Mandatory Testing: Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board implemented the Texas Success Initiative in the fall of 2003. This program requires  institutions to assess the academic skills of entering undergraduate students prior to enrollment. This requirement applies to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in a degree program or a certificate program containing 42 or more hours. *

The TSI Assessment is accepted at Ranger College for placement purposes for those students not already exempt. Previously accepted tests such as ASSET, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, and the TASP are no longer accepted for new college students after August 2013. Any student who has not taken the TSI assessment instrument will not be permitted to enroll in courses other than non-credit, developmental, or pre-collegiate courses until he or she has taken this assessment.

Under the Texas Success Initiative, a student who fails to meet the minimum passing standard (see score chart below) will be required to participate in a developmental program. Scores must have been earned within the past five years. Each student will have an individualized plan which will include the appropriate developmental education necessary to ensure readiness of the student to perform freshman-level academic coursework.

A student in the developmental education program must remain enrolled in it continually until it has been determined that the student is complete in all TSI areas.

Grade points and semester hour credits obtained in developmental courses are counted toward financial aid eligibility and athletic eligibility but are not counted toward graduation.

*Performance on the TSI/alternative tests will not be used as a condition for admission.

**The Level I certificate programs for cosmetology, welding, machining, and EMT are exempt from TSI requirements. See a Ranger College counselor or advisor for information on TSI exemptions.

TSI Score Requirements

(Must have earned within the past five years)