How Full-Time are “Full-Time” Students

Complete College America has released a policy brief reporting the results of a survey looking at enrollment patters of “full-time” and “part-time” students. Specifically, the brief looks at the number of credits “full-time” students are taking. The report finds that most students classified as “full-time” are not taking enough credits to graduate on time.

Among the survey results:
 

• 69% of college students are not enrolled in a sufficient number of credits to graduate on time.
• 52% of “full-time” students are taking less than 15 credits, the standard number of credits needed to graduate on time.
  • Among 4-year institutions, only 50% of “full-time” students were taking 15 or more credit hours.
  • Among 2-year institutions, only 29% of “full-time” students were taking 15 or more credit hours.