Key Measures of Success

Texas State University uses a comprehensive framework to evaluate progress toward our strategic plan and goals. Utilizing a combination of key performance indicators with quantitative and qualitative assessments, we are able to effectively measure growth across a range of metrics including enrollment, graduation rates, staff persistence and satisfaction, total research expenditures, and more.

How We Measure Progress

Collaborative efforts involving faculty, staff, and stakeholders enable us to effectively track data and identify meaningful trends. By leveraging a range of analytical tools to track metrics, we can assess the impact of our initiatives and make informed adjustments, ensuring we continue to excel in our mission to serving our students and the broader community.

MetricFY 2022-23FY 2023-242029 Goals
*Elevate Student Success
FTFT Fall to Spring Persistence93%93%95%
FTFT 1-year Retention Rate78%80%85%
FTFT 4-year Graduation Rate36%37%45%
FTFT 6-year Graduation Rate56%55%65%
Transfer 1-Year Retention Rate84%86%90%
Transfer 3-Year Graduation Rate49%49%65%
Transfer 4-Year Graduation Rate64%65%70%
Total Degrees Awarded8,6118,3789,600
Run to R1
Total Research Expenditures $ 141,291,000 $ 165,047,000 $ 250,000,000
Federal+Private Research Expenditures $ 52,937,549 $ 55,698,832 $ 75,000,000
Doctoral-Research Degrees Awarded5471100
Increase Enrollment
Total Enrollment - Fall Semester38,72240,67450,000
FTIC Enrollment - Fall Semester7,9308,19610,000
Transfer Enrollment - Fall Semester2,8302,9853,100
Total International Enrollment - Fall Semester9441,5025,000
Total Regional Campus Enrollment - Fall Semester003,000
Total Online Enrollment 1,9932,30910,000
Round Rock
Total Students Served by Round Rock1,8162,21410,000
Total Number of Round Rock Programs52635
Total Enrolled in Round Rock Programs7239473,000
FTIC Enrollment - Fall Semester3487400
Employer of Choice
Average number of applications per job posting1,8821,900
Average time to fill position68 days60 days
Staff Persistence Rate year-to-year84.1%87.4%90
Faculty Persistence Rate year-to-year93.9%92.6%90
Average Employee Satisfaction

Notes & Terminology

Enrollment refers to the unduplicated headcount of students registered for at least one organized course section in a semester as of the 20th class day for the main (full) part of term. THECB enrollment is based on state-reportable students who are eligible for funding. IPEDS enrollment includes non-state reportable students. The majority of non-state reportable students are those residing out of state and enrolled fully online. THECB methodology is used in most cases to align with state (THECB, LBB) and system (TSUS) reporting.

The Incoming Fall Cohort is a subset of all enrolled students who begin at Texas State University in the summer or fall semester and are enrolled in the Fall semester.

The FTIC (First-Time-In-College) Cohort is a subset of the Incoming Fall Cohort comprised of undergraduate students enrolled in the Fall semester who have not attended another institution of higher education following their high school graduation.

The FTFT (First-Time, Full-Time) Cohort is a subset of the FTIC Cohort containing only students who are enrolled full-time in their first Fall semester.

The Transfer Cohort is a subset of the Incoming Fall Cohort comprised of undergraduate students enrolled in the Fall semester who have attended another institution of higher education following their high school graduation and prior to attend Texas State.

Rates are based on defined cohorts tracked over a fixed period of time (semester or year).

The Academic/Fiscal Year is defined differently at the state (THECB) and federal (IPEDS) levels. The THECB academic/fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31. The IPEDS academic/fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. This results in different graduation rates being reported at different levels.

Expand FAQ List

    • FTFT Fall-to-Spring Persistence Rate
      • Percent of the first-time, full-time incoming cohort who are enrolled in the following Spring semester, after 1 semester. (THECB)
    • FTFT 1-year Retention Rate
      • Percent of the first-time, full-time incoming cohort who are enrolled in the following Fall semester, after 1 year. (THECB)
    • FTFT 4-year Graduation Rate
      • Percent of the first-time, full-time incoming C cohort that earn a bachelor’s degree within 4 years of their first Fall semester. The years are based on THECB academic year. (THECB)
    • FTFT 6-year Graduation Rate
      • Percent of the first-time, full-time incoming cohort that earn a bachelor’s degree within 6 years of their first Fall semester. The years are based on THECB academic year. (THECB)
    • Total Degrees & Certificates Awarded
      • The number of degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral Research, and Doctoral Professional) and certificates (Undergraduate and Graduate) awarded during the THECB academic year. Students may be awarded more than one degree and/or certificate during the academic year. (THECB)

    • Doctoral Research Degrees Awarded
      • The number of doctoral research degrees awarded during the IPEDS academic year as reported on the IPEDS Completions Survey. (IPEDS, Carnegie)
    • Total Research Expenditures 
      • Total expenditures spent on research during the IPEDS fiscal year as reported on the NSF Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. (NSF, Carnegie)
    • Federal + Private Research Expenditures
      • Research expenditures from federal and private sources during the THECB fiscal year as reported on the THECB Survey of Research Expenditures which aligns with the Annual Financial Report. (THECB)

    • Total Enrollment
      • The unduplicated headcount of students enrolled during the Fall semester of an academic year. The number includes non-state reportable students to reflect the increase in that subset of students as part of our overall enrollment. (IPEDS)
    • FTIC Enrollment
      • The unduplicated headcount of students in the FTIC Cohort. THECB methodology is used for alignment with student success metrics, however part-time students are also included. (THECB)
    • Transfer Enrollment
      • The unduplicated headcount of students in the Transfer Cohort. THECB methodology is used for alignment with student success metrics, however part-time students are also included.  (THECB)
    • Online Enrollment
      • A subset of total enrollment comprised of students enrolled 100% online in the Fall semester. This includes students enrolled in fully online programs, as identified by the program campus code in the student information system (Banner) and students who are enrolled in only fully online course sections for the Fall semester. The THECB methodology is used to align with TSUS reporting. (THECB)
    • International Enrollment
      • A subset of total enrollment comprised of students classified using THECB and IPEDS methodology for identifying Non-Resident International students based on responses to race/ethnicity demographic questions and student visa status. The THECB methodology is used to align with TSUS reporting. (THECB)
    • Regional Enrollment
      • A subset of total enrollment comprised of students who are enrolled in regional partnership programs as indicated by the program campus code in the student information system (Banner). Students enrolled in programs at San Marcos, Round Rock, or online are not included in regional enrollments. The IPEDS methodology is used to align with total enrollment reporting. (IPEDS)
         

    • Total RRC Enrollment
      • A subset of total enrollment comprised of students enrolled:
        • in a program designated as being offered at Round Rock in the student information system (Banner), or 
        • at least one course section offered on the Round Rock Campus, or
        • at least one course section offered fully online or off-campus by a department housed on the Round Rock Campus. 
      • The IPEDS methodology for total enrollment will be used to align with the total enrollment metrics. (IPEDS)
    • FTIC RRC Enrollment
      • A subset of students from the Total RRC Enrollment who also meet the criteria to be part of the FTIC Cohort. THECB methodology is used to align with student success metrics. (THECB)
    • Transfer RRC Enrollment
      • A subset of students from the Total RRC Enrollment who also meet the criteria to be part of the Transfer Cohort. THECB methodology is used to align with student success metrics.  (THECB)
    • Total Number of RRC Programs
      • The count of programs fully offered at the Round Rock Campus as indicated by the curriculum office. (THECB)

    • Average Time to Fill Positions
      • The average length of time in months between the posting of a position and when a candidate accepts a hiring offer.
    • Average Number of Applications per Job Posting
      • The average number of completed applications received for a position posted.
    • Staff Persistence Rate Year-to-Year
      • The percentage of all salaried, non-temporary, non-student worker staff employed as of November 1 who are still employed at the university on November 1 of the following year. Staff who transfer to new positions within the institution are considered to have persisted. Staff employees will be identified based on their primary employee group type and contract length in SAP.
    • Faculty Persistence Rate Year-to-Year
      • The percentage of non-adjunct (per-course) faculty employed on November 1 who are still employed at Texas State on November 1 of the following year. Faculty employees will be identified based on their primary employee group type and contract length in SAP.
    • Average Employee Engagement
      • The percentage of employees who are classified as being engaged as measured by an annual employee engagement survey.