Pursuing a college degree can help you gain more knowledge, develop your skills, and set you up for success. However, people don’t talk enough about whether you should enroll in college part-time or full-time. Is it better to potentially finish your studies sooner or to be able to have more free time to do as you please while you pursue your degree?
How you enroll is a big decision—each path has its own pros and cons. Here is what you need to know to make an informed decision on whether you should be a full-time or part-time student.
One of the biggest decisions college students face is whether to attend school full time or part time. This choice impacts everything from your graduation timeline to financial aid eligibility.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the pros and cons of full-time vs part-time enrollment to help you determine the best fit.
Topics covered include:
- Defining full-time and part-time status
- Time commitment differences
- Tuition costs and fees
- Impact on financial aid
- Graduation timelines
- Benefits and challenges of each route
- Frequently asked questions
Let’s start by understanding what it means to be a full-time or part-time college student.
What is Considered Full Time vs Part Time Enrollment?
Full-time and part-time status depends on the number of credits you take each semester:
- Full time undergraduate: 12 or more credits
- Part time undergraduate: 11 or fewer credits
- Full time graduate: 9 or more credits
- Part time graduate: Less than 9 credits
Full-time students make up the majority of undergraduates at colleges and universities. In 2019, 53% of undergraduates attended full time.
Graduate students have higher rates of part-time enrollment though over half still attend full time. In 2019 59% of graduate students were enrolled full time.
How Do Time Commitments Compare?
One key difference between full-time and part-time students is the time devoted to coursework
Full-time students usually take around 15 credits per semester. With each credit equating to 1-3 hours of weekly class and study time, this amounts to a significant time investment.
Part-time students typically take 1-2 classes at a time. This light course load comes with fewer time demands, though programs usually limit the number of years you can take to graduate.
The choice impacts activities beyond academics too. Full-time students have less time for extracurriculars, socializing, or work. Part-timers can more easily balance life priorities like jobs or childcare.
What About Tuition Cost Differences?
How tuition gets calculated also varies between full-time and part-time students:
- Full time: Pay flat tuition rate each semester based on credit range (usually 12-18 credits)
- Part time: Pay per credit hour based on number of classes taken
Full-time students may pay more upfront. But taking a high course load lets them maximize flat-rate tuition before additional fees kick in.
Part-timers avoid large lump sums each semester. But they pay fees over many more semesters. In the long run, part-time students often spend more earning their degree.
Sometimes part-time tuition results in savings if you take fewer classes. But extended enrollment also leads to extra costs like technology fees, transcripts fees, and graduation fees accumulating over additional semesters.
How Does Enrollment Affect Financial Aid and Scholarships?
Your student status determines eligibility for financial aid programs like grants, loans, and scholarships:
- Full time: Maximum eligibility for federal and state aid; more scholarship opportunities
- Part time: Only eligible for limited aid; fewer scholarship options
For example, part-time students can only receive a portion of the full Pell Grant award. Most merit and institutional scholarships also require full-time enrollment.
However, part-time students can find some aid opportunities through employer education benefits, private scholarships, and loans.
Aim for full-time status if pursuing financial aid. But know scholarships and grants exist for part-time students too.
What’s the Impact on Graduation Timelines?
Enrolling full time or part time heavily influences total time spent in school:
- Full time: Finish bachelor’s in 4 years; master’s in 1-2 years
- Part time: Earn bachelor’s in 6+ years; master’s in 3+ years
Part-time students take longer due to smaller course loads spread across more semesters. Most schools limit bachelor’s degrees to no more than 6 years and master’s to 5-7 years.
Full-timers finish quicker by taking heavy credits each term. Their condensed timeline also leads to higher graduation rates.
So enrolling part time increases flexibility but extends your time as a student. Full-time status lets you complete your degree faster.
What Are the Benefits of Part-Time vs. Full-Time?
Weighing the tradeoffs of each status can help determine the better choice:
Part-Time Benefits
- Lower per-semester costs
- Increased flexibility for work and family
- Ability to adjust course load as needed
- More affordable tuition may require less debt
Part-Time Challenges
- Higher total tuition over time
- Less access to financial aid
- Fewer networking and campus involvement opportunities
- Takes longer to graduate
Full-Time Benefits
- Faster timeline to earn your degree
- Maximized financial aid and scholarship eligibility
- More campus engagement opportunities
- Higher graduation rates
Full-Time Challenges
- Much greater time commitment
- Potentially higher upfront tuition costs
- Less time for employment
- Can be difficult to balance other obligations
Assess your situation to decide if the benefits of part-time or full-time status align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enrollment Status
Here are answers to some common questions students have about part-time vs. full-time enrollment:
Can I work full time and go to college full time?
It is possible, but very challenging. About 25% of full-time students work over 30 hours a week. Expect little free time after balancing a full course load and full-time job. Online classes help working learners attend school full time.
Is part-time college cheaper?
Part-time students pay less per semester. But their lower course load means they stay enrolled longer. In the end, part-time students often pay more overall for their degree. But part-time status does allow more time to earn wages to afford tuition.
How long does a master’s degree take part-time?
Most full-time master’s programs take 1-2 years. Part-time students average 3-6 years to graduate. The maximum time limit at most schools is 5-7 years total for a master’s degree.
Can I switch between full-time and part-time status?
Yes, you can change your enrollment status between semesters or even within a semester if needed. Just be aware fluctuations can impact your financial aid. Also, repeatedly switching back and forth can make it harder to meet program graduation timelines.
Deciding Between Full-Time or Part-Time Enrollment
The choice between full-time or part-time college attendance depends on your specific situation and goals.
Full-time status leads to faster degree completion and maximized financial aid. But part-time offers flexibility if you’re balancing other commitments like work or family.
Consider the time you can devote to classes, need to work, and preferred graduation timeline. This will help determine if full-time or part-time status better fits your needs as a student.
Whichever route you choose, check in each semester to ensure your enrollment aligns with changing life priorities. And leverage all the resources available – both on campus and virtually – to support your path to graduation.
What is a full-time student in college?
A full-time student usually signs up for at least 12 credit hours a semester. Depending on your college, credits and courses may be counted differently. Typically, full-time means that a student takes 4 or more classes at the same time.
What is a part-time student in college?
While specifics can vary from college to college, a part-time student takes fewer credits than a full-time student. Typically, part-time undergraduate students take 11 credits or fewer in a semester, and part-time graduate students take even less than that. In most universities, this means that part-time students might take 1-3 classes, while full-time students might take as many as 5 to 8 classes simultaneously, depending on credit hours.
