Student Status
Academic Year Definition
An academic year consists of two, 16-week terms with a minimum of 32 weeks instructional time and 24 credit hours for undergraduate students; and a minimum of 32 weeks instructional time and 12 credit hours for graduate students.
Enrollment Status
| Student |
Full Time |
3/4 Time |
Half Time |
Less than Half Time |
| Undergraduate |
12+ credit hours per term |
9-11 credit hours per term |
6-8 credit hours per term |
<6 credit hours per term |
| Graduate |
6+ credits hours per term |
N/A |
3-5 credit hours per term |
0 credit hours per term* |
*Only applies to Non-FA students
Notice for Non-FA Students: To maintain at least a half-time enrollment status, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least 6 credits within a 16-week time period and a graduate student must be enrolled in at least 3 credits within a 16-week time period.
Student Loan In-School Deferment
To qualify for an in-school deferment, a student must be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible college or career school. To defer previous student loans, a student must be active in their first course and continuously maintain at least a half-time enrollment status at the University. Students on an academic Leave of Absence will be considered withdrawn for loan deferment purposes.
For student loan deferment purposes, a student must have started activity in their first course and have registered for additional courses within a 16-week time period to meet at least half-time enrollment status requirements (see enrollment status chart above). A student in an inactive status with the University, as defined in the University’s Continuous Enrollment Policy, will be considered less than half-time for student loan deferment purposes.
To have enrollment status reported to their loan provider, a student may obtain an In-School Deferment Form from their loan servicer and complete the borrower sections. The completed form should be submitted to the Registrar's Office. The Office of the Registrar will verify enrollment status, complete the School Official section, and send to student or loan servicer (if the loan servicer contact information is provided by the student).