Understanding Enrollment in College: 4 Years vs. 6 Years – Full-Time vs. Part-Time, Avoid the Confusion

Simply put, college tuition in the US can be either full-time or part-time. This important distinction can impact student housing development, investment, and property management. But what is full-time enrollment in college, how does it differ from part-time enrollment, and why does this matter?

Discover the differences, and what this means for student housing property investment.

What is Considered a Full-Time College Enrollment?

A full-time student is someone enrolled for a certain number of credit hours at an institution of tertiary education. This can be as many as 15 to 18 credit hours per semester.

Minimum Credit Hours Per Semester

This number can differ between academic institutions, but federal student aid qualifying criteria can determine how many credit hours qualify a student as full-time. According to student aid requirements, at least 12 credit hours per semester are required to classify as a full-time student.

A class typically requires at least three credit hours. Therefore one must be enrolled for a minimum of 4 classes to be considered a full-time student.

How Long It Takes to Graduate

Graduating as a full-time student takes about four years, the average time to complete a bachelor's degree. Many full-time students choose to live in on-campus student dormitories. They may also live in off-campus purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) or shared apartments.

These preferences indicate demand for specific types of student housing. Property developers will know what regional demand there is for developers, and investors will know what the most profitable student housing investments are.

Advantages of Full-Time Student Status for Property Investors

Full-time college students typically require long-term rentals of 6 months or more, usually 12 months. These generally require signing a lease, and these leases are often renewed.

So, what is full-time enrollment in college offering investors? Consistent demand in a profitable property market, that’s what. In 2023, the U.S. real estate housing market for student accommodations was valued at over $10 billion!

However, this sector is highly influenced by certain trends. Read our critical insights into this real estate market’s trends to learn the opportunities and challenges developers and investors may face.

What is Considered Part-Time College Enrollment?

What is part-time enrollment in college in the US and how many credits must they enroll for? Part-time students are those who enroll for a lighter course load at a tertiary institution. They are enrolled in less than 12 credit hours per semester.

The Minimum Credit Hours per Semester

Anyone enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours per semester is a part-time student. For part-time graduate students, this can be less than 9.

A half-time student is someone taking 6-8 hours per semester, the lowest possible course load that qualifies for federal financial aid. This matters to property wonders and investors because these students need affordable housing for longer.

How Long It Takes to Graduate

Graduating as a part-time student takes longer because part-time students enroll for fewer credit hours per semester. On average, a part-time or half-time student will usually complete their degree in about 6 years.

This means they may choose to stay in a student property for an extended time, renewing the lease every year. Student property managers should take note that such properties may suffer more damage. Therefore there will be a higher need for maintenance and repair.

Advantages of Part-Time Student Status for Property Investors

Many students choose to study part-time while working, for financial reasons. They may live off-campus, in their own or shared apartments, or sometimes in PABA catering to long-term rentals.

However, interns, exchange students from abroad, and those doing short courses are likely to seek out short-term student property rentals of 6 months or even less. Short-term rentals have a high tenant turnover and typically higher rental rates, which is good news for investors.

Learn more about this multi-billion dollar market in our guide to short-term rentals in the student housing market.

The Cost of College in the US

For Full-Time Students

What is full-time enrollment in college going to cost? The tuition fees can vary depending on the institution, location, and degree/course type. However, the average, full-time tuition fee costs for the 2024-2025 school year are:

• $43,505 for private college students
• $24,513 for out-of-state students attending public universities
• $11,011 for in-state resident students attending public schools

The costs of tuition will have a direct impact on student’s renting power. Lower fees can mean they will have more money for student accommodation.

For Part-Time Students

Part-time degrees typically have much lower tuition costs than full-time degrees. A lot depends on the institution they are studying at, and the number of credits enrolled for. Because part-time degrees take longer to complete, the cost of student accommodation during that time can be higher.

Why it Matters to Investors

Student housing presents commercial real estate investors with exciting possibilities. It’s a sector that has shown consistent positive growth, even in turbulent economic times, as demand for student properties is consistently high.

We have found that full-time and part-time students present different advantages for investors. Our analytic strategies help unlock profitable student housing investments across different student populations.

Conclusion

All students create demand for student housing, presenting potentially lucrative investment opportunities. That said, each student has distinct preferences, reflecting their enrollment status. This, in turn, influences the demand for specific types of student housing.

Full-time students choose campus dormitories or long-term purpose-built student accommodations. Part-time students often live off-campus in shared apartments to match their work/study lifestyle. Meanwhile, short-course students need short-term rentals.

Understanding these distinctions helps you make better student housing investment choices. At College House, we offer data analytics for the student housing market, and insightful market reports for investors. Book your demo today.