Enrollment Status

In determining enrollment status (policy N5), Penn State includes all credit courses offered through resident instruction and continuing education. Starting with the fall 2002 semester, World Campus credit courses designated as technology-based are also included in the determination of enrollment status. Other World Campus courses may influence the level of enrollment status. Credits earned by credit-by-exam or credit-by-portfolio and courses enrolled as "audit" are excluded from the calculation. The reported enrollment status for the three enrollment periods (fall, spring, and summer) is determined as follows:

Undergraduate

Table of the number of credits an undergraduate student must take for full-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment.
Enrolled Credits Enrollment Status
12+ Full-time
9 to 11.5 Three-quarter time
6 to 8.5 Half-time
Less than 6 Less than half-time

Semester Classification

An undergraduate degree candidate's semester classification is used for establishing the following:

  • How early a student may register
  • Assigning classes with a prerequisite semester classification
  • Change of campus assignment
  • Tuition calculation
  • Eligibility for parking on campus

This classification is based on the following table of credits earned (policy 37-70):

Academic Classification by Semester

Table of the number of semester classification and status of a student based on total credits earned.
Total Credits Earned Semester Classification Status
14.0 or fewer 1 First-Year Student
14.1 to 29 2 First-Year Student
29.1 to 44 3 Sophomore
44.1 to 59 4 Sophomore
59.1 to 74 5 Junior
74.1 to 89 6 Junior
89.1 to 104 7 Senior
104.1 to 119 8 Senior
119.1 to 134 9 Senior
134.1 to 149 10 Senior
149.1 or more 11 Senior