Full-time student hours vs. part-time: what's the difference?

A full-time college student enrolls in 12 or more credits per semester, while a part-time student takes less than 12 credits per semester. As a result, full-time students have more coursework each year, but they tend to graduate much faster than part-time individuals. Below, we cover what you need to know about the differences between enrollment statuses in college, how enrollment status affects your graduation timeline, and more.

Full-time vs. part-time student hours

This table breaks down the main differences between full-time and part-time students:

What is a full-time student?

Generally, a full-time student takes 12 or more credits per semester. However, the exact definition can vary depending on the school, as each college and university sets its own minimum requirements for “full time.”

How many classes is full-time?

Most college courses are worth three credits each. Therefore, you’d need at least four classes per semester to maintain full-time status. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to average five classes per semester to graduate in four years. If you only take four classes worth three credits each, you’ll need five years to graduate.

Some courses are worth more or less than three credits. For example, a science class with a lab is usually four credits. A J-term or summer semester course might only be worth one credit.

You might also see different credit hours and requirements at schools that use quarter, trimester, or block scheduling rather than semester terms.

Advantages of being a full-time student

Being a full-time college student comes with a variety of different advantages, including:

• Faster graduation: A full-time student with an average of 15 credits per semester will usually graduate in four years. The sooner you leave school, the faster you’ll be able to earn an income in your field and start paying bills and loans, which could save you thousands in interest.
• More scholarships: Most scholarships, grants, and similar financial aid programs are only for full-time students. If you drop to part-time, you likely won’t be able to renew that award.
• Less tuition in the long run: Colleges often cap tuition at 12 credit hours. If you take more than 12, you’re essentially getting free courses. However, you’ll have to pay more upfront.
• More likely to live on campus: Most schools require you to be a full-time student in order to live on campus. If you drop to part-time, you’ll likely be asked to move out.

What is a part-time student?

A part-time student is any student who takes less than 12 credits per semester. Most schools require you to take at least six or seven credits to be considered part-time, but the exact requirement varies. Half-time enrollment is when a student takes half of the full-time requirement, often six credits or fewer.

How many classes is part-time?

Part-time in college can range anywhere from one class to three, if the courses are worth three credits each. As with full-time enrollment, the exact number and definition of “part-time” can vary from one institution to another. If you’re unsure about your schedule or enrollment status, meet with your academic advisor or check your school’s policies online.

Advantages of being a part-time student

Pursuing college part-time comes with several benefits, such as:

• Increased flexibility: As a part-time student, you’ll have more options to choose classes that fit within your existing schedule, freeing up time for other responsibilities. You’ll have an easier time fitting in three classes vs. five.
• More time for work: With only three or fewer courses, you have more time for work to cover bills, including college expenses. Many part-time students work full-time.
• Lower upfront cost: Studying part-time may make it easier to pay off tuition costs as you won’t have to pay tens of thousands of dollars up front. However, the exact cost savings vary as it depends on scholarship potential, living costs, and the school.
• Time to earn in-state residency: Attending a college in-state tends to be much more affordable than an out-of-state school. If you want to attend an out-of-state college, you can attend elsewhere in the state part time until you gain residency.

Why part-time vs. full-time matters

Whether you’re a part-time or a full-time student can impact your coursework, graduation timelines, work, college cost, and more. Here are some factors you could see affected:

Financial aid

Your enrollment status impacts your financial aid eligibility.

• Federal financial aid: You receive amounts proportional to your enrollment status. For example, if eligible, a full-time student will receive more from the Pell Grant than one who is attending part-time.
• State programs: Some state and scholarship programs may only be available to those attending full-time, while others grant money proportional to the student’s status.
• Scholarships and grants: Many scholarships and grants are only for full-time college students. While there are some awards for those attending part-time, they’re not as common and they tend to have lower prizes.

Graduation timeline

A full-time student will almost always graduate faster than a part-time student. You generally need 120 credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, a full-time undergraduate who takes an average of 15 credits per semester should graduate in four years.

The graduation timeline for a part-time student varies, as it completely depends on how many credit hours they took per semester. For example, a student who takes an average nine credits per semester will need six to nine years to earn a Bachelor’s degree. Someone who takes only around six per semester needs ten.

Tuition

Since most colleges cap tuition costs at 12 credits, any credits above 12 are essentially free. Over four years, those free credits add up for full-time students.

Meanwhile, a part-time student pays less each semester but will pay more in the long term since they won’t benefit from tuition capping. In addition, tuition costs tend to rise each year, which means a student attending four years will see much less cost increases compared to someone who needs six or more.

Campus life

Many colleges require you to attend full-time to be eligible for one of their dorm rooms. You may not be able to live on campus if you’re part-time or drop to part-time status.

Part-time students also tend to be away from all the action. Since they’re not living on campus, they might miss out on school events or other unique college experiences.

Part-time vs. full-time student hours: which is right for you?

Every decision concerning college has its pros and cons, but almost none more so than deciding between part-time or full-time student hours. There’s no general “correct” answer. Instead, you need to consider your personal situation, finances, and long-term goals to decide which one is right for you.

FAQ

Can you be both a part-time and a full-time student?

No, you can’t be both a part-time and a full-time student at the same time. You can only have one enrollment status.

However, it’s often possible to switch between part-time and full-time status year-to-year or semester-to-semester. For example, if the stress of full-time school is too much, you can switch to part-time for a semester, a year, or the rest of your education. You might also want to switch to part-time if you only need a handful of credits for your final semester or if you’d like to take advantage of an internship.

Before switching enrollment statuses, meet with your academic advisor to discuss the implications.

Why is it important to know your enrollment status?

Your enrollment status impacts several factors regarding your education, including your financial aid, loan eligibility, graduation timeline, campus life, course enrollment, total cost of college, and more. If you don’t know your enrollment status, you could be blindsided by loss of scholarships or your dorm room.

If you’re not quite sure whether you’re considered full-time or part-time, reach out to your academic advisor or review your school’s policies online.

Is 6 credit hours considered full-time?

No, six credit hours isn’t considered full-time – it’s part-time or half-time enrollment. A full-time student takes 12 or more credits per semester.

What is half-time enrollment?

Half-time enrollment means the student is enrolled in half of the credit hours to be considered full-time. If a school considers full-time to be 12 credits, half-time enrollment is six credits at that school.

Can you take fewer than 6 credit hours?

Yes, some schools allow you to take fewer than six credit hours per semester.

However, if you fall below half-time enrollment – generally fewer than six credits – you’ll lose access to federal financial aid. You’ll also have to start paying back any federal student loans you received in six months.

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