Student Achievement

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, professional, and doctorate degrees.  Questions about the accreditation of FAMU may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

The SACSCOC Policy on Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure requires that member institutions publish “statements of its goals for student achievement and the success of students in achieving those goals.” FAMU uses several measures to evaluate student achievement and success in accordance with the University’s mission and the students it serves.

Specific University measures for student achievement include the following:

  • Improvement of retention and graduation rates.
  • Being among the nation’s leaders in the number of degrees granted to African-Americans, an important constituency group at the University.
  • Having examination/certification exam pass rates for FAMU graduates greater than the overall national/state pass rates.
  • Having job placement rates greater than the average of other State University System of Florida institutions.

Mission Statement

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is an 1890 land grant, doctoral/research institution devoted to student success at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional levels. FAMU enhances the lives of its constituents and empowers communities through innovative teaching, research, scholarship, partnerships, and public service. The University continues its rich legacy and historic mission of educating African Americans and embraces all dimensions of diversity.

Strategic Plan Goals Related to Student Achievement

Strategic Priority 1: Student Success

  • Goal 1: Elevate Student Success Outcomes (Retention, Graduation Rates, Licensure Pass Rates, etc.) to the High Excellence Range among state and national scales.
  • Goal 2: Establish FAMU as the 1st Choice Destination among scholars.
  • Goal 3: Reimagine and align academic offerings to address emerging workforce demands and increase degree production in programs of strategic emphasis.

Strategic Priority 2: Academic Excellence

  • Goal 4: Amplify discovery and innovation to solve complex real-world problems.

Key Student Completion Indicator

The University uses IPEDS Graduation Rate as the key student completion indicator to evaluate student success. The following table provides data for 6-year graduation rates.

Table 1. Full-time, First-Time-in-College (FTIC) Six-Year Graduation Rates

Six-Year Graduation Rates

2013-19

2014-20

2015-21

N

%

N

%

N

%

Cohort 6-Yr Graduation Rate

1,221

52.6%

1,329

55.2%

1,546

55.4%

6-Yr Graduation Rate Goal

51%

55%

57%

Disaggregated by Pell Status

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipients of a Pell Grant

847

51.8%

937

53.8%

1,099

52.7%

Recipients of a Direct Subsidized Loan that did not receive a Pell Grant

131

48.9%

135

56.3%

146

63.0%

Did not receive either a Pell Grant or Direct Subsidized Loan

243

57.2%

257

59.9%

301

61.5%

Disaggregated by Gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male

450

41.3%

499

43.1%

519

45.3%

Female

771

59.1%

830

62.5%

1,027

60.5%

Disaggregated by Race/Ethnicity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonresident alien

2

0.0%

2

100.0%

6

33.3%

Hispanic/Latino

14

50.0%

18

22.2%

36

50.0%

American Indian or Alaska Native

2

100.0%

0

0.0%

0

0.0%

Asian

6

50.0%

4

100.0%

2

100.0%

Black or African American

1,161

53.2%

1,268

56.2%

1,323

55.6%

White

31

29.0%

31

32.3%

31

38.7%

Two or more races

5

60.0%

6

16.7%

148

58.8%

Source:  2022 Accountability Plan; IPEDS

 

Retention and Progression Rates

The University uses retention, progression, and graduation rates to evaluate student success. This information is reported annually in the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Annual Accountability Report. The following tables provide data for 1st to 2nd-year retention rates and academic progress rates, and 4-year graduation rates of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students.  

Table 2. Retention Rates 1st to 2nd Year: Full-time, First-Time-in-College (FTIC) Retention Rates - Retained in the Second Fall Term at Same University

Term of Entry

Retention Rate

Goal

2016-17

82.6%

84%

2017-18

79.2%

84%

2018-19

79.9%

86%

2019-20

86.1%

88%

2020-21

89.1%

90%

 Source:  2022 FAMU Accountability Plan

 

Table 3. Academic Progress Rates 1st to 2nd Year: Full-time, First-Time-in-College (FTIC) Progress Rates - Retained in the Second Fall Term with a 2.0 or higher at Same University

Term of Entry

Progress Rate

Goal

2016-17

70.0%

77%

2017-18

71.3%

80%

2018-19

73.0%

85%

2019-20

82.2%

86%

2020-21

84.2%

88%

Source:  2022 FAMU Accountability Plan

 

Table 4. Four-Year Graduation Rates: Full-time, First-Time-in-College (FTIC) Graduation Rates

Term of Entry

Graduation Rate

Goal

2013-17

21.6%

20%

2014-18

22.5%

25%

2015-19

27.7%

30%

2016-20

34.6%

35%

2017-21

27.0%

38%

Source:  2022 FAMU Accountability Plan

 

Licensure Pass Rates

The University uses licensure pass rates to evaluate student success. Table 4 below reports the pass rates of examinees for the respective licensure examination programs.

Table 5.  Professional Licensure/Certification Exams

Nursing (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses)

Year

First-time Pass Rate

Goal

2017

64%

74%

2018

82%

73%

2019

63%

71%

2020

67%

68%

2021

62%

51%

Law (Florida Bar Exam)

Year

First-time Pass Rate

Goal

2017

50%

69%

2018

47%

66%

2019

57%

74%

2020

58%

69%

2021

59%

70%

Pharmacy (North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam)

Year

First-time Pass Rate

Goal

2017

74%

83%

2018

75%

83%

2019

83%

81%

2020

83%

81%

2021

90%

85%

Physical Therapy (National Physical Therapy Examinations Multi-Year)

Year

Ultimate Pass Rate

Goal

2015-17

77%

91%

2016-18

92%

93%

2017-19

96%

93%

2018-20

91%

91%

2019-21

86%

100%

Occupational Therapy (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam)

Year

First-time Pass Rate

Goal

2017

100%

NA

2018

87%

NA

2019

71%

NA

2020

79%

NA

2021

95%

NA

 

Cardiopulmonary Sciences (National Board for Respiratory Care)

Year

Overall Pass Rate

Goal

2017

100%

81%

2018

100%

81%

2019

91%

79%

2020

100%

100%

2021

100%

88%

2022 Accountability Plan; Academic Affairs

 

Position in National Ranking of Number of Degrees Awarded to African Americans

The University uses its position in national rankings of degrees awarded to African-Americans to evaluate student success. Florida A&M University continues to remain one of the top producers of African American students earning baccalaureate degrees. According to the most recent Diverse Issues Top 100 Degree Producers, 2021, FAMU is ranked as one of the top 10 producers of African American graduates at the baccalaureate level for the majors listed below in Table 6.

Table 6. Diverse Issues Top 10 FAMU Baccalaureate Degree Producing Majors

Rank

Baccalaureate Degree Program

1

Architecture and Related Services

3

Health Professions and Related Programs

5

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

6

Natural Resources and Conservation

8

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Services

8

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

10

Public Administration and Social Services Professions

10

Visual and Performing Arts

2021 Diverse Issues, Top 100 Degree Producers Rankings (2019-20 Data)

 

According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Top 100 Producers, 2021, FAMU is ranked as one of the top 10 producers of African American graduates at the master’s level in the nation for the majors listed below in Table 7. 

Table 7. Diverse Issues FAMU Top 10 Master’s Degree Producing Majors

Rank

Master’s Degree Major

5

Social Sciences

9

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Services

2021 Diverse Issues, Top 100 Degree Producers Rankings (2019-20 Data)

 

For professional degrees, FAMU ranked #1 as a producer of professional doctoral degrees awarded to African Americans in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. FAMU ranked #3 in the nation for all professional disciplines combined. FAMU also ranked #2 in degrees awarded to African Americans in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. For Law, FAMU ranked #3 in the nation by Diverse Issues in the production of African American graduates earning a first professional degree below in Table 8.

Table 8. Diverse Issues FAMU Top Ten (10) Professional Doctoral Degree Producing Majors

Rank

Professional Doctoral Degree Major

1

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

2

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

3

All Disciplines Combined

3

Law

2021 Diverse Issues, Top 100 Degree Producers Rankings (2019-20 Data)

 

According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Top 100 Producers, 2021, FAMU ranked as one of the top 10 producers of African American graduates at the Doctor’s-Research/scholarship level in the nation for the majors listed below in Table 9. 

Table 9. Diverse Issues FAMU Top Ten (10) Doctor’s Research Degree Producing Majors

Rank

Doctor’s Research Degree Major

1

Engineering

2

Public Health

2021 Diverse Issues, Top 100 Degree Producers Rankings (2019-20 Data)

 

Table 10, below reports the Top 20 institutions in the nation that awarded baccalaureate degrees to African-Americans in 2019-20.   

Table 10. National Ranking of Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded to African-Americans in 2019-20

 

Rank

 

Institution

Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to African Americans

1

University of Phoenix-Arizona

2,417

2

Georgia State University

2,052

3

Ashford University University

1,961

4

Grand Canyon University

1,746

5

University of Maryland Global Campus

1,675

6

Western Governors University

1,615

7

University of Central Florida

1,556

8

North Carolina A & T State University

1,544

9

Southern New Hampshire University

1,384

10

Florida International University

1,370

11

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

1,355

12

Florida Atlantic University

1,172

13

The University of Texas at Arlington

1,164

14

Kennesaw State University

1,142

15

Chamberlain University - Illinois

1,098

16

University of South Florida-Main Campus

1,033

17

Georgia Southern University

1,006

18

Old Dominion University

987

19

University of North Texas

979

20

University of Memphis

968

20

Prairie View A&M University

968

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, AY 2019-20 Data

 

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

The University uses the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to evaluate student success. The NSSE instrument is another measure FAMU uses determine whether its graduates are prepared for the workforce. The results of the 2020 NSSE administration at FAMU demonstrate that students are generally satisfied with the various aspects of their college experience.  A pertinent question on the NSSE asks students, "How much has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in the following areas: Acquiring job or work-related knowledge and skills." Results of the 2020 NSSE indicate that the Percentage of Seniors Responding “Very much” or “Quite a bit” was 73%, a 2% decrease over the 2017 administration.

 

FAMU Exit Survey

The University uses the FAMU Exit Survey to evaluate student success. The FAMU Exit Survey is used by the University to gather information on the college experience and the long-term impact to students. The exit survey is designed to provide information about graduating students on both undergraduate and graduate levels by soliciting feedback regarding their experiences at FAMU and their future plans.  Ninety-six percent (96.5%) of the respondents in 2019-2020 agreed that they had obtained a sense of competence in their major and 97.5% agreed that they had acquired the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical situation.  Furthermore, seventy-seven (77.7%) percent of graduates had already accepted a job offer or were confident in finding employment related to their major.

 

Post-Graduation Data

Table 11 below reports the percent of recent baccalaureate graduates who are either employed full-time or continuing their education within one year after graduation. (Note:  The data is based on the percent found employed or enrolled available from the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP), Wage Record Interchange System 2 (known as “WRIS 2”) and Federal employee and military data that is available from the Federal Employment Data Exchange System (FEDES) initiative).

Table 11.  Post-Graduation Metrics: Percent of Bachelor's Graduates Enrolled or Employed (Earning at least $30,000) One Year After Graduation

Academic Year

Percent Found Employed or Enrolled

Goal

2017-18

57.9%

60%

2018-19

61.9%

62%

2019-20

62.5%

65%

Source:  2022 Accountability Plan, Board of Governors Report