California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
Placement Rate Calculation Methodology (as of January 31, 2016)
When must a school calculate and disclose a placement rate?
A placement rate must be calculated if an educational program is designed to lead to, or the institution makes any express or implied claim related to preparing students for, a recognized career, occupation, vocation, job, or job title.
Which graduates are included in the rate?
The number of graduates is the number of students who have completed the program within 100% of the published program length.
Graduates available for employment means the number of graduates minus the number of graduates unavailable for employment (or excluded from the rate).
Which students are excluded from the rate?
Graduates unavailable for employment means graduates who, after graduation, die, become incarcerated, are called to active military duty, are international students that leave the United States or do not have a visa allowing employment in the United States, or are continuing their education in an accredited or bureau‐approved postsecondary institution.
How is the rate calculated?
The placement rate is calculated by dividing the number of graduates gainfully employed in the field by the number of graduates available for employment.
Graduates employed in the field means graduates who are gainfully employed in a single position for which the institution represents the program prepares its graduates within six months after a student completes the applicable educational program. For occupations for which the state requires passing an examination, the period of employment shall begin within six months of the announcement of the examination results for the first examination available after a student completes an applicable educational program.
Schools must separately report those who graduate and get a job in their field working part time, and those who work full time (more than 32 hours a week.)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
Placement Rate Calculation Methodology (as of January 31, 2016)
In determining its placement rate, North-West College utilizes the following methodology:
The College has a system in place to assist with the successful initial employment of its graduates. The placement rate (or “employment rate”) is determined by using the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) required method of calculation. A graduate must be employed for a reasonable period of time, and the employment is based on program objectives. The College secures written documentation from the employer verifying the employment.
Graduates – Unavailable for Employment
The following categories of graduates are removed from the placement rate calculation:
- death
- incarceration
- active military service deployment
- the onset of a medical condition that prevents employment
- international students who have returned to their country of origin
Graduates – Employed in Field
The number of graduates employed in jobs for which the program trained them.
Employment Rate:
The calculation of “employment rate” is:
(Number of Graduates Employed in the Field) / (Number of Graduates Available for Employment)
Other definitions:
ACCSC also requires reporting on the following categories, but these groups are not considered “graduates employed in the field” and are included in the denominator of the Employment Rate calculation if they do not otherwise meet the definition of “unavailable for employment”:
Graduates in Unrelated Occupations: The number of graduates employed in jobs not related to the training obtained from the school’s program.
Graduates Unemployed: The number of unemployed graduates.
Graduates Unknown: The number of graduates for which no information about employment or unemployment is available.
Non-Graduated Students Who Obtained Training Related Employment: The number of withdrawn/terminated students who obtain employment in a field related to the program in which the student was enrolled and based upon the training provided by the school.
Employment Rate with Non-Graduated Students Who Obtained Training Related Employment: The school’s supplemental employment rate which calculates the total number or graduated and non-graduated students who obtained training related employment.
