Maximum Credit Hour Policy - Undergraduate and Graduate

Statement of Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students do not register for an excessive amount of credit hours in any given term that would adversely affect their academic success.

Undergraduate Students

  • Undergraduate enrolled students may be registered for no more than 16 credit hours of Excelsior College instructional courses at any given time.
  • However, with permission from an academic advisor, undergraduate students may register for up to 19 credit hours.
  • This policy pertains to Excelsior online, face-to-face, and CD-ROM courses but does not apply to Excelsior College® Examinations.

Graduate Students

  • Graduate enrolled students may be registered for no more than 12 credit hours of Excelsior College instructional courses at any given time.
  • However, with permission from an academic advisor, graduate students may register for up to 16 credit hours.
  • This policy pertains to Excelsior online, face-to-face, and CD-ROM courses but does not apply to Excelsior College Examinations.

Note: See Full-time and Half-time Status for Students for details of how students may maintain full-time or half-time status.

Procedure

The Office of Registration and Records will generate a course load report each term. The report will be generated capturing all registrations through the close of business on Wednesday during the last week of the regular registration period and be emailed to each school dean or designee no later than 10:00 am ET on Thursday during the last week of regular registration period.

  • The course load report will identify enrolled students who are registered for more than 16 credits of Excelsior undergraduate courses or 12 credits of Excelsior graduate courses.
  • The dean or designee will ask the advisor to review the students’ record. If in the advisor’s judgment there is concern about the ability of the student to be successful taking such a large course load, especially in 8-week courses, the advisor will contact the student. The student’s degree plan may be adjusted and a determination will be made about what courses the student should remain registered for.
  • Undergraduate students will not be permitted to take more than 19 credits at any one time.
  • Graduate students will not be permitted to take more than 16 credits at any one time.