Academic Year – The academic year consists of the summer, fall and spring terms.

Adult Learner – A student who is 25 years of age and older.

Census Date – The fourteenth calendar day from the beginning of classes, including the day on which classes begin, for spring and fall terms. Census dates for the summer enrollment are 7-12 week sessions--the 14th calendar day from the beginning of classes including day on which classes begin; 4-6 week sessions - the 7th calendar day from the beginning of classes, including the day which classes begin; terms of length up to four weeks - the final day of classes.

Degree-seeking students – Students enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized by the institution as seeking a degree or recognized postsecondary credential.

Dual Student - A high school student taking college courses in advance of high school graduation.

First-time Freshman – A student who has no prior postsecondary experience attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. First-time freshman may begin with 30 or more earned credit hours however for the first semester, he/she is shown as a freshman.

Full-time Equated Enrollment (FTE) – The sum of full-time equated undergraduate and full-time equated graduate enrollments. For undergraduate FTE, the total number of degree credits taken by undergraduate students divided by 15. For graduate FTE, the total number of degree credits taken by graduate students divided by 12.

Full-Time Student – An undergraduate student who is enrolled for 12 or more hours of degree credit or a graduate student who is enrolled for 9 or more hours of degree credit.

Graduate Special Student – A graduate special student who is (1) non-degree seeking, holding a bachelor's or higher degree, taking courses for graduate credit only, or (2) non-degree seeking, holding a bachelor's or higher degree taking courses for both graduate and undergraduate credit, or, (3) holding a bachelor's degree, and seeking a Graduate Certificate of Credit.

Graduation Rate – Represents the percent of first-time freshmen enrolled in at MTSU in the summer and fall terms of an academic year who subsequently earn a baccalaureate degree within a set number of years (typically calculated for four, six or eight years.)

Part-time Student – An undergraduate student who is enrolled for less than 12 hours of degree credit or a graduate student who is enrolled for less than 9 hours of degree credit.

Readmitted Student – A student who previously attended the institution and who is not a returning student.

Fall-to-Fall Retention Rate – Represents the percent of undergraduate students who enrolled in the fall and returned in the subsequent fall term.

Fall-to-Spring Retention Rate – Represents the percent of undergraduate students who enrolled in the fall and returned in the following spring term.

Returning Student – A student who has registered at the institution during the preceding term, or, in the case of the fall term, during the preceding spring or summer term.

Student/Faculty Ratio – Ratio of full-time equivalent students (full-time plus 1/3 part-time) to full-time equivalent instructional faculty (full time plus 1/3 part-time)

Transfer Student – A student who last attended another institution from which credit is acceptable toward the degree or certificate he or she is working on.

Transient or Term Special Student – A student who is regularly enrolled and in good standing at an institution other than the reporting institution and who is taking a course(s) at the reporting institution which he intends to transfer to his regular institution.

Undergraduate Special Student – An undergraduate special student is (1) non-degree seeking and holds no degree or certificate or (2) non-degree seeking, holding any level degree, but taking only courses for undergraduate credit, or (3) non-degree seeking, holding no bachelor's degree, and taking courses for both graduate and undergraduate credit, or (4) one seeking a Technical Certificate of Credit.