Unit Loads
This page displays the units in which students are enrolled in each term and year as well as the rate in which students are enrolled full time disaggregated by ethnicity. All data displayed is from De Anza's Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
Full-time enrollment in fall, winter and spring terms range from 45% to 50% over the past five years. However, African American/Black, Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander and white students enroll full-time at lower rates than students who identify as Asian and Decline to state, at rates below 50% on average. Further, DSPS students, Foster Youth, African American/Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ students attempt and earn fewer units, on average, than all other student groups tracked.
*includes all non-special population groups.
As displayed in the charts above and visually below, there is wide variation in the total units attempted and earned with DSPS students, white and Foster Youth students attempting the lowest number of units in fall 2020 and EOPS, Veteran and Asian students attempting the highest number of units. IN regards to units earned in fall 2020, Foster Youth, CalWORKS, Pacific Islander and African American/Black students have the lowest rate of units earned while EOPS, Veteran and Asian students have the highest rate of units earned.
Overall, an average of eight units earned per quarter suggests it will take a student over 3.5 years to complete degree and transfer requirements (90 units) if consistently enrolled. With DSPS, Foster Youth, African American/Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ students having the longest time to degree based on their average units earned.
As displayed above, over the past five years, the split between full and part-time students has been close with a slightly higher rate of part-time than full-time students in the three primary terms with 49% full-time in fall and winter and 46% in spring on average. The number of students taking a full-time load in the summer term has been growing from 7% to 12%.
Full-time enrollment varies by ethnicity and is highest for Asian students at 56% on average and lowest for white, Native American and Latinx students. Full-time enrollment for certain ethnicities has implications for persistence, financial aid and goal attainment, as displayed in the chart above and visually below.