Three-quarter-time is the enrollment intensity between half-time and full-time, commonly 9 to 11 undergraduate credits in a semester system.
How it works
The aid office counts credits at census or disbursement. Nine to eleven credits produce three-quarter-time status. The Pell award is calculated at the three-quarter-time percentage. If the student later adds a course and reaches 12 credits, the status becomes full-time and the Pell amount can be increased. If the student drops to 8 credits, status falls to half-time and the Pell amount decreases.
Example: a student’s full-time scheduled Pell for the term is $3,000. Enrolled in 9 credits, the student receives $2,250 (75 percent). After adding a 3-credit course the student reaches 12 credits, is reclassified full-time, and receives the additional $750.
How it differs
Full-time is 12 or more credits. Half-time is 6–8. Less-than-half-time is fewer than 6. Academic definitions of “part-time” may group three-quarter-time with half-time, but federal aid treats them separately for Pell proration.
Common errors
Awarding a full-time Pell amount to a student with only 9 credits. Forgetting to adjust the award when a student crosses the 12-credit or 9-credit threshold after initial packaging. Assuming three-quarter-time students are ineligible for loans.
References
- 1. Federal Student Aid enrollment intensityThree-quarter-time band
- 2. Pell Grant proration tablesPercentage of scheduled award
Three-quarter-time is the enrollment intensity between half-time and full-time, commonly 9 to 11 undergraduate credits in a semester system.