Navigating College Credits: A Guide to Class Standing and Graduation

For high school students looking ahead to college, understanding the credit system is crucial. This article breaks down how credits work in college, how they affect your class standing, and how many you'll need to graduate with an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree.

Understanding College Credits

Colleges use a credit system to measure the completion of coursework. Each course is assigned a certain number of credits, typically based on the number of hours spent in class per week. A standard college course might be worth 3 credits, meaning the class meets for approximately three hours per week.

Class Standing Defined by Credits

Your class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) is determined by the number of credits you've successfully earned. The specific credit thresholds for each class standing vary slightly by institution, but here's a general guideline:

For Associate Degree Programs:

Lower Freshman: 0 - 14.9 credits completed
Upper Freshman: 15 - 29.9 credits completed
Lower Sophomore: 30 - 44.9 credits completed
Upper Sophomore: 45 - 59.9+ credits completed

For Baccalaureate Degree Programs:

Lower Freshman: 0 - 14.9 credits completed
Upper Freshman: 15 - 29.9 credits completed
Lower Sophomore: 30 - 44.9 credits completed
Upper Sophomore: 45 - 59.9 credits completed
Lower Junior: 60 - 74.9 credits completed
Upper Junior: 75 - 89.9 credits completed
Lower Senior: 90 -104.9 credits completed
Upper Senior: 105 - 120+ credits completed

At Illinois State University, students in a bachelor’s degree program are classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors based on completed semester hours. A student must have completed 30 semester hours to be classified as a sophomore, 60 hours to be classified as a junior, and 90 hours to be classified as a senior.

Class standing is calculated automatically whenever there is a change in a student's number of completed credits. Day Division registration and housing priority are based upon a student's anticipated class standing at the end of the current semester.

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Full-Time vs. Part-Time Status

The number of credits you take per semester also determines your enrollment status:

Full-time: Typically 12 or more credits per semester. At Westfield State University, fifteen (15) credit hours per semester is the normal academic course load.
Part-time: Fewer than 12 credits per semester.

Twelve (12) credit hours a semester is the minimum load for full-time day students. Graduating seniors in their last semester who are carrying fewer than 12 credits are considered full-time provided that they are carrying the number of credits needed to complete all their degree requirements. All other students carrying fewer than 12 credit hours lose their full-time status. Eligibility for on-campus housing and financial aid may be affected. Students carrying fewer than 12 credits cannot represent the College in co-curricular activities. A student's eligibility for medical insurance coverage under a parent's policy may also be affected. ** NOTE: Students carrying fewer than 12 credits are subject to adjustments in their financial aid awards.

Credit Requirements for Different Degrees

The total number of credits needed to graduate depends on the type of degree you're pursuing:

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically requires at least 60 credits. While most bachelor’s degree-granting institutions stay close to the 120-credit requirement, associate programs can vary widely. Only about 15% of associate programs require exactly 60 credits - the majority require at least 65 credits.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution requires a minimum of 120 credits. Some colleges require more. For example, a national survey of credit requirements found that 10% of programs require 124 credits, while 15% require 128 credits.

Distribution of Credits

Colleges divide credit requirements into major, minor, elective, and general education classes. Each school sets minimum credit requirements for each category, but undergraduates typically dedicate about half their credits to gen ed courses, a quarter to their major, and a quarter to electives or a minor.

General Education Requirements (Gen Eds): These courses provide a broad foundation in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Also known as distribution or core requirements, general education requirements typically make up around half, or 60 credits, of the coursework for a bachelor’s degree. At most schools, these required courses strengthen critical thinking, analytical, writing, and research skills. Students often select from a variety of courses that meet these requirements, including coursework in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Outside liberal arts majors, gen ed requirements may differ somewhat. For example, a business major might take core business and communication courses, whereas a nursing major might take natural science and math courses. Engineering schools often set their own gen ed requirements.
Major Requirements: These are courses specific to your chosen field of study. Undergraduates choose a major to focus their studies. Within their major, students typically take 30-36 credits, including lower-division and upper-division courses. General education courses that introduce students to a field may also count toward their major. Many departments require undergrads to complete several courses with a minimum GPA before they can declare a major. Depending on the school, major coursework might also include a senior project, internship, and/or senior thesis.
Electives: These are courses you can choose based on your interests. General education requirements and a major usually add up to under 100 credits. Electives make up the rest of the credits required to graduate college. Students choose electives based on their interests and professional goals. Electives also help students explore new fields. Transfer students may receive elective credits for courses taken at other schools. When assigning transfer credits, colleges look for the closest equivalent course at their institution. Schools cap the number of transfer credits students can apply toward their degree.
Minor vs. Double Major: Instead of filling up their schedule with electives, students can choose to pursue a minor or double major. Minors typically require 15 credits, while a second major takes another 30-36 credits. Undergraduates who are set on a double major should plan ahead to avoid going far beyond the 120-credit minimum. Students completing requirements for two majors concurrently are eligible to receive only one degree unless 150 or more hours have been completed and a Simultaneous Degree Application is submitted and approved. The degree awarded is based on the degree corresponding to the primary major. A student may apply for and receive two bachelor degrees in the same term. To receive two degrees simultaneously, completion of a minimum of 150 credit hours is required. The degrees may be the same (e.g., two B.A. degrees) or different (e.g., a B.A. and a B.S.). The majors may be the same as long as two different sequences are completed.

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Master's Degree

A master’s degree requires a minimum of 30 credits at a regionally accredited university. That said, the actual number of credits required to earn a degree varies depending on the program. Many MA and MS programs require 36 credits, whereas an MBA or MSN can exceed 50 credits. Graduate students often customize their degrees by taking interdisciplinary seminars, completing independent studies, and/or undertaking a master’s thesis, which can add credits to the degree.

Strategies for Earning Credits

Here are several ways to earn college credits, potentially accelerating your graduation timeline:

College-Level Courses in High School: If your school offers them, you can take Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit classes in high school. If you score well enough on the AP test or complete the dual credit course with a high enough grade, you can put those credits towards your college degree.
Summer or J-Term Courses: Many colleges offer summer classes or even courses over winter break.
Taking Additional Courses Each Semester: While most schools recommend sticking to 15 credits per semester, you might be able to take more. Students may enroll for up to eighteen (18) credit hours without special permission at Westfield State University. Students wishing to enroll in more than eighteen credit hours must secure the permission of their advisor, Department Chair, and Dean of their College. The maximum course load a student may carry in a given semester is 21 credits including both day and evening courses and programs. However, if you want to take 18 or more credits in a semester, you’ll likely need to get advanced permission. Keep in mind that the more credits you take, the more coursework you’ll have to complete.
Accelerated Bachelor's Programs: Some colleges have accelerated bachelor programs for select majors, such as Business or Nursing.

Factors Affecting Graduation Timeline

Even with careful planning, certain circumstances can impact your graduation timeline:

Poor Grades: If you score poorly in a course or fail, you’ll have to retake it in order to get credit.
Missing Semester-Only Classes: Some courses are only offered in the fall or the spring, not both. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait another year to take the class.
Credits Didn’t Transfer: If you transferred schools, all of your credits might not transfer with you. When assigning transfer credits, colleges look for the closest equivalent course at their institution. Schools cap the number of transfer credits students can apply toward their degree.
Changing Major: Many students decide to change their major once they’re in college. If you change it too late, you might need to make up for lost time.
Study Abroad: In some cases, study abroad programs can cause you to fall behind on required credits, especially if the program requires courses outside of your college’s degree requirements.

Transferring Credits

Many two-year colleges sign articulation agreements with four-year institutions, meaning graduates with an associate degree can receive credit for the gen ed requirements for a bachelor’s degree when transferring to a four-year school. In these cases, the 4-year college will usually put your earned credit towards your bachelor’s, as long as your 2-year school was accredited. The 4-year college will evaluate each of your classes, how it aligns to their current offerings, and whether the class should be considered a GE, major, or elective. If your college accepts all of your associate’s credits, you’ll only need about 60 credits to earn your bachelor’s and can graduate within two years if you attend full time. Always reach out to the college to determine the exact process as soon as you can.

For courses offered by Illinois State University, no differentiation is made between credits earned on campus and off campus.

Additional Considerations

Veterans Credits: Veterans are advised to consult the Veterans’ Counselor in the Admissions Office to determine their eligibility for Veteran’s Credits, which cannot exceed eight (8) credits. All Veterans Credits will be evaluated by the Admissions Office. If a Veteran student attends another accredited higher educational institution, these credits may also be transferable.
Religious Observances: Any student in an institution of higher learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided that the student notifies the faculty member or instructor well in advance of any anticipated absence or a pending conflict between a scheduled class and the religious observance and provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity.
Military Service: In accordance with state laws and regulations, a service member enrolled in an institution of higher learning who is unable, because of his or her military service, to attend classes on a particular day or days has the right to be excused and to reschedule a course examination administered on such day or days.
Extended Student Absences: As a service to students, the Dean of Students Office can provide notification to instructors when students have been/will be absent from class(es) for three or more consecutive days and are unable to notify their instructors. Students are not required to report absences to the Dean of Students Office; the office serves as a resource to help students reach instructors. The student is responsible for providing verification of the absence to instructors, if requested.
Course Repetitions: If a student completes a course, or drops a course after the tenth day of classes receiving a grade of WX, the student may repeat that course once. Students seeking a third enrollment must obtain permission from the academic advisor who will submit a Registration Clearance Permit request to the Registrar Service Center to allow the student to register in the course. When a course has been repeated at Illinois State University, the most recent grade (A, B, C, D, F) that the student earns will replace the previous grade in the cumulative GPA calculation. A grade of WX, AU, I, CR, CT, NC, P, NP will not replace the grade, nor the hours earned in the prior attempt. The grade of I (Incomplete) is considered a holding grade; the default grade will replace the I grade after one year or after the deadline indicated on the Incomplete Grade Agreement Form has been reached. When an articulated course has been repeated at another college or university, that grade will not replace the previous grade earned at ISU nor can it be used to improve the cumulative or major grade point average. However, the transfer credit may be used to satisfy a prerequisite, major, minor, or other requirement at Illinois State University. Students repeating a course to improve their GPA should be aware that many professional and graduate schools recalculate GPAs to include all courses attempted.
Cross-listed Course: Cross-listed courses are offered by more than one department or school, but treated as one course for credit purposes. A cross-listed course will be considered as one course regardless of the department/school through which the student registered for the course.
Senior College Hours: The senior college hours (courses numbered 200 or above) must total at least 40 hours at Illinois State University. Coursework transferred from other colleges and universities is not counted as senior college credit if freshmen and sophomores are regularly permitted to enroll in such work.
State Seal of Biliteracy: Illinois State University accepts the State Seal of Biliteracy from any state as equivalent to two semesters (8 credits) of language study (LAN 111-112) in languages offered at the University. If the seal is granted in a language not offered at Illinois State University, eight credit hours of lower division foreign language will be awarded. Students must request course credit for their seal within three academic years after graduating from high school.
Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URA): Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URA) are available in selected departments for students who have demonstrated excellence in a particular discipline with significant potential in research. The responsibilities and nature of the UTA and URA assignments are determined by the departments and colleges. Some departments provide the opportunity for credit to be earned by the UTA under a General Offerings course (291 Seminar: Undergraduate Teaching Assistants). Three hours is the maximum amount of this credit that may be allowed for graduation. Tuition and fees are assessed in the usual manner for all credit earned in the UTA and URA experiences.

The Importance of Academic Advising

To lower your chances of graduating late, meet with your advisor regularly. They can provide advice on what classes to take when and what courses can help you catch up. Always double check with your college and advisor to make sure you’re on track to graduate with your desired degree. If you ever have any questions about major requirements, general education classes, or what you need to graduate, make sure to reach out to your advisor as soon as possible to avoid any graduation or degree problems.

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