Reduced Credit Load

• Students with medical or extenuating circumstances may request a reduced credit load (below 12 credits) each semester, as needed. Approval is for one semester at a time.
• Requests for reduced credit loads must be made before the beginning of the semester. On-time requests approved by SAS will result in classes dropped without grades of W.
• Applicants should prepare to supply documentation of their medical circumstances upon request.
• If approved for a reduced credit load, an SAS advisor will make a one-time adjustment to reduce the student’s registered course load.
• Students may request a course load as low as half time (six credits). Students may also request more than 6 credits, but should carefully consider how many credits they can carry successfully. Students who feel unable to carry six credits should instead consider a semester Withdrawal/Leave of Absence.
• After the initial course load reduction is completed, no further adjustments or reductions will be permitted unless the student chooses to Withdraw from the Entire Semester before the University Deadline for Withdrawal, and in consideration of Deadlines for Tuition Refunds.
• To apply for a reduced credit load, please review the Cautions for Students Considering Reduced Credit Loads at the bottom of this page. After reading, students who still wish to apply for a reduced credit load are asked to please email their request with name and RUID number This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Seniors in their final semester who need fewer than 12 credits to graduate are exempted from the requirement of full-time enrollment and may register for just those credits needed to complete their degree. No request or application is needed.
• Seniors will need to visit an SAS Advising Center in person during the first week of classes for a dean’s assistance to drop below 12 credits or to drop additional courses while already registered below 12 credits.
• Seniors reducing their enrollment after the Last Day to Drop without a W will receive W grades for all withdrawn classes. No drops are permitted after the Last Day to Drop with a W, even if the credits are not needed. Consult the Drop and Withdrawal deadlines at Semester Calendar.
• If reducing enrollment below 12 credits, only courses not needed for degree completion may be dropped or withdrawn.

Students may need to apply for official SAS nontraditional status.

• The following documents must be included in the application for nontraditional status. Without this documented proof, students cannot qualify for a reduced credit load:
  1. a copy of your current 1040 tax return indicating that you claim yourself; and
  2. a signed, dated copy of your current lease showing your name, your landlord’s name and your monthly rental fee.
• To apply for Nontraditional status, please email your name, RUID number and the required documentation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• If approved for nontraditional status, students may register for fewer than 12 credits in any semester, or reduce their enrollment during the semester, without any further permission from SAS.For more information about Nontraditional status in SAS, visit our Nontraditional Students page.

• Students who receive financial aid under Independent status.
• To verify your independent status, please email your request for nontraditional status to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Include your name, RUID number and a copy of your current award letter from the Rutgers Office of Financial Aid indicating your independent status.

Requests for reduced credit loads (below 12 credits) must be made before the beginning of the semester. Any requests made after the semester has commenced will be considered for the following semester.

All credit reductions must be made in person at an SAS Advising Center before the Last Day to Drop without a W. After that deadline, it is no longer possible to drop below 12 credits or to make any additional credit reductions that result in a reduction of tuition. 

See Office of Student Accounting website for specific fees and reductions.

Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation should meet with an SAS Advising Dean to consider whether enrolling in fewer than 12 credits will jeopardize their ability to meet academic standards, even if they qualify for reduced enrollment.

International Students are required to maintain full-time enrollment of at least 12 credits, except potentially in their final semester before graduation. Additional information can be found on the Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services website.

Recipients of University merit-based scholarships considering enrolling in fewer than 12 credits are required to contact the SAS Scholarship Office to ensure continuance of their scholarship. Requests for a scholarship review should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the following information:

• Name
• RUID
• Name of merit-based scholarship(s)

Students receiving financial aid should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine how much their aid will be reduced as a result of their reduced credit load, and how their tuition and other semester fees may be affected by viewing the Office of Student Accounting website.

Students currently following an Academic Plan for Financial Aid should consult with the SAS Advising Dean who helped them prepare and submit it, to see whether registering for fewer than 12 credits will violate their plan and render them ineligible to receive aid in future semesters.