Check Your Enrollment Status

What It Is

Your enrollment status at CU Boulder is based on the number of credit hours you're currently enrolled in. If you're a graduate student, your status also depends upon your level (doctoral or master's), the type of classes you're taking and, if you're a doctoral student, your candidacy status. The status is also based on university policy and state and federal regulations.

How It's Used

CU Boulder reports student enrollment status (i.e., full-time, half-time, less-than-half-time) to the National Student Clearinghouse multiple times each semester. The enrollment statuses reported are based on federal regulations and are defined in the financial aid load tables below.

Your enrollment status may affect your eligibility for housing, tuition remission, health insurance, financial aid, loan deferment status, etc. If you're considering dropping below full-time status, you should contact the applicable offices to find out how this enrollment change could affect your eligibility.

How to View It

  1. Follow this link to Buff Portal's  (you may be prompted to log in).
  2. Select "View term summary information."
  3. Select your term, then click "Continue."
  4. Scroll down to view your academic and financial aid enrollment statuses.

To print an enrollment verification, see Verify Your Enrollment or Degree.  

How It's Defined

Undergraduate Students

To be considered a full-time undergraduate student, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours in a single fall or spring term.

Academic Load

TermFull TimeHalf TimeLess Than
Half Time
Fall & Spring12 credits6 credits1–5 credits
Summer6 credits3 credits1–2 credits

Financial Aid Load

TermFull TimeHalf TimeLess Than
Half Time
Fall & Spring12 credits6–8 credits1–5 credits
Summer12 credits6–8 credits1–5 credits

Graduate Students

The Graduate School's academic full-time registration standards can be found in the Graduate School Rules (Section 8: Full-time Status and Minimum Registration Requirements) and are reflected in the academic load tables below.

The Office of Financial Aid's full-time and part-time standards are different than those set by the Graduate School and are established based partly on federal law. If you're receiving any financial aid or deferring any previous student loans, you must make sure you're in compliance with those registration requirements. For more information, see Adjustments to Financial Aid or refer to the financial aid load tables below.

Financial Aid Load

Coursework 
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
A – Fall, Spring & Summer 6 credits 3–5 credits 1–2 credits
Thesis, Dissertation & Candidate for Degree Work
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
A – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of thesis or dissertation N/A N/A
B – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of candidate for degree (#6940–6949)

N/A

N/A
Coursework (PhD, DMA & AUDD Students)
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
C – Fall, Spring & Summer 6 credits 3–5 credits 1–2 credits
D (AUDD only) – Fall, Spring & Summer 6 credits 3–5 credits 1–2 credits
Thesis, Dissertation & Candidate for Degree Work (PhD Students)
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
C – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of thesis or dissertation N/A N/A
D – Fall, Spring & Summer 6 credits 3–5 credits 1–2 credits
E – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of thesis or dissertation

N/A

N/A
Thesis, Dissertation & Candidate for Degree Work (DMA Students)
Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
D – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of #8200–8399 or TMUS 8029 N/A N/A
E – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of #8200–8399 or TMUS 8019

N/A

N/A
Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
Fall, Spring & Summer N/A N/A N/A

Academic Load

Coursework
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
A – Fall & Spring One of the following:
  • 5 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 8 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 12 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 6 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1 credit in graduate-level classes
  • 1–3 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 1–5 credits in undergraduate-level classes
A – Summer One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 6 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 2 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 3 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 3–5 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1 credit in graduate-level classes
  • 1–2 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 1–2 credits in undergraduate-level classes
Thesis & Candidate for Degree Work
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
A – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of thesis or dissertation N/A N/A
B – Fall, Spring & Summer 1–3 credits of candidate for degree N/A Anything else
Coursework (PhD, DMA & AUDD Students)
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
C – Fall & Spring One of the following:
  • 5 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 8 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 12 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 6 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1 credit in graduate-level classes
  • 1–3 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 1–5 credits in undergraduate-level classes
C – Summer One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 6 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 2 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 3 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 3–5 credits in undergraduate-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1 credit in graduate-level classes
  • 1–2 credits in mixed-level classes
  • 1–2 credits in undergraduate-level classes
D – Fall, Spring & Summer (AUDD only) 5 credits in graduate-level classes 3 credits in graduate-level classes Anything else
Dissertation Work (PhD Students)
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
C – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of dissertation N/A Anything else
D – Fall, Spring & Summer 5 credits of dissertation 3 credits of dissertation Anything else
E – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of dissertation N/A Anything else
Dissertation/Project Work (DMA Students)
Graduate Status & Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
D – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of #8200–8399 or
TMUS 8029		 N/A Anything else
E – Fall, Spring & Summer 1 credit of #8200–8399 or
TMUS 8019		 N/A Anything else
Term Full Time Half Time Less Than Half Time
Fall & Spring One of the following:
  • 5 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 8 credits in mixed-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1–2 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 1–3 credits in mixed-level classes
Summer One of the following:
  • 3 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 4 credits in mixed-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 2 credits in graduate-level classes
  • 3 credits in mixed-level classes
 One of the following:
  • 1 credit in graduate-level classes
  • 1–2 credits in mixed-level classes

Law Students

Please consult the Rules of the Law School and the Colorado Law website. For financial aid eligibility and loan deferment information, see Financial Aid FAQs.

Academic Load

TermFull TimeHalf TimeLess Than Half Time
Fall & Spring10 credits of law classes5 credits of law classes1–4 credits of law classes
Summer5 credits of law classes3 credits of law classes1–2 credits of law classes

Financial Aid Load

TermFull TimeHalf TimeLess Than Half Time
Fall & Spring10 credits of law classes5–9 credits of law classes1–4 credits of law classes
Summer10 credits of law classes5–9 credits of law classes1–4 credits of law classes

 

Resources

Enrollment Status Grid (effective Fall 2021)