Can You Get Financial Aid as a Part-Time Student? [Q&A]

So, you’re thinking about taking classes part-time and wondering if you can still get financial aid? Totally fair question—and the good news is, yes, you can. Federal loans, grants, and even some scholarships are still on the table. It just depends on how many credits you take.

Full-time students usually take at least 12 credits per semester. If you’re below that, you’re considered part-time. To qualify for most federal loans and financial aid, you need to be at least half-time—which typically means taking six credits as an undergrad. If you take fewer, you might still get a Pell Grant, but the amount will be lower. Here’s the full breakdown of what to know before you apply.

Table of Contents

1. What is considered part-time student status?
2. Do part-time students get financial aid?
3. How can I get private student loans as a part-time student?
4. Can you get financial aid if attending graduate school part time?
5. FAQ

What is considered part-time student status?

Full-time enrollment is often considered 12 credit hours per semester for undergrads. You’re considered a part-time student if you take fewer than 12 credits per semester.

However, you must take six credit hours per semester to be considered a half-time student, which is the minimum enrollment required to qualify for federal student loans.

Grad students and online students might have different criteria for part-time status. You can check with your school to see what qualifies as part-time based on the type of degree program you’re enrolled in. You also may still be eligible for government grants, even if taking as few as three credit hours.

Visit the StudentAid website or a scholarship search engine to learn more about what you need to qualify for federal financial aid.

Do part-time students get financial aid?

You can get financial aid for part-time college if you attend at least half-time. The Department of Education offers several aid options for half-time students, as shown below:

Aid	Who qualifies?	Max. annual funds
Direct Subsidized Loans	Undergrad with financial need	$5,500 – $12,500*
Direct Unsubsidized Loans	Undergrad, grad, prof.; no financial need required	$5,500 – $12,500 undergrad* $20,500 grad and prof. students
Direct PLUS Loans	Grad, prof., or parents; no financial need required	Cost of attendance minus other financial aid
Pell Grants	Undergrad with financial need	$6,895
TEACH Grants	Undergrad, post-bacc, and grad	$4,000
Federal Supp. Educational Opportunity (ESOG) Grants	Undergrad with financial need enrolled in eligible schools	$4,000
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants	Eligible students who don’t qualify for Pell Grants	$7,395
Federal work-study	Undergrad, grad with financial need	Varies

The federal government also offers Direct Consolidation Loans, which allow you to combine your federal loans into a single loan, but you must attend school less than half-time to qualify. This means you take less than six credits per semester, withdraw from school, or graduate. Direct Consolidation Loans are meant as a method for managing repayment on student loans, rather than a method of financing education.

In addition to federal student loans, part-time financial aid may also include grants. For example, with a federal Pell Grant, you can get help with as little as three credits. The amount you receive is based on your enrollment.

There can be a significant difference in the funding you qualify for. For instance, you might only receive $762 in Pell Grants for three credits, but if you’re enrolled full-time, you could get up to $7,395 for the academic year.

Your school’s financial aid office may also be able to offer information on assistantships, scholarships, and other education grants you could apply for beyond federal financial aid options. Remember that scholarship or grant awards for part-time enrollment may be a smaller dollar amount.

Does FAFSA cover part-time students?

Yes, the FAFSA covers students enrolled at least half-time. The first step in exploring federal financial aid for part-time students is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline. Your school will use the information you provide on the FAFSA to determine how much aid you might be eligible for.

Students enrolled at least half-time can qualify for federal student loans, including Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. If you’re below half-time enrollment, you won’t be eligible for federal loans.

When you fill out the FAFSA, you must include certain information for yourself, as well as your parents if you’re a dependent student. FAFSA considers:

• Income
• Assets, including investments and college savings accounts
• Net worth
• Household size
• Number of students in the household enrolled in school

The FAFSA does not consider credit history or debts, but a credit check is required for PLUS Loans. After submitting the FAFSA, you’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary. That document offers an overview of your eligibility for federal financial aid.

If you qualify for federal loans or grants, your school will send you a financial aid award letter telling you how much aid you qualify for. If you’re satisfied with the award, you can accept it and sign a promissory note.

The lender or loan servicer will disburse funds to your school and apply them to your attendance cost, returning any leftover amount to you.

Your federal financial aid options include:

• Student loans
• Pell Grants
• Work-study programs

We recommend considering grants and work-study ahead of loans.

Federal student loans have low, fixed interest rates and flexible repayment options, but you don’t need to repay Pell Grants. With federal work-study programs, you’re working to pay your way through college, which can reduce the amount you need to borrow.

How can I get private student loans as a part-time student?

In addition to federal student loans, part-time college students could borrow using a private student loan. Private loans could make sense if you:

• Have maxed out your eligibility for federal student loans
• Don’t qualify for federal student loans because you’re below half-time enrollment
• Aren’t eligible for federal grants or work-study programs

Some private lenders offer loans to part-time students. Your ability to qualify for private student loans can depend on your credit history and income. Some lenders may also consider which school you attend, the degree program you’re enrolled in, and your career plans.

If you don’t meet the lender’s minimum credit requirements, you may need a cosigner to get private student loans as a part-time student. A cosigner can be a parent, family member, or anyone comfortable assuming equal responsibility for the loans.

Depending on their credit history, a cosigner can work in your favor by making it easier to get approved and qualify for low rates.

Read More

To learn more and see specific options, check out our guides to the best private student loans and part-time student loans.

Can you get financial aid if attending graduate school part time?

The definition of part-time enrollment will differ between undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students can qualify for financial aid in certain situations, just like undergraduates. However, the amount of aid for part-time graduate enrollment may be less than that of full-time students.

To qualify for federal financial aid as a graduate student, you must be enrolled at least half-time, according to the school’s guidelines. You can double-check your enrollment status with your school’s admissions office.

If you’re enrolled in graduate school at least part-time, you may qualify for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, or federal work-study funding.

And if those options aren’t enough to cover your costs of attendance, you can explore your scholarship and private student loan options to pay for graduate school. Find out more about financial aid eligibility.

FAQ

What happens to my financial aid if I go below 12 credits?

If you drop below 12 credits, you are no longer considered a full-time student, which may reduce the amount of financial aid you receive. Federal Pell Grants, for example, are prorated based on enrollment status, meaning you may only receive a portion of the full grant if you’re enrolled part-time.

Subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans may still be available, but some state and institutional aid programs require full-time enrollment. If you drop below half-time (typically fewer than 6 credits), you may lose eligibility for federal loans and trigger the start of your loan repayment grace period.

Does FAFSA ask if you are full-time or part-time?

FAFSA does not directly ask if you are a full-time or part-time student, but it does require you to report your expected enrollment status. Your school’s financial aid office determines aid eligibility based on your actual enrollment each semester, which can impact how much aid you receive.

Does having a part-time job affect financial aid?

Yes, but only to a certain extent. FAFSA considers your income when calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI). However, there is an Income Protection Allowance that excludes a portion of your earnings from being counted against your financial aid eligibility.

In the 2025-2026 academic year, dependent students can earn up to $11,510 before their income starts affecting financial aid, while independent students have a higher allowance. Federal Work-Study jobs do not count against financial aid eligibility.

What is the 150% rule for financial aid?

The 150% rule means you must complete your degree within 150% of the standard timeframe to remain eligible for federal financial aid. For example, if your degree program is designed to take four years, you must complete it within six years to continue receiving aid.

Similarly, for an associate degree that typically takes two years, you must finish within three years. If you exceed this limit, you may lose eligibility for federal aid, including Pell Grants and federal loans.

How much money can I make before it affects my financial aid?

For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, dependent students can earn up to $11,510 before their earnings impact their financial aid eligibility. Independent students have a higher income protection allowance, which varies based on dependency status and household size.

Earnings above these thresholds are factored into your SAI calculation, potentially reducing the amount of need-based aid you qualify for. However, tax-free scholarships, grants, and federal work-study earnings do not count against your FAFSA income.