Maximum Credit Hour Load

Content

Your college determines your Maximum Credit Hour Load, and written permission from your college dean or advising center is required to exceed the credit hour maximum. 

The college dean's office for visiting students (students-at-large) and inter-campus students is the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center.

If the maximum credit hour limit established by your college is exceeded, you may be required to decrease your credit hour load for the semester.

Fall & Spring Term Credit Limits

Undergraduate Credit Hour Registration Limits

CollegeRegular Academic
Session
First or Second 
Eight Week Session

Overall
Term Credit Hours

Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

18

9

18

Architecture

18

9

18

Arts and Sciences

18

9

20

Business

19

9

19

Criminology and Criminal Justice

18

9

18

Education and Human Sciences

18

9

18

Engineering

18

9

18

Exploratory and Pre-Professional

18

9

18

Fine and Performing Arts

20

9

20

Graduate Studies

15

9

15

Journalism and Mass Communications

19

9

19

Intercampus (UNK, UNMC, UNO)

18

9

18

Visiting (Student-at-Large)

6

3

6

 

Graduate Credit Hour Registration Guidelines

Unemployed graduate students may register for a maximum of 15 credit hours (including any undergraduate courses). Graduate students who are employed are advised not to exceed the following registration guidelines:

Hours Employed/week

Term Credit Hours

Unemployed

15

1/3-time

12

1/2-time

10

Full-time

6

 

Summer Term Credit Limits

Undergraduate Credit Hour Registration Limits

College3-Week
Session
1st or 2nd
8-Week
Session
1st or 2nd
5-Week
Session
Overall Term 
Credit Hours
Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources*

4

9

7

18

Architecture

3

9

6

15

Arts & Sciences*

4

10

7

18

Business*

4

9

7

18

Criminal Justice*

3

6

6

15

Education & Human Sciences

4

9

7

18

Engineering

3

9

7

15

Exploratory and Pre-Professional*

3

6

6

15

Fine & Performing Arts

3

9

6

15

Graduate Studies

3

9

6

15

Journalism & Mass Comm

4

9

7

18

Visiting (students-at-large, intercampus)

3

9

6

15

 

*A combination of registration for the 8-week session together with the 3-week session and/or the first 5-week session shall not exceed the limit allowed by the 8-week session.

 

Graduate Credit Hour Registration Limits

Hours Employed/week3-Week*
Session
1st or 2nd
8-Week
Session
1st or 2nd
5-Week
Session
0-7

3

9

6

8-16

2

8

5

17-20

2

6

4

20+

1

4

3

 

*One course permitted for a maximum of 3 credit hours.

 

Summer Student Enrollment Status by Credit Hours

StatusFull-Time3/4 time1/2 timeLess than 1/2 time
Undergraduate9+ hours6-8 hours4-5 hours1-3 hours
Graduate6+ hours4-5 hours3 hours1-2 hours