Here are some examples of Key Performance Indicators used in higher education. Each KPI is classified under a perspective and objective. A single KPI can be tracked uder multiple perspect
Perpective Objective Key Performance Indicator
| Academic Perspective | Student Success: Recruit, retain, graduate the best students |
Student Recruitment Metrics: Freshman Inquiries Freshman Conversion Freshman Applications Freshman Selectivity Freshman Accepted Freshman Yield Freshman Enrolled SAT/ACT Score Quality Top 10% Rank in Class Discount Rate % of Financial Need Met Graduation Metrics: Degrees Conferred % of Students Gaining Employment within x months Retention Metrics: 4-Year Graduation Rate 5-Year Graduation Rate 6-Year Graduation Rate 1-year Retention Rate Graduate Student Metrics: # of Research Assistants GRE Quantitative Score |
| Academic Perspective | Provide Quality Academic Programs and Support Services |
% of Course Sections with an enrollment of 20 or less % of Course Sections with an enrollment of 50 or more Passing Rate for National Licenses or Exams (e.g. Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, etc) Academic Support Spending per Student Headcount Instructional Spending per Student Headcount Student Participation in Study Abroad Faculty-to-Student Ratio |
| Academic Perspective | Attract and retain outstanding faculty/staff | Average Faculty Salary and Benefits Employee Satisfaction Faculty Tenure Rate Number of Endowed chairs and professorships Staff Turnover Rate Staff participation in central HR training |
| Financial Perspective | Optimize Expenditures |
Administration Spending per Student Departments exceeding budget Number of Financial Shadow Systems Complete all capital projects on-time |
| Financial Perspective | Advancement and Endowment | Average Alumni Giving Rate % of Campaign Goal Pledged % of Campaign Goal Collected Endowment per Student Headcount |
| Financial Perspective | Remain Compliant | A-21 Audit Findings Cost of compliance as % of budget Laboratory Safety Violations OFAC Compliance Violations Time to close fiscal year (in weeks) Violations of OSHA, HFPA, BOCA, NRC, and FDA |
| Research Perspective | Increase Funded Research |
Contracts and Grants Funding Awarded NIH Grants Funding Awarded Number of Patents Issued Proposal Success Rate |
| Research Perspective | Provide Adequate Research Facilities | New Lab space available for research Laboratory Safety Violations Sq Ft of Incubator Space |
| Research Perspective | Increase Faculty Scholarly Activities | Members of National Academies Number of publications or performances in national outlets # of Tenured Faculty |
| Campus and Community Perspective | Improve Campus Life |
# of Public Safety Officers Campus Wireless Network Coverage NSSE Supportive Campus Environment Number of Students graduating late due to course availability |
| Campus and Community Perspective | Support Integrity and Service to Community | Community Perception Survey Score Funding for Public Services Initiatives Student Awareness of Code of Ethics |
| Campus and Community Perspective | Support superior athletics | Graduation Rate for Freshman Student athletes Placement in Directors Cup Student Participation Rate in Intramural Athletics or Sports Clubs |
| Campus and Community Perspective | Promote and Enhance Sustainability | Reduce CO2 Emissions to Target % of Space LEED Certified % Spend with "Sustainable" Vendors |