How Part-Time Enrollment Affects Financial Aid
Your initial financial aid award is based on full-time enrollment each academic year:
- Undergraduate students: 24 credits per year
- Graduate students: 18 credits per year
If you enroll less than full-time, or withdraw from courses, your aid may be reduced.
What You Need to Know
- Dropping a class during the add/drop period:
Your aid will be adjusted based on your updated enrollment. - Withdrawing after aid has been disbursed (paid):
Aid for that term is usually not adjusted. However, your total enrollment for the year may still affect future semesters. - Enrollment across the full year matters:
Aid is reviewed based on your total credits for fall + spring. If you do not reach full-time enrollment for the year, your aid may be reduced. - Summer enrollment:
Summer aid may be adjusted if your overall yearly enrollment is below full-time.
Example A
You register for 15 credits in fall and 15 credits in spring (30 total) as an undergraduate.
You withdraw from 6 credits in the fall and complete 9 credits.
- Because you are still on track for 24 credits for the year, your fall aid is not adjusted.
- If you enroll in fewer than 15 credits in spring, your spring aid may be reduced.
Example B
You register for 9 credits in fall and 9 credits in spring (18 total) as a graduate student.
You withdraw from a spring class after aid has been disbursed, leaving you at 6 credits.
- Your spring aid will not be adjusted.
- If you enroll in summer, your summer aid may be reduced based on your total enrollment.
Estimate Your Aid Impact
You can estimate how enrollment changes may affect your aid using this planning tool:
https://go.southernct.edu/calc-planning/
Quick Tips
- Plan your full academic year, not just one term
- Talk with your advisor before withdrawing from a course
- Check your aid status if your enrollment changes