Graduate Enrollment Status 

Fall and Spring Terms: Graduate students registered for a minimum of 9 credits are considered full-time, registrations for 7 credits are considered 3/4-time, and registrations for 4.5 credits are considered half-time. Exceptions are noted below. 

Summer Terms: Graduate students registered for a minimum of 6 credits are considered full-time, registrations for 4.5 credits are considered 3/4-time, and registrations for 3 credits are considered half-time. Exceptions are noted below. 

Thesis/Dissertion Credits:

  • Master's degree students who have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in thesis credits remain eligible for minimum half-time equivalency with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.
  • Doctoral degree students who have advanced to candidacy, have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in dissertation credits remain eligible for minimum half-time equivalency with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.
  • All graduate students who have completed all coursework and thesis/dissertation credits as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled to satisfy continuous enrollment requirements to complete their thesis or dissertation may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 1 credit.
GRADUATE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students who wish to register for reduced credit hours are required to complete the  Reduced Course Load Form  and should work directly with the  Center for Global Engagement.  

GRADUATE TUITION BENEFITS 
The Graduate College will verify enrollment status for graduate tuition benefits through Banner and direct  communication with academic departments as necessary (Form 14 is no longer used).  Graduate students on tuition waiver remain eligible for 100%  tuition benefits if at least  one   of the enrollment criteria listed below is met:

  • Enrollment of a minimum of 9 approved credit hours in fall/spring (no minimum enrollment requirement in summer, pending all other eligibility requirements are met)
  • Enrollment in a minimum of 1 approved credit hour of minimum half-time equivalent coursework (thesis/dissertation credit, directed independent  study, internship, practicum, etc.)
  • Final semester of study
  • Approved  Form 10  petition (GC will review registration for students on tuition waivers and reach out to  departments directly if a Form 10 is required)  

ALL GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES (GTAs, GRAs, GAs, and GSWs)
Required enrollment status for graduate student employment is as follows (to read the full policy, click here):

  • Domestic Graduate Student Employees:  must be registered for a minimum of 4.5 credit hours in fall/spring to remain eligible for student employment;  exceptions:
    • Final semester of study
    • Registration in a minimum of 1 credit of eligible coursework (thesis/dissertation credit, directed independent study, internship, practicum, etc.).
    • Summer semester (no minimum enrollment requirement for domestic students) 

  • International Graduate Student Employees: must be registered for a minimum of 9 credit hours in fall/spring to  remain eligible for student employment;  exceptions: 
    • Final semester of study
    • Reduced course load approval  from Center for Global Engagement
    • Summer semester, unless the student begins a program of study during the summer semester 
GRADUATE ENROLLMENT STATUS RESOURCES