Academic Schedule (Full-Time/Part-Time)

At Howard Community College, full-time or part-time student status is based on the number of credit hours the student takes.

Full-Time Status

*A schedule in excess of the term credit hour maximum must be approved by an academic advisor. Except in extraordinary circumstances, such approval does not extend beyond a load of 21 credit hours and is based on a student’s demonstrated ability to be successful with a full load of 18 (non-audit) credit hours.

Part-Time Status**

**Students enrolled in certain allied health programs with a schedule of fewer than 12 credit hours, during the clinical phase, may be considered full-time from a program perspective.

For financial aid purposes, a student must enroll in 12 aid-eligible credit hours to be considered full-time, and only coursework required for the student’s declared area of study is included in the student’s financial aid enrollment status. Total developmental coursework in excess of 30 attempted credit hours is not aid-eligible. More than one repeat of a previously passed course is not aid-eligible credit hours. For financial aid purposes, enrollments during the winter term are included as a part of the spring semester enrollment status.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calculates enrollment status based on the number of credits a student is enrolled in during a period of weeks during a term. Only coursework required for the student’s declared area of study is included in the student’s VA enrollment status. Students using VA education benefits must work with a school certifying official in the office of records, registration, and veterans’ affairs to determine their enrollment status and impact on education benefits.