Registration: Villanova University Enrollment Status Guidance

Below is information about enrollment status as it relates to students enrolled in degree-seeking or credit-bearing certificate programs (“matriculated”). 

Non-Matriculated and Conditionally Admitted Students: 

All students enrolled in courses that earn credit towards either a degree or a credit-bearing certificate are included in NSC reporting for enrollment status. If a student’s record changes from “non-matriculated” or “conditionally admitted” to “fully matriculated” in a degree program, that change will be captured in reporting. 

Exclusions from Enrollment Reporting 

Villanova University does not report non-credit enrollment data to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), and so no enrollment status definitions are provided regarding non-credit programs. The only exception is for the Villanova University United Scholars program, which IS reported to NSC as it is allowable under Federal Title IV Federal Student Aid guidelines for federal aid eligibility. 

Additionally, enrollment is not reported for the following populations of students who are excluded from 

NSC submissions: 

• Visiting Students, including high-school students taking courses at Villanova and summer visiting collegiate students 

• Personal Enrichment students 

• Students attending Villanova courses from local universities, (Eastern University, Bryn Mawr) as they are reported by their home institution 

• Full-time: Attempting 12 or more credits per semester. 

• Part-time: Attempting fewer than 12 credits per semester. 

Updated from original May 2010 guidance 

Policy as of June 1, 2025: 

Graduate students enrolled in at least six credit hours will be considered full-time in the fall and spring semesters. Students enrolled in the summer term for at least six credit hours will be considered full-time. 

Graduate Students also will be considered full-time if they are enrolled in Doctoral Research; Doctoral Research Continuation; Thesis Research; Thesis Research Continuation; Independent Study, or Independent Study Continuation, regardless of credits. The colleges may add additional qualifying conditions for full-time status. 

This policy does not apply to the Charles Widger School of Law, which has its own policy. 

Found in the Policy Library: https://villanova.policytech.com/docview/?app=pt&source=unspecified&docid=1767 

Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences (per academic catalog) 

Students in Graduate Arts and Sciences may also be considered full-time if their credit load in a semester falls below the stated minimum, but they meet any of the following conditions: 

1. The student is a graduate assistant or tuition scholar. Graduate assistants and tuition scholars must be enrolled in at least one course, which may be credit-bearing or noncredit- 

bearing. Note that students in master’s degree programs are not permitted to hold an assistantship or scholarship beyond the period of two academic years. 

2. The student is completing the program within the normal two-year full-time period of study and the department chair/program director confirms the status. 

3. The student is enrolled in Thesis (3 credits) or Dissertation (3 credits) or CSC 9020 (Independent Study). 

4. The student is enrolled in Thesis Continuation (0 credit), Dissertation Continuation (0 credit), or CSC 9021 (Independent Study Continuation), with the approval of the program director and Graduate Dean’s office. 

5. Effective Fall 2010, Master’s level students may enroll as full-time students in Thesis Continuation or Independent Study Continuation for a maximum of two terms. 

6. Students enrolled in a doctoral program are considered enrolled full-time as long as they are registered in a course, regardless of credit. 

Students in the PhD program are considered full-time when they are actively engaged in their dissertation work. The student is considered full-time if they are a graduate assistant or tuition scholar. Graduate assistants and tuition scholars must be enrolled in at least one course, which may be credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing. Note that students in master’s degree programs are not permitted to hold an assistantship or scholarship beyond the period of 2 academic years. 

Students may also be considered full-time if their credit load in a semester falls below this minimum, but they meet any of the following conditions: 

1. The student is a graduate assistant or tuition scholar. Graduate assistants and tuition scholars must be 

enrolled in at least one course, which may be credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing. 

2. The student is enrolled in Thesis (3 credits) or Dissertation (3 credits), Independent Study (3 credits.). 

3. The student is enrolled in Thesis Continuation (0 credits), Dissertation Continuation (0 credits), or Independent Study Continuation (0 credits). 

• Full Time (F): Student workload meets the institutionally defined full-time standard (100% of full-time workload). (Note, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Status System [IPEDS] defines full-time graduate enrollment as 9 or more credits a semester). 

• Three-Quarter Time (Q): At least 75% of full-time workload. 

• Half Time (H): At least 50% of full-time workload. 

• Less Than Half Time (L): Below half-time workload. 

(compiled from National Student Clearinghouse Compliance Central) 

• Approved Leave of Absence (A status in NSC): Villanova is required to report an Approved leave of absence (LOA) when a student meets federal LOA requirements; NSC policy states an approved LOA may not exceed 180 days in a 12-month period, counted from the first day of the initial LOA. If the student does not return by the LOA end date, the institution must report the student as Withdrawn (W) per 34 CFR 668.22(d). (This includes students on medical leave of absence or MLOA). 

  • Internally at Villanova University, students may remain on a leave of absence (LOA or MLOA) for 3 years. The University allows students to keep VU credentials for that period of time. In the semester following the 3 years, if the student has not returned, the student record is inactivated, credentials would expire, and a withdrawal code entered. 

• Other required NSC statuses: Institutions must also report Withdrawn (W), Graduated (G), Deceased (D), and Never Attended (X) when applicable. These statuses ensure federal loan servicers and NSLDS receive accurate student enrollment data. 

• Timeliness & accuracy requirements: NSC emphasizes timely, complete, and accurate status reporting (including LOA start/return dates, withdrawals, graduations, and program-level data), supported through Compliance Central training and guidance. 

  • Villanova has 60 days to report a change in status of any kind to NSC and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), including changes from full-time to part-time, withdrawals, LOAs, etc. Files are sent monthly. 

• Course load changes may affect federal, state and/or institutional financial aid, and students should consult the Office of Financial Assistance for implications. 

• Undergraduate students utilizing any form of financial aid who are planning to attend less-than full-time in their final semester of study should be advised to meet with the Office of Financial Assistance to review potential implications, such as the reduction of award amounts. 

• Eligible coursework only: Enrollment status for federal aid must be calculated based only on coursework applicable to the student’s degree program, as required in Title IV program rules (reinforced in NSC reporting guidance). This is applicable to graduate and undergraduate students. 

• Full-time enrollment is required for NCAA participation: Undergraduate student-athletes must be enrolled in at least 12 credits, and graduate student-athletes in at least 6credits, to practice or compete. Dropping below full-time makes the student-athlete immediately ineligible. 

• Final-semester exception: Student-athletes may compete while enrolled less than full-time only if it is their final term and they are enrolled in all courses needed for graduation. 

• Full-time status cannot be met with transient/dual enrollment credits: Credits taken at another institution cannot count toward full-time enrollment for NCAA eligibility (e.g., 9 credits at Villanova + 3 elsewhere ≠ full-time). 

• Progress-toward-degree requirements: Student-athletes must earn 6 degree-applicable credits each term, plus meet annual benchmarks such as completing 24 credits in the first year and 18 credits each academic year thereafter. 

• Percentage-of-degree completion standards: By the start of Year 3, 40% of degree requirements must be completed; Year 4, 60%; Year 5, 80%. Minimum GPA thresholds also apply 

• Students should be advised to work with the Office of Academic Support for Athletics if planning for a change to their enrollment status. 

(Compiled from the SCO Handbook Spring 2026) 

• VA measures enrollment status based on credit load: In standard-length undergraduate terms, VA considers 12+ credits full-time, 9–11 credits three-quarter time, 6–8 credits half-time, 4-5 credits are less than ½ time, 1-3 credits are ¼ time or less. 

• Graduate full-time status is determined by the institution: VA defers to the university’s definition of graduate full-time enrollment. 

• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) rules: Students must be enrolled greater than half-time to receive MHA under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill). Enrollment at or below half-time results in no MHA. 

• Rate of Pursuit (Chapter 33): 

• Graduate: VA calculates rate of pursuit (RoP) based on the number of credits the school reports it considers full-time for the period certified, relative to enrolled credits. VA no longer determines the equivalent credit hour calculation in non-standard terms for graduate training. The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid if the RoP is more than 50%, and the student is neither on active duty nor the chapter 33 spouse of a person on active duty. 

• Online-only enrollment impacts MHA: Students enrolled in exclusively online coursework 

receive only half of the national MHA average unless at least one in-person class is taken. 

• VA only pays for degree-applicable coursework: Courses not applying to the degree plan cannot be certified and may reduce benefit eligibility and payment. 

• Schedule changes must be reported: Adding/dropping courses can affect VA payments, and students are responsible for any resulting debt to the VA. 

• Students should be advised to contact the School Certifying Official if planning for a change to their enrollment status. 

• Full course of study requirement: F-1 undergraduate students must take at least 12 credit hours per term to maintain status. 

• Graduate enrollment: F-1 graduate students must take a full course load as certified by the institution (institutions define their graduate full-time minimums). 

• Course of study for F-1 visa enrollment at Villanova requires students to pursue a degree. 

• Online course restrictions: F-1 students may count only one online class or 3 credits toward the full-time requirement per term; additional online courses do not count toward the full-time minimum. 

• Final-term rule: If only one course is needed to finish the degree, it cannot be taken online; the final course must require physical attendance. 

• In-person attendance expectation: Regulations require physical attendance for coursework during fall and spring terms (and during summer if it is the first or final term or if enrollment for the summer is mandated by the program). 

• Reduced Course Load (RCL) exceptions: Students may drop below full-time only with prior DSO authorization for limited reasons such as academic difficulty, documented medical condition (time-limited), or final semester of study. 

• Villanova students should consult the Office of International Students and Scholars prior to the start of the semester if they are planning to take online coursework or attend less-than full-time.