Full-Time vs. Part-Time Student: What’s the Difference?
BestColleges.com is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
- Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
- Provide specific, corrective feedback.
- Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for BestColleges.com as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
College has traditionally been a four-year, full-time endeavor — but that’s changing.
A growing number of nontraditional students, such as working professionals and parents, are applying to college. Many of these students choose to pursue their degree part time without leaving the workforce. Students in the traditional 18-24 age bracket also commonly pursue part-time online degrees to earn while they learn.
Pursuing a degree full time versus part time is a highly individual choice based on your personal schedule and preference.
Read on to learn more about the differences between a full-time and part-time student.
What Does It Mean to Be a Part-Time Student in College?
The main difference between a part-time student and full-time student is the number of credits they take each semester.
Part-time undergraduate students typically take 11 or fewer credits per semester. Part-time graduate students usually take less than nine credits.
A lower class load means part-time students have more flexible schedules. However, for part-time undergraduate students, their degree might take longer to finish than the typical four-year time span for a bachelor’s.
Transferring credits from previous college experiences can help cut down the time it takes to get a degree.
Most part-time students are employed. A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report found that more than 77% of part-time college students were employed as of October 2023 compared to less than 40% of full-time college students.
Part-time students make up a significant portion of enrollment across U.S. higher education sectors. Of 18,370,820 students enrolled in higher education in spring 2025, roughly 6.7 million were part-time students, according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
What Does It Mean to Be a Full-Time Student in College?
Full-time undergraduate students take a higher class load to graduate in the four years it typically takes to get a bachelor’s degree.
Full-time learners also make up the vast majority of U.S. students in higher education, totaling more than 11 million of the approximately 18.4 million students enrolled in higher education as of spring 2025, according to the National Clearinghouse Research Center.
How Many Credits Is Full-Time College Enrollment?
Full-time undergraduate college enrollment is generally at least 12 credits per semester, or 24 per academic year.
However, students taking 12 credits per semester will not graduate within four years unless they take summer and/or winter classes. The minimum credit load per semester to graduate within four years for a traditional bachelor’s degree is 15 credits per semester.
Also, for financial aid purposes, the full-time credit requirement for maximum Pell Grant eligibility may change from 24 credits per academic year to 30 credits per academic year under a proposed congressional tax proposal.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment: 3 Key Differences
Full-time enrollment is the “traditional” college experience, but it doesn’t fit everyone’s needs. Here are some key differences between full-time and part-time enrollment:
- 1
Time Commitment
A full-time student spends most of their week in class or studying, while part-time students spend less time on classes during the week. This means that full-time students generally graduate in a shorter period of time, while part-time students take longer to earn their degree.
But it also means that full-time students have less time to work during the week. So they may not be able to earn wages while they learn, at least not to the same extent as part-time students can.
This is also true for online degrees, although these programs generally have asynchronous classes that give students more flexibility to work toward their degree on their own schedule.
- 2
Tuition Cost
Part-time students typically pay per credit hour, while full-time students generally pay a flat rate once they reach a certain number of credits.
That might mean part-time students pay less per semester than full-time students, but they also might be enrolled over a longer period of time.
The cost per credit also varies significantly based on what type of school you attend. A private, prestigious university will almost always cost more per credit than a regional public university or community college.
One of the major reasons students pursue a part-time degree is to work while they learn — and some employers even help pay for working students’ tuition.
- 3
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time student can affect your eligibility for financial aid.
Financial aid varies between full- and part-time degrees. You need to be a full-time student to qualify for the maximum Pell Grant, for instance, although you can still receive smaller amounts if you’re enrolled part time.
Other financial aid, such as certain scholarships or merit-based programs, might require you to be enrolled full time.
Scholarships are also available for adult learners and nontraditional students. But do your research. Some may also have full-time requirements.
Part Time vs. Full Time: Which Is Right for You?
Ultimately, both part-time and full-time study can lead to a degree, and you should choose the path that’s most accessible to you and your schedule.
It’s also not set in stone. Your circumstances might change and let you take on a higher course load from semester to semester. Many colleges offer scheduling flexibility, especially in their self-paced online programs.
| Enrollment Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Part-Time Enrollment |
|
|
| Full-Time Enrollment |
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions About Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment
As a part-time student, you usually pay per credit for tuition. For full-time students, most schools offer an annual capped tuition fee. This means, in certain situations, a full-time undergraduate student can take up to 18 credits and pay the same tuition as if they were taking 12 credits.
In the short term, a part-time student may pay less each semester. In the long run, however, it might cost them more to earn their degree. Some schools may also charge additional fees for each semester a student is enrolled, which can add extra expenses for part-time learners.
On the plus side, a majority of part-time students are employed. Their wages can be used to help fund their college education and pay for living expenses. Furthermore, some employers will help cover an employee’s tuition.
Explore More College Resources
Ask a Professor: How Many Credits Do You Need to Graduate College?
All colleges require a minimum number of credits to graduate. Learn how many credits you’ll need for an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.
Updated March 20, 2023
6 Ways to Earn College Credit for Life and Work Experience
Find out how you could earn college credit for work experience, saving you time and money when getting your degree.
by Jordan Stewart-Rozema, Ph.D.
Updated March 27, 2025