Enrollment Status

In determining enrollment status (policy N5), Penn State includes all credit courses offered through resident instruction and continuing education. Starting with the fall semester 2002, World Campus credit courses designated as technology based are also included in the determination of enrollment status. Other World Campus courses may influence the level of enrollment status. Credits earned by credit-by-exam or credit-by-portfolio, and courses enrolled as "audit" are excluded from the calculation. The reported enrollment status for the three enrollment periods (fall, spring and summer) is determined as follows:

Undergraduate

Table of the number of credits an undergraduate student must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment.
Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
12+ Full-time
9 - 11.5 Three-quarter time
6 - 8.5 Half-time
Less than 6 Less than half-time

Graduate* (no assistantship)

Table of the number of credits a graduate student with no assistantship, 1/4 time assistantship or 1/2 time assistantship must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment.
Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
9+ Full-time
7 - 8.5 Three-quarter time
5 - 6.5 Half-time
Less than 5 Less than half-time

Graduate* (1/4 time assistantship)

Table of the number of credits a graduate student with 1/4 time assistantship must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment
Enrolled Credits Permissible credit loads per level of assistantship
9 - 14 Minimum-Maximum for Fall/Spring Semester
5 - 7 Minimum-Maximum Credits Per 6-week Summer Session

Graduate* (1/2 time assistantship)

Table of the number of credits a graduate student with 1/2 time assistantship must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment
Enrolled Credits Permissible credit loads per level of assistantship
9 - 12 Minimum-Maximum for Fall/Spring Semester
4 - 6 Minimum-Maximum Credits Per 6-week Summer Session

Graduate* (3/4 time assistantship)

Table of the number of credits a graduate student with 3/4 time assistantship must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment
Enrolled Credits Permissible credit loads per level of assistantship
6 - 8 Minimum-Maximum for Fall/Spring Semester
3 - 4 Minimum-Maximum Credits Per 6-week Summer Session

*See https://gradschool.psu.edu/graduate-funding/funding/assistantships/ for more information on credit limits for graduate assistantships including summer session requirements.

Law

Table of the number of credits a law student must take for full-time, half-time, less than half-time enrollment.
Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
12+ Full-time
9 - 11.5 Three-quarter time
6 - 8.5 Half-time
Less than 6 Less than half-time

Medical

Table of the number of credits a medical student must take for full-time enrollment.
Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
1+ Full-time