Required Enrollment for Financial Aid
Eligibility for Federal and state of Indiana student aid at Purdue University will be based on the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled as of the end of the fourth week of classes for the Fall or Spring semesters, and as of the end of the second week of classes of module 2 for each module of the Summer. If enrollment is reduced on or before a census date, Federal and state aid eligibility could be reduced or cancelled. For students enrolled at College of Technology Statewide sites, census dates vary based on the start of the enrollment period.
Undergraduate Enrollment Levels For Financial Aid Per Semester (including Summer School):
- Full-time = 12 or more credits
- Three-quarter-time = 9-11 credits
- Half-time = 6-8 credits
- Less-Than-Half-Time = 1-5 credits
Graduate Student Enrollment Levels for Financial Aid Per Semester (including Summer School):
- Full-time = 8 or more credits
- Half-time = 4-7 credits
Enrollment Level Impact on Aid Eligibility:
Federal assistance includes the Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, Parent PLUS Loan, and/or Federal Work-Study. These types of aid usually require at least half time enrollment at Purdue (6 or more credit hours for undergraduates and 4 or more credit hours for graduate students). However, the new Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant require full time enrollment (12 credit hours or more).
Those eligible for the Federal Pell Grant must maintain their planned enrollment or the Pell Grant value must be "prorated" based on the following enrollment levels:
- Full time: 12 or more credits, full time award
- Three-quarter time: 9 to 11 credits, 75% of a full time award
- Half time: 6 to 8 credits, 50% of a full time award
- Less than half time: 1 to 5 credits, 25% of a full time award.
State of Indiana aid includes the Higher Education Award and the Part-Time Grant program. The Higher Education Award requires a minimum of 12 credit hour enrollment.
Note that if a student drops a course prior to specified dates, but remains enrolled at minimum enrollment level, there is no impact on amount of financial aid.
If you have any questions about how your enrollment level impacts your aid eligibility, contact the Division of Financial Aid at (765) 494-0998 or facontact@purdue.edu.