020 20% 21.3% 27%

Learn more about Student Demographics

Retention

Texas A&M is fundamentally committed to the success of all students and engages resources and its entire community to successfully develop strategic initiatives that will ensure this success. Ultimately, creating a pathway to retention from the first year to the second is the first essential, and often most critical, step to move students towards the completion of their degree. Regardless of whether students change their major in that first-to-second-year transition, Texas A&M aspires to retain 95% of all students in the first year, with a minimum acceptable level of 90%.

First-Year Retention for FTIC & Transfer Students

Fall Cohort Lower Limit Actual Target
First Time in College (FTIC) Students
Fall 2016 90% 91.7% 95%
Fall 2017 90% 91.9% 95%
Fall 2018 90% 93.0% 95%
Fall 2019 90% 94.3% 95%
Transfer Students
Fall 2016 90% 92.3% 95%
Fall 2017 90% 92.9% 95%
Fall 2018 90% 93.2% 95%
Fall 2019 90% 95.4% 95%

Texas A&M’s leadership is also committed to ensuring students across demographic groups and those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds succeed and return for their second year. Thus, the same minimum limits and targets identified above are applicable for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity or household educational experience or income.


First-Year Retention of FTIC Students by Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics Fall 2016 Cohort Fall 2017 Cohort Fall 2018 Cohort Fall 2019 Cohort
First-Generation 86.8% 86.5% 88.1% 90.9%
Non-First-Generation 93.2% 93.7% 94.5% 95.5%

 

Historically Underserved (HUS) 87.9% 88.9% 90.0% 93.0%
Black 86.4% 89.6% 89.6% 94.0%
Hispanic/Latino 88.1% 88.8% 90.0% 92.9%
Non-HUS 93.2% 93.1% 94.2% 94.8%

 

Financially disadvantaged backgrounds (Pell Grant Eligible) 87.2% 86.4% 88.5% 91.7%
Non-Pell Grant 92.8% 93.6% 94.3% 95.0%


Texas A&M is committed to supporting both its first time in college (FTIC) students as well as those who transfer to Texas A&M from another institution. As such, first-year retention rates for both groups are closely monitored based on the same minimum acceptable level and aspirational targets as noted above.

First-Year Retention of Transfer Students by Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics Fall 2016 Cohort Fall 2017 Cohort Fall 2018 Cohort Fall 2019 Cohort
First-Generation 89.9% 92.8% 90.4% 93.7%
Non-First-Generation 93.7% 93.1% 94.4% 96.6%

 

Historically Underserved (HUS) 89.9% 92.4% 92.8% 96.1%
Black 85.0% 90.8% 91.3% 90.7%
Hispanic/Latino 90.6% 92.6% 92.9% 96.6%
Non-HUS 93.5% 93.0% 93.3% 95.1%

 

Financially disadvantaged backgrounds (Pell Grant Eligible) 89.0% 91.3% 92.0% 93.2%
Non-Pell Grant 93.7% 93.4% 93.6% 96.0%

Learn more about Retention and Graduation Rates prior to implementation of the Path Forward

Graduation Rates

Texas A&M has a saying “Once an Aggie, always an Aggie.” There is an additional saying that represents the commitment of the institution to ensuring that student progress successfully towards to completion of their respective degrees further believe: “Once an Aggie, then a graduate.” To that effect, the institution aspires to have at least a minimum of 50% of its first time in college students graduating within four years, with a target of 65% graduating within four years.

For transfer students, Texas A&M strives to have at least a minimum of 75% graduating within four years, but aspires to have 85% graduating within four years.

 

Four-Year Graduation Rates

Fall Cohort Lower Limit Actual Target
First Time in College (FTIC) Students
Fall 2013 50% 54.0% 65%
Fall 2014 50% 54.9% 65%
Fall 2015 50% 57.4% 65%
Fall 2016 50% 59.1% 65%
Transfer Students
Fall 2013 75% 82.0% 85%
Fall 2014 75% 82.4% 85%
Fall 2015 75% 83.2% 85%
Fall 2016 75% 86.5% 85%


Texas A&M’s leadership is also committed to ensuring that all its students, regardless of their demographics or circumstances, succeed and graduate at similar rates. The same minimum limits and targets of graduation rates identified above are applicable for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity or household educational experience or income.


Four-Year Graduation for FTIC Students by Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics Fall 2013 Cohort Fall 2014 Cohort Fall 2015 Cohort Fall 2016 Cohort
First-Generation 49.9% 49.3% 52.9% 53.4%
Non-First-Generation 56.1% 57.3% 59.2% 61.2%

 

Historically Underserved (HUS) 48.4% 48.7% 52.5% 52.4%
Black 43.9% 45.5% 53.3% 48.4%
Hispanic/Latino 49.2% 49.2% 52.4% 53.0%
Non-HUS 56.2% 57.3% 59.4% 61.7%

 

Financially disadvantaged backgrounds (Pell Grant Eligible) 48.5% 48.0% 52.8% 53.0%
Non-Pell Grant 55.7% 57.0% 58.8% 60.7%

 

Four-Year Graduation for Transfer Students by Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics Fall 2013 Cohort Fall 2014 Cohort Fall 2015 Cohort Fall 2016 Cohort
First-Generation 79.4% 79.5% 80.7% 83.2%
Non-First-Generation 83.9% 83.9% 84.1% 87.9%

 

Historically Underserved (HUS) 78.9% 80.6% 79.6% 83.5%
Black 74.5% 73.5% 74.2% 80.0%
Hispanic/Latino 79.2% 81.7% 80.3% 83.7%
Non-HUS 82.8% 82.9% 84.3% 87.5%

 

Financially disadvantaged backgrounds (Pell Grant Eligible) 76.1% 77.6% 79.2% 83.5%
Non-Pell Grant 83.7% 84.1% 84.4% 87.4%

 

In order to ensure that its students graduate in a timely fashion, Texas A&M strives to meet the standards of excellence in graduation rates observed in leading institutions across the nation. The institution works to have at least a minimum of 75% of its first time in college students graduating within six years, and strives to have 85% graduating within six years.


Six-Year Graduation Rates for FTIC Students

Fall Cohort Lower Limit Actual Target
Fall 2011 75% 81.6% 85%
Fall 2012 75% 81.5% 85%
Fall 2013 75% 81.2% 85%
Fall 2014 75% 82.3% 85%


Texas A&M’s leadership is also committed to ensuring that all its students succeed and graduate at similar rates. The same minimum limits and targets identified above for six-year graduation rates are applicable for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity, or household educational experience or income.


Six-Year Graduation for FTIC Students by Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Characteristics Fall 2011 Cohort Fall 2012 Cohort Fall 2013 Cohort Fall 2014 Cohort
First-Generation 73.6% 73.6% 73.7% 73.7%
Non-First-Generation 84.6% 85.1% 84.4% 85.8%

 

Historically Underserved (HUS) 75.6% 74.2% 73.9% 75.0%
Black 68.5% 61.6% 70.6% 69.5%
Hispanic/Latino 76.8% 76.2% 74.5% 75.9%
Non-HUS 83.3% 84.0% 84.0% 85.1%

 

Financially disadvantaged backgrounds (Pell Grant Eligible) 73.8% 73.0% 73.0% 72.2%
Non-Pell Grant 83.8% 84.3% 83.7% 85.3%

Texas A&M uses the “traditional” (six-year) overall graduation rate as provided by the national Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) as its officially designated student completion indicator (in compliance with the expectations from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges - SACSCOC). The established minimum limits and targets noted above for six-year graduation rates for first time in college students are applied to these data as well.


Student Completion Data: IPEDS “Traditional” Overall Graduation Rate

Fall Cohort Lower Limit Actual Target
2011 75% 81.6% 85%
2012 75% 81.5% 85%
2013 75% 81.2% 85%
2014 75% 82.3% 85%

Learn more about Retention and Graduation Rates prior to implementation of the Path Forward


Graduate & Professional Student Achievement

In its “Decade of Excellence” vision and strategic plan, Texas A&M clearly identifies the need to elevate the quality of all of its graduate programs and support the professional advancement of its graduates. For this, the institution intentionally commits to cultivating a supportive environment and continuing to innovate our academic programs. To meet this vision, the institution dedicates resources and efforts to develop the discovery and application of knowledge in a wide range of graduate and professional academic fields, which has resulted in the consistent enrollment of over 20% of the student body (~15,000 students) in graduate or professional programs from fall 2017 to fall 2020.

To maintain its momentum in graduate and professional studies, Texas A&M has established goals for graduate and professional student achievement in three areas:

  1. Enrollment of historically underrepresented graduate and professional students;
  2. Time to degree and completion rates for master’s and doctoral (Ph.D.) students; and,
  3. Professional program first-time licensure pass rates.

Enrollment

As with the undergraduate student population, Texas A&M is equally committed to serving individuals from all racial, ethnic and geographic groups interested in pursuing graduate or professional degrees. During the most recent strategic planning process, 20% was identified as an acceptable enrollment of underrepresented minorities (URM) students among domestic graduate and professional students, with a target of 30%.

Enrollment of URM Graduate and Professional Students

Semester Threshold Actual Target
Fall 2017 20% 22.4% 30%
Fall 2018 20% 22.8% 30%
Fall 2019 20% 23.9% 30%
Fall 2020 20% 24.1% 30%

 

Time to Degree

Time to degree in graduate programs varies widely based on the diversity of the program structure and the requirements for graduation (e.g., thesis vs. non-thesis, distance programs for working professionals, etc.). Due to such variations in program structures, the acceptable completion time for a master’s degree is 2.5 years with a target of 1.5 years. Similarly, the acceptable completion time for a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree is 6.5 years with a target of five years.

 

Median Time to Degree for Master’s and Doctoral (Ph.D.) Students

Academic Year Acceptable - Upper limit Actual - Domestic Actual - Black Actual - Hispanic Actual - International Target
Master's Students
AY16-17 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.5
AY17-18 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.5
AY18-19 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.5
AY19-20 2.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.5
Doctoral (Ph.D) Students
AY16-17 6.5 5.5 5.5 6.0 5.5 5.0
AY17-18 6.5 5.5 5.8 5.5 5.5 5.0
AY18-19 6.5 5.5 5.5 6.0 5.5 5.0
AY19-20 6.5 5.5 7.0 6.0 5.5 5.0

View the Time to Degree Report

Completion Rates

Texas A&M also evaluates its success in supporting student achievement using the proportion of graduates completing their degree by the established target. For master’s students, the acceptable lower limit established is 50% completion within two years with a target at 80% completion within two years. For doctoral students, the established acceptable lower limits are 40% completion within five years and 50% within 10 years, with targets at 50% completion in five years and 80% completion in 10 years.

 

2-Year Completion Rates for Master’s Students

Cohort Year Lower Limit Actual - Domestic Actual - Black Actual - Hispanic Actual - International Target
2015 50% 66.9% 56.2% 67.7% 75.0% 80%
2016 50% 67.2% 66.2% 65.8% 73.3% 80%
2017 50% 69.4% 60.4% 69.0% 71.1% 80%
2018 50% 71.6% 65.4% 71.6% 72.4% 80%

 

5-Year and 10-Year Completion Rates for Doctoral (Ph.D.) Students

Cohort Year Lower Limit Actual - Domestic Actual - Black Actual - Hispanic Actual - International Target
Five-Year Completion Rates
2012 40% 39.5% 45.7% 29.7% 50.3% 50%
2013 40% 41.6% 48.3% 41.4% 49.6% 50%
2014 40% 41.2% 60.5% 34.2% 51.7% 50%
2015 40% 38.8% 31.3% 29.5% 51.2% 50%
10-Year Completion Rates
2007 50% 62.1% 67.6% 48.8% 72.3% 80%
2008 50% 64.0% 66.7% 54.9% 72.8% 80%
2009 50% 65.2% 63.5% 57.0% 77.0% 80%
2010 50% 61.0% 57.4% 48.6% 70.6% 80%

Learn more about Retention and Graduation Rates prior to implementation of the Path Forward

Professional Program Licensure Rates

Finally, professional programs frequently use the first-time pass rates on licensure exams as an indicator of student achievement. Texas A&M offers five First-Professional degrees as defined by the Texas Administrative Code (19 TAC §4.272). Those degrees are Dentistry (D.D.S.), Law (J.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.). Licensure pass rate definitions, targets, and data over the last four cohorts of students are discussed below.


Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)

The College of Dentistry students pursuing the D.D.S. must take and pass the National Board Dental Examination (NBE I and NBE II) as well as the Western Regional Exam Board (WREB). The NBE assesses students’ knowledge of biomedical sciences (NBE I) as well as their ability to apply such information to clinical cases (NBE II). The WREB exam is a standardized clinical exam assessing students’ procedural competency. Both an acceptable lower limit and a target were established based on prior performance and state and regional trends. The lower limit for acceptability for first-time pass rates (as established for state reporting purposes) is 90% with the established target at 100%. The table below demonstrates, over the last four years, the achievement for each of these examination pass rates (NBE I and II; WREB). 


First Time Pass Rates on NBE and WREB

Academic Year Lower Limit NBE I NBE II WREB Target
AY16-17 90% 94% 91% 95% 100%
AY17-18 90% 93% 95% 98% 100%
AY18-19 90% 93% 94% 95% 100%
AY19-20 90% 91% 97% 97% 100%

 

Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
The Texas Bar Examination, a requirement to be licensed to practice law in Texas, is administered twice a year – once in February and once in July (with the July 2020 administration postponed until September and October due to the pandemic). The college’s lower limit for acceptability for any given administration is the average first-time examinees’ pass rate among ABA-accredited law schools in Texas. Texas A&M School of Law’s established target is to rank in the top 4 among these accredited law schools with respect to the first-time pass rate on the Texas Bar Exam. The table below presents the first-time examinees’ pass rate by administration of the Texas Bar Exam and the average pass rate across the ABA-accredited law schools in Texas. The established lower limit is consistently met for Texas A&M examinees (except for those taking the exam in February 2020), with the established target consistently being met as of 2018 (other than for the October 2020 exam administration).

 

First Time Pass Rates on the Texas Bar Exam

Exam Administration State Average (Lower Limit) Actual Ranking (Out of top 10; Target top 4)
July 2017 81.0% 83.5% 6th
February 2018 60.1% 67.9% 4th
July 2018 77.9% 87.5% 4th
February 2019 69.2% 80.0% 3rd
July 2019 81.5% 90.7% 3rd
February 2020 64.3% 62.5% 4th
September 2020 85.6% 95.6% 2nd
October 2020 73.6% 76.9% 6th
February 2021 76.4% 85.7% 3rd

 

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Students pursuing an M.D. through the College of Medicine must pass the three-step US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) for licensure in the United States. Step 1 assesses understanding of important concepts of science basic to the practice of medicine. Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) assesses students’ ability to apply medical knowledge essential for the provision of medical care. Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) directly assesses students’ ability to gather information from simulated patients, perform physical examinations and communicate overall in a patient-centered manner. Students in the College of Medicine must complete Step 1 in order to progress through the program and proceed with clinical training. They typically take Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS prior to graduation. With respect to targets, the college compares achievement rates of its students annually against the national average for the year by Step, with the expected threshold of meeting the national average and the target of exceeding the national average. The table below presents the first-time pass rates for these Steps, along with the national average for the last four years. As shown in the table below, all values met or exceeded the national average for any given year.

 

First Time Pass Rates on the USMLE Compared to National Averages

Academic Year Step 1 ACTUAL Step 1 Average Step 2 CK ACTUAL Step 2 CK Average Step 2 CS ACTUAL Step 2 CS Average
AY16-17 95% 95% 96% 96% 98% 96%
AY17-18 98% 96% 97% 97% 97% 95%
AY18-19 97% 97% 99% 98% 98% 95%
AY19-20 100% 97% 100% 98% 98% 95%

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Students from the College of Pharmacy take two tests for licensure. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) measures students’ ability to measure pharmacotherapy and therapeutic outcomes, prepare and dispense medication, and implement and evaluate information for optimal health care. The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MJPE) assesses competency and knowledge of pharmacy law. College leadership, in collaboration with university leadership and other stakeholders, established targets based on the combined mission of the university and the college to provide access to underserved communities along with a review of peer institution trends. A lower limit of 85% first time pass rates for both exams was established as of academic year 2018-19 with a target of 90% first-time pass rates for both exams. First-time pass rates for both exams are provided in the table below.

First-Time Pass Rates for the NAPLEX and MJPE

Academic Year Lower Limit NAPLEX Actual MPJE Actual Target (For both)
AY16-17 n/a 91% 95% 90%
AY17-18 n/a 90% 93% 90%
AY18-19 85% 94% 87% 90%
AY19-20 85% 85% 89% 90%

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
Upon completing their program of study and training, veterinary students must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) as a requirement for practicing veterinary medicine in the United States. The examination measures students’ knowledge of veterinary science and diagnostic skills. The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences established a lower limit of pass rate acceptability on the NAVLE of 90% with target pass rate at 100%. The program accreditor, the American Veterinary Medical Association, requires an 80% pass rate. The table below presents the pass rates for veterinary students for the last four cohorts demonstrating consistent achievement with respect to the established lower limit and progress towards achieving the target.

 

NAVLE Licensure Pass Rates for D.V.M. Students

Year Threshold Actual Target
2016 90% 96% 100%
2017 90% 96% 100%
2018 90% 96% 100%
2019 90% 98% 100%

Summary

Texas A&M University evaluates success with respect to student achievement using a variety of metrics for undergraduate, graduate and first-professional programs while honoring its mission and land-grant philosophy. For each identified measure, Texas A&M has identified lower limits of acceptability as well as targets of achievement based on peer institution/peer program data, professional program licensure requirements and a review of institutional trends. Established lower limits of achievement are met across the majority of the measures, and in instances where they are not met, strategies are under way to improve the metric in future years.

Accountability

For additional information, please reference accountability.tamu.edu