| Data Element | Definition |
|---|---|
| Academic Year | The academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters. For example, the 2024–2025 academic year includes Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. |
| Admission Rate | The percentage of applicants who are offered admission, calculated by dividing the number of admitted students by the total number of applicants. |
| Annualized FTES or Headcount | Annualized value is the average of FTES or headcount from the two terms (or three during the quarter system) in a given academic year. For example, if the total FTES was 200 in Fall 2016 and 100 in Spring 2017 then the annualized FTES for AY2016-17 is (200 + 100) / 2 = 150. |
| Average Class Size (ACS) | The average number of students enrolled in all sections on the census date. |
| Census Date | The official date when enrollment is recorded within the CSU system. It occurs at the end of the fourth week of instruction. Enrollment data captured on this date is reported to the CSU Chancellor’s Office |
| Cohort | A group of students defined by shared characteristics, often for tracking and reporting purposes. For example, a full-time first-time freshman cohort includes students who begin their college education in the same term and enroll in 12 or more units. |
| College Year | The college year includes the summer, fall, and spring terms, typically spanning from one summer term through the following spring term. For example, the 2024–2025 college year includes Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025. |
| Course-based or Class-based data | Data such as FTES, enrollment (etc.) that are aggregated by College, Department, or Subject of the Course or Section. |
| EI (Eligibility Index) | An index used for admission. It is calculated by multiplying high school GPA by 800 and adding the composite SAT (math and reading), or multiplying high school GPA by 200 and adding the composite ACT. |
| EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) | Students enrolled in the campus Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). |
| Enrollment Type | First-Time Freshmen (FTF) - Students who have not previously enrolled at any institution of higher education, but may have earned college units prior to matriculation. New Transfer - An undergraduate student entering Cal State LA for the first time, but previously attended a postsecondary institution as a undergraduate student. New Graduate - A student entering Cal State LA's graduate program for the first time. New Post-Bac - Students are working towards a second bachelor’s degree. Continuing/Returning - A student who is not new to Cal State LA and continued to enroll in the same degree program (e.g., undergraduate, graduate). Transitory - Non-degree seeking students who are enrolled at other institutions while simultaneously enrolled at Cal State LA. |
| Feeding Institutions or Feeders | They are educational institutions attended prior to enrolling at Cal State LA. For institutions outside of California, it shows as geographic names (e.g. states or countries). |
| First Generation | Students whose parents did not attend colleges. |
| Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES) | A unit that indicates the workload of a student in a way that makes class load comparable across various context. For undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students, it is the total attempted units divided by 15 units, and 12 units for graduates per term. |
| Full-Time Graduate Student | Graduate students taking 9 or more units is considered full-time for enrollment reporting purposes. However, Cal State LA can certify graduate students taking 8 or more units as full-time. |
| Full-Time Postbaccalaureate Student | Post-baccalaureate students taking 9 or more units are considered full-time for enrollment reporting purposes. |
| Full-Time Undergraduate Student | Undergraduate students taking 12 or more units are considered full-time for enrollment reporting purposes. |
| Graduation Rate | The percentage of entering students who earned a degree within a specified number of years. For example, 4-year graduation rate is the proportion of entering students who earned a degree within 4 years (before the fifth year begins). The graduation rate represents cumulative proportions. |
| Honors | Students in the Honors College program. |
| International Student | Students who do not have US citizenship or legal permanent resident status (a “green card” and apply for a visa to be allowed entry into the US temporary to take classes. |
| Local Service | The local geographical area Cal State LA servces. Students from the area are granted priority admission. Veterans are considered "local" regardless of their school of origin. |
| Pell Recipient | Students who received Pell Grant. |
| Persistence Rate | The percentage of students who return to college or have earned a degree, and it is the sum of the retention and graduation rate. |
| Postbaccalaureate Student | Students who hold a baccalaureate or equivalent degree and are seeking a post-baccalaureate credential or certificate |
| Race/Ethnicity | Hispanic – A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. American Indian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment. 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. Black - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Pacfic Islander - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands. White - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. Two or More - A person having origins in more than one race category. International - 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. Beginning Summer 2022, undocumented/DACA students do not fall under this category. |
| Retention Rate | The percentage of students who continue to enroll for a specified year after matriculation. For example, if 3000 first-time freshmen started their undergraduate career in Fall 2017 and 2400 continued to enroll in Fall 2018, the 1-year retention rate is 2400/3000 = 80%. Unlike graduation rate, retention rate is not cumulative. If, in the same example, 2700 first-time freshmen re-enrolled in Fall 2019, 2-year retention would be 2700/3000 = 90%, higher than the 1-year retention rate. This happens because some students do not enroll consecutively. |
| Returning/Readmitted Student | Undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students who returned after a leave of absence of one or more regular terms and no units attempted elsewhere. |
| Room Type | TEC - A technology-enhanced classroom may house computer-integrated technologies such as networked computers (Windows/Mac), a multimedia data projector, VCR, DVD, and document camera. Lecture Room - A room with minimal technology enhancement, suitable for traditional lecture-based pedagogy. LAB - A room is used primarily for classes that require special-purpose equipment for student participation. Active Learning Classroom - A room with a PC/projector for an instructor and flexible furnishings, is designed to encourage active learning and group activities. |
| Student-based data | Data such as FTES, Headcount (etc.) that are aggregated by the Department or College of students' declared majors. |
| Student Level | Student level is defined by earned units. Freshman - 0 to 29.9 units. Sophomore - 30.0 to 59.9 units. Junior - 60.0 to 89.9 units. Senior - 90.0 or more units. |
| Time to Degree | Years have taken to earn a degree, calculated as the time elapsed between the term of admission and the term of graduation |
| Undergraduate Student | Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree. |
| URM (Underrepresented Minorities) | Students who identified themselves as African American, American Indian, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander. |
| Yield Rate | The percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll, calculated by dividing the number of enrolled students by the number of students offered admission. |