Can I qualify for FAFSA with 10 credits per quarter (part-time status)?

Good news! Yes, you can definitely receive financial aid while taking 10 credits per quarter. The general rule for federal aid is that you need to be enrolled at least half-time, which is typically 6 credits. Here's how it works for different types of aid:\n\n- Pell Grants: You can receive a prorated amount based on your enrollment status\n- Federal loans: Require at least half-time enrollment (which you meet)\n- Work-study: Also available for half-time students\n\nYour SAI score absolutely still matters - it determines your aid eligibility regardless of how many credits you take. The amount of aid will be prorated based on your enrollment level, but you're definitely still eligible.\n\nMake sure you complete your FAFSA like normal and indicate your planned enrollment status accurately.

Oh thank you!! That's such a relief! My academic advisor made it sound like I might not qualify for anything. So my Pell Grant would just be reduced proportionally to my credits? Like if a full-time student gets $7000, would I get around $5800 for being at 10 credits instead of 12? And my loans would still be the same amount?

I'm in almost the same situation! Taking 9 credits at my college and working 30 hrs a week. When I filled out FAFSA they actually gave me quite a bit, though not as much as when I was full-time last year. My Pell was reduced but I still got federal loans. The whole thing is SUPER confusing tho, like why can't they just explain this better on the website?? I spent like 3 hours trying to figure this out last fall.

That's really reassuring to hear! Did you have any issues with your school's financial aid office? Mine is notoriously difficult to deal with and I'm worried they might have different rules than what the federal guidelines say.

OMG financial aid offices are THE WORST!! I took 8 credits last quarter and they gave me aid but then randomly canceled half of it two weeks into the term saying I didn't qualify!!! Had to fight with them for weeks to get it back. Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing from them!!!

This is incorrect information. Financial aid cannot be

You absolutely can get aid for 10 credits! I've been a part-time student for the past three years. Here's what to keep in mind:\n\n1) Your Pell Grant will be prorated (reduced proportionally based on credit load)\n2) You still qualify for the full loan amounts as long as you're at least half-time\n3) Some institutional/merit scholarships might require full-time status - check with your school\n4) Your lifetime Pell eligibility is used more efficiently if you take more credits (something to consider long-term)\n\nThe most important thing is knowing your school's specific definition of half-time. Most schools consider 6 credits as half-time for undergrads, so at 10 credits you're well above that threshold.\n\nOne recommendation: call the Federal Student Aid Information Center to verify your specific situation. They can look at your file and give you exact information. I was having trouble getting through to them, but I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the wait time, and got connected to an agent in minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind of getting official answers.

Thank you for such detailed info! I didn't even think about how the Pell lifetime eligibility could be affected. I'll probably try calling them - waiting on hold forever is the worst, so I might check out that service if I can't get through. Do you know if part-time status affects the interest rates on federal loans at all? Or is it just the amount that changes?

part time is fine i did 9 credits last semester n still got money just not as much. your SAI is still gonna be the same they just reduce the awards a bit. some scholarships wont give u any if ur not fulltime tho!!

That's what happened to me too!! I lost my merit scholarship from my school because it required 12+ credits but still got federal aid. So frustrating!

When I was going through college I switched between full and part time depending on the semester and my work situation. My pell grant adjusted automatically each term based on my enrollment. One thing to watch out for - if you're getting any state grants, those often DO require full-time enrollment. Federal aid is more flexible.

That's a good point about state grants! I'll have to check if my state has any specific requirements. I qualify for a small state grant according to my estimated aid calculator, but it might have different rules.

To provide clarity on this topic:\n\nFor federal financial aid purposes, enrollment status is defined as:\n- Full-time: 12+ credit hours per term\n- Three-quarter time: 9-11 credit hours per term\n- Half-time: 6-8 credit hours per term\n- Less than half-time: 1-5 credit hours per term\n\nAt 10 credits, you fall into the three-quarter time category. Here's how this affects specific aid programs:\n\n1. Federal Pell Grant: Prorated based on enrollment status. At three-quarter time, you'll receive approximately 75% of the full-time award.\n\n2. Federal Direct Loans: Require half-time enrollment minimum. At three-quarter time, you're eligible for the same loan amounts as full-time students.\n\n3. Federal Work-Study: Available to less-than-half-time students, though hours may be limited.\n\n4. TEACH Grants: Require you to be enrolled in coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.\n\nYour Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation remains the same regardless of enrollment status - it's based on your financial information, not your academic schedule.\n\nI recommend documenting your planned enrollment status on your FAFSA and then confirming with your school's financial aid office about how your specific aid package will be affected.

This is exactly what I needed to know! So I'd be at three-quarter time status with 10 credits. That means I'd get about 75% of the Pell Grant amount, but could still get the full loan amount if needed. Thank you so much for breaking it down so clearly!

my cousin took only 2 classes last year and they said she couldnt get ANY loans at all so be careful!!! different schools have different rules!!

Your cousin was likely taking less than 6 credits, which would put her below half-time status. Federal rules (not school rules) require at least half-time enrollment for federal loans. The original poster is taking 10 credits, which is well above the half-time threshold at virtually all schools.

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is good! I was part-time and thought everything was fine but then almost lost my aid because my completion rate was too low. If you withdraw from too many classes while part-time it can mess up your SAP ratio really fast.

Oh that's a really good point! I hadn't even thought about SAP calculations. I'm in good standing right now but will make sure I stay that way. Thanks for bringing that up!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you're part-time, your aid disbursement schedule might be different too. Some schools disburse aid later in the semester for part-time students, so make sure to ask about timing when you talk to your financial aid office. I got caught off guard by this my first semester going part-time and had to cover tuition upfront for a few weeks. Also, if you're planning to stay part-time for multiple terms, consider mapping out how long it'll take to complete your degree so you don't run into issues with maximum timeframe for aid eligibility. Good luck with everything!

Hey Yara! I'm also a part-time student (been taking 9-10 credits per semester for the past two years) and can confirm everything others have said - you'll definitely still qualify for federal aid! One thing I learned the hard way: make sure to update your enrollment status on your FAFSA if it changes from what you originally estimated. I put down full-time initially thinking I might be able to handle it, but when I dropped to part-time my aid got all messed up until I corrected it. Also, since you're working at a restaurant, you might want to look into whether your school has any emergency aid funds or food pantries. A lot of schools have started offering these resources specifically for working students who are struggling financially. My campus has a "Swipe Out Hunger" program where students can donate unused meal plan swipes to students in need - might be worth checking if yours has something similar! The stress is totally understandable, but it sounds like you're making a smart choice balancing work and school rather than overloading yourself. Better to take a sustainable course load and actually succeed than burn out trying to do too much at once.

As someone who's been working in financial aid for over 8 years, I want to emphasize that you're absolutely on the right track with your 10-credit plan! The advice you've received here is spot-on. One additional tip that might help with budgeting: since your Pell Grant will be prorated to about 75% of the full-time amount, you can estimate your award by looking at last year's maximum Pell Grant ($7,395 for 2024-25) and calculating 75% of whatever amount your SAI qualifies you for. This can help you plan your finances better. Also, I'd strongly recommend setting up a meeting with your financial aid counselor early in the process. Many schools have dedicated counselors for part-time students who understand the unique challenges you're facing. They can also help you explore work-study opportunities that might complement your restaurant job schedule. Don't let anyone make you feel like part-time enrollment is somehow "less than" - you're making a responsible decision to balance work and education, and the federal aid system is designed to support exactly that kind of flexibility. You've got this!

Hi Yara! I'm actually in a very similar situation - working part-time while in school and taking around 9-10 credits per semester. I was super stressed about this exact same thing last year! From my experience, you'll definitely still qualify for federal aid at 10 credits. Like others mentioned, that puts you at three-quarter time status, so you'll get about 75% of what a full-time student would receive for Pell Grants, but you can still get the full loan amounts if you need them. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to check if your state has any additional aid programs for part-time students. Some states actually have specific grants for working students or non-traditional schedules. Also, don't forget to look into whether your restaurant job might qualify you for any education benefits - some chains have tuition assistance programs that you might not even know about! The hardest part for me was getting over the feeling like I was "behind" compared to full-time students, but honestly, graduating debt-free (or with less debt) because you're working is so worth taking a little longer. You're making a smart financial decision, and the aid system is there to support exactly what you're doing. Hang in there!

Hey Yara! I just wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring responses you've gotten - you're definitely going to be okay with financial aid at 10 credits per quarter! I'm currently a junior who's been doing part-time enrollment (8-11 credits depending on the semester) for the past year and a half due to health issues, and I can confirm that federal aid has been there for me the whole time. My Pell Grant gets adjusted down proportionally, but I still qualify for the same loan amounts as full-time students. One practical tip that saved me some stress: when you fill out your FAFSA, there's a section where it asks about your planned enrollment. Make sure you select "less than full-time" or whatever option best describes your 10-credit plan. This helps ensure your aid package is calculated correctly from the start, rather than having to deal with adjustments later. Also, I know the restaurant industry can have unpredictable schedules - if you ever need to drop below 6 credits for any reason, just know that you'd lose loan eligibility but could potentially still get some Pell Grant money. Hopefully that won't happen, but it's good to know your options! You're making such a mature decision prioritizing your financial stability while still pursuing your education. That's honestly something to be proud of, not stressed about!

Hey Yara! I just wanted to jump in as someone who made the transition from full-time to part-time status last year due to work commitments. You're absolutely going to be fine with 10 credits per quarter! I was in a similar panic when I first made the switch, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. At 10 credits, you're at three-quarter time status, so you'll receive about 75% of your full Pell Grant award, and you can still access the same federal loan amounts as full-time students. One thing that really helped me was creating a semester-by-semester plan to see how the part-time path would work long-term. It took some pressure off when I could visualize that yes, it would take a bit longer to graduate, but I'd be in a much better financial position without the stress of trying to balance too heavy a course load with work. Also, don't let anyone make you feel like you're taking the "easy" route - balancing work and school while maintaining good grades is actually incredibly challenging and shows real maturity. You're setting yourself up for success rather than burnout. Make sure to stay in close contact with your financial aid office throughout the process, and definitely complete your FAFSA accurately reflecting your part-time status. You've got this!

Hi Yara! I'm a current part-time student taking 9 credits this semester, so I totally understand the stress you're feeling about financial aid eligibility. The good news is that everyone here is absolutely right - you'll still qualify for federal aid at 10 credits! I wanted to share something that really helped me when I was figuring all this out: I called my school's financial aid office and asked them to walk me through exactly how my aid would be calculated at different credit levels. They actually showed me the specific percentages and dollar amounts, which made it so much less scary than just wondering about it. Also, since you mentioned working at a restaurant, have you looked into whether your school offers any flexible scheduling for financial aid appointments? Mine has evening hours specifically for working students, which was a lifesaver since I couldn't always get time off during regular business hours. One last thing - I know it feels overwhelming now, but once you get through your first semester with the part-time aid, it becomes much more routine. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part! You're making a really smart decision balancing work and school sustainably rather than overwhelming yourself. Hang in there!

Hey Yara! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I'm in a very similar boat - working part-time and planning to take about 10 credits next semester. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It's amazing to see how supportive this community is and how many people have successfully navigated part-time enrollment while working. I was also worried about FAFSA eligibility, but seeing all the detailed explanations about three-quarter time status (75% Pell Grant, full loan eligibility) really puts things in perspective. The tip about calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center directly seems really valuable, and I appreciate everyone mentioning the importance of getting everything documented properly with your school's financial aid office. Yara, it sounds like you're making a really smart decision prioritizing a sustainable balance between work and school. Better to succeed at a manageable course load than burn out trying to do too much! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to help so many working students who are dealing with the same concerns.

Hey Yara! I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful thread. I'm actually a financial aid advisor at a community college, and I see students in your exact situation all the time - you're definitely not alone in this! Everything everyone has shared here is accurate. At 10 credits per quarter, you'll be classified as three-quarter time, which means you'll receive about 75% of your full Pell Grant award and remain eligible for the same federal loan amounts as full-time students. One thing I always tell my part-time students: make sure to communicate with your financial aid office about your long-term academic plan. Some schools have special tracking for students who are intentionally taking longer to graduate due to work commitments, which can help protect you if there are any questions about your academic progress later on. Also, since you're working in food service, you might want to ask your employer about any education benefits they offer. Even smaller restaurants sometimes have partnerships with local colleges or offer tuition reimbursement programs that aren't widely advertised. You're making a financially responsible choice by working while in school, and the federal aid system is specifically designed to support students like you who need flexibility. Don't let anyone make you feel like part-time enrollment is somehow "less than" - you're investing in your future in a sustainable way!