What happens to my financial aid if I enroll part-time or reduce my course load?
Enrolling less than full-time may affect your financial aid eligibility. The impact depends on your enrollment level and the types of aid you receive. You should carefully consider the financial implications before dropping courses or reducing their credit load.
Full-time enrollment requirements
- Undergraduate students: 12 credits per quarter
- Graduate students: 10 credits per quarter
- Professional students: 12 credits per quarter
Grant Aid
Federal, state, and institutional grant programs may be adjusted based on your enrollment level. If you are enrolled in less than full-time you may receive a reduced grant offer based on your enrollment intensity, which compares the number of credits enrolled for the quarter to the number of credits required for full-time enrollment for the quarter.
Federal Student Loans
Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, students enrolled less than full-time may have their annual federal loan eligibility reduced under a federal requirement called the Schedule of Reductions (SOR). The SOR applies to Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Graduate PLUS Loans. Parent PLUS Loans are not subject to the Schedule of Reductions.
The Schedule of Reductions uses your enrollment intensity, which compares the number of credits you are enrolled in to the number of credits considered full-time for the academic year. If you are enrolled in less than full-time you may be eligible for a reduced loan amount.
You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal student loans.
Because dropping courses, reducing credits, or withdrawing from classes can affect your eligibility for grants, scholarships, and loans, you should talk to one of our counselors before making any changes to your enrollment. Financial aid adjustments may result in reduced aid eligibility and, in some cases, a balance due to the university.