New Student Characteristics

The New Student Characteristics Report presents information on new entering students’ test scores and high school rank by campus and college from fall 2001 onward.


Data Sources
  • University of Minnesota, Fall Term New Student Characteristics table (NSCR)

Report Update Cadence:

  • After the Fall (late September) census date
Notes
  • The Duluth, Rochester, and Twin Cities campuses adopted a test optional policy in Fall 2021. The Crookston and Morris campuses implemented test blind policies in Fall 2021.
  • Fewer high schools are reporting high school rank information. In 2001, only 8% of new freshman did not have a high school rank; by 2016, 44% of new freshman did not have a high school rank.
  • Beginning with the Fall 2017 term, students could submit scores under the revised SAT test format (listed as SATR). Score types in the revised format are Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW), Math, and Total scores.
  • Writing scores for the ACT and SAT have only been available since Fall 2007. The revised format SAT Essay no longer has a composite score, so SAT writing scores are not reported here for 2017 onward.
  • ACT and SAT subject and composite/total scores are reported in two formats: percent reporting and percentiles. The number of students reporting an ACT or SAT score divided by the total number of students in a given new freshman or new transfer cohort is the “percent reporting”.  The 75th percentile is the score that 25% of students scored at or above; the 25th percentile is the score that 25% of students scored at or below.
  • High school rank is reported in two formats: percent reporting and percentiles.  The number of students reporting a high school rank divided by the total number of students in a given new freshman or new transfer cohort is the “percent reporting”.  High school rank percentiles are calculated by dividing a student’s rank by their graduating class size, multiplying by 100, then subtracting that percentage from 100 so that a student with a high school rank of 50 in a class of 500 would be in the top 10% of their class or in the 90th percentile.
Glossary

Entry campus
The University of Minnesota campus that was present on the student's record upon undergraduate entry into the University system, i.e., Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, or Twin Cities.

Entry college
The primary academic program that was present on the student's record upon undergraduate entry into the University system. Example: College of Liberal Arts

Entry registration status
The initial admit type that was present on the student's record upon undergraduate entry into the University system. Two values are possible: 'New freshman' and 'New transfer'.

Entry start term
The academic term that was present on the student's record upon undergraduate entry into the University system.  Example: Fall 2021 

Full-time/Part-time (Academic Load)
Status of a student’s academic load based on the units taken for academic progress. The threshold for the number of units varies by the student's academic career. For example, full-time status for undergraduates requires a minimum of 12 units per term while full-time status for graduate students requires a minimum of 6 units per term.

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