Hour Completion Requirement for Eligibility

Updated: 12/1/15; Reviewed: 7/13/21
Contact: Financial Aid

Students are encouraged to plan their course load in order to complete approximately one-fourth of the graduation requirements each academic year. A student enrolled as full-time (12 credit hours or more per semester) must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours per year or 67% of attempted coursework per year; three-quarter time students (9-11 credit hours) must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours per year or 67% of attempted coursework per year; half-time students (6-8 credit hours) must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per year or 67% of attempted coursework per year.

Federal regulation requires that the maximum timeframe to complete an educational objective cannot take longer than 150 percent of the published length of the educational program for a full-time student. A program consisting of 124 credit hours, therefore, must be completed within 186 credit hours for financial aid eligibility. The pace of progression is measured at each evaluation to ensure that the student completes degree requirements within the maximum timeframe. The pace is calculated by dividing cumulative hours successfully completed by cumulative hours attempted.

The following table indicates the minimum number of credit hours required at the end of each academic year for financial aid eligibility for full-time students (excluding transfer credits at time of entry to the College).

• After first academic year (two semesters) – 24 minimum hours or 67% of attempted coursework
• After second academic year (four semesters) – 48 minimum hours or 67% of attempted coursework
• After third academic year (six semesters) – 72 minimum hours or 67% of attempted coursework
• After fourth academic year (eight semesters) – 96 minimum hours or 67% of attempted coursework

Three-quarter and half-time student credit hour requirements are adjusted proportionately.