Student Achievement

Student Achievement

West Texas A & M University identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student achievement that are in line with the university’s mission, students, and programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of West Texas A&M University is to provide intellectually challenging, critically reflective, regionally-responsive academic programs that discover, interpret, apply, and disseminate knowledge for preparing the next generation of global citizens.

Undergraduate Enrollment

Relevance of Measure – WTAMU monitors undergraduate enrollment as it is critical to the fulfillment of the university’s generational plan, WT 125 - From the Panhandle to the World.

Achievement Goals – WTAMU set its achievement threshold for undergraduate enrollment at the highest range of the previous five years and have set an attainable stretch goal for 2026.

Outcomes – Over the past seven years, undergraduate enrollment at WTAMU has seen a high point in 2018 and a gradual decline from 2018-2024.

Graduate Enrollment

Relevance - WTAMU’s graduate-level footprint is an essential part of the University’s continuously improving reputation as a leader with regard to research in the West Texas region, around the state, and extending across the nation and as well as globally.

Achievement Goals - WTAMU set its achievement threshold for graduate enrollment within its previous six years’ average range.

Outcomes - Graduate enrollment mostly sustained its numbers due to widespread implementation of enrollment management plans and increased recruitment efforts. As a result, enrollment in 2020 rose to its highest level during the past seven years

Undergraduate Retention (Year 1 to Year 2)

Relevance - The annual return rate of students as they progress through their educational program correlates strongly with their successful 4-year degree completion.

Achievement Goals – The acceptable threshold for this retention metric fell within the average range of the previous seven years (2018-2024). The stretch goal for 2026 is set at 73%, nearly 5 points above the previous five year high.

Outcomes - From 2018 – 2024, retention from year 1 to year 2 maintained a retention rate in the high 60's, however there was a strong dip in 2021 during COVID.

Undergraduate Degrees Conferred

Relevance – WTAMU closely tracks the number of degrees conferred for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs. These metrics are significant indicators of student achievement.

Achievement Goals – The threshold for undergraduate degrees conferred was based upon expectations of a continued upward trend. The stretch goal for 2026 is highly anticipated. The master’s degree threshold was also set with upward trends expected to continue. The stretch goal for 2026 reflects an ambitious, though realistic, return to previous expectations.

Outcomes - The goal for 2017 has been exceeded every year, but our stretch goal hasn't been realized.

Masters Degrees Conferred

Achievement Goals - The master’s degree threshold was also set with upward trends expected to continue. The stretch goal for (2026) reflects an ambitious, though realistic, return to previous expectations.

Outcomes – The threshold was exceeded in four of the previous seven years, though dipped below expectations.

Doctoral Degrees Conferred

Achievement Goals - The acceptable threshold for this metric is based on a trend set in the two years prior to the seven-year period currently being reported. The threshold was chosen with the expectation that these numbers would continue an upward and continuously improving trend.

Outcomes – The designated goal for 2017 was not reached until 2019. Though the number of conferred degree was sporadic in the first four years of the period, years five throug seven proved to be quite fulfilling.

2022, saw 21 doctoral graduates. This was the initial cohort of the COE’s Ed.D. program. This new program alone increases the goals for the future significantly. 

Undergraduate State Licensure – Education

Relevance – Pass rates for WTAMU are very important. Passing these exams is of career long relevance to both education and nursing students.

Achievement Goals - the WTAMU Department of Education has set its achievement goal at 98% to ensure students are consistently performing above the state standard and among the most highly trained educators in the Panhandle, as well as the state. Minimum targets for the TExES exams are based on the state standard of 85% of educator candidates passing certification exams. WTAMU strives for its students to perform at or above the state standard. The stretch goal for 2026 maintains this very high standard.

Outcomes - Pass rates surpassed the stretch goal in three of the past seven years.

Undergraduate State Licensure – Nursing

Achievement Goals – Minimum targets for the NCLEX exams are based on the state standard of 85% of nursing candidates passing licensure exams. WTAMU strives for its students to perform at or above the state standard. The stretch goal for 2026 maintains this very high standard.

Outcomes - While exceeding the threshold in 2018 and 2019, the 2021 goal was not reached.

* Scores provided by the Texas Board of Nursing are by Calendar Year.

4-year Graduation Rates

Relevance - WTAMU tracks graduation rates of first-time full-time undergraduate students within four, six, and eight years of beginning their program.

Achievement Goals – The threshold for the 4-year graduation rates was chosen with the expectation that these rates would continue their upward trend. Further growth is expected as the stretch goal for 2026 seeks another 3.5 percentage points of growth.

Outcomes - Threshold was exceeded five of the last seven years. The 2021 goal was reached the final five years.

6-year Graduation Rates

Achievement Goals - The acceptable threshold was chosen with the expectation that these rates would continue their upward trend. The rate reached its peak with the 2017 and 2018 cohorts.  

Outcomes - The rate reached its peak with the 2017 and 2018 cohorts. The 2021 goal was not attained until 2023.

8-year Graduation Rates

Achievement Goals - This acceptable threshold was chosen with the expectation that these rates would continue their upward trend.

Outcomes - The 2021 goal, revised in 2019, was not attained; however, it is expected that the new enrollment and retention goals and initiatives discussed earlier in the standard will also support gradual upward trends moving forward.