Planning Your Credit Load

To graduate in four years without going to summer school, you must average 15 credits per semester. Dropping below that average on a consistent basis can add an extra year to the time you must spend in school.

The normal course load for each term is 15 to 18 credits. To graduate with a bachelor's degree in four years, you must average 15 credits per term. Dropping below that average may increase the time you must spend in school. A credit requires an average of 3 hours each week in lecture, laboratory, recitation, and/or preparation. This means that you must plan 45 hours per week for 15 credits. Students must register for a minimum of 12 credits in order to maintain full-time status (full-time status is defined as 15 credits for Minnesota State Grant eligibility).

To carry more than 19 credits, students should have a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Students planning to register for 19 or more credits must secure permission from the Academic Standards and Policy Committee. Petition forms for approval of an overload of credits are available in the Office of the Registra, 9 Hill Hall. Studies show that students who are able to put the most time into their college education do the best.