To graduate on time, subtract the credits you have earned and are taking now from the credits your degree requires, then divide what is left by the terms you have before your target graduation date. The planner below does that math, checks the result against a full time load, lays out a term by term plan with optional summer and winter terms, and shows what a W or a retake would change. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Your school's load limits Full time minimum and maximum, 12 and 18 unless you change them
| Term | Load | Credits |
|---|
How the credit planner works
Enter the credits your degree requires, the credits you have already earned and the credits you are taking this term. Then set a deadline, either a target graduation term or a number of terms left, and your usual load. The planner assumes you pass the classes you are in now.
- Credits left: what you still need after this term.
- Credits per term needed: the average load that gets you to your target, after any summer or winter credits.
- Full time check: whether that load sits inside your school’s full time range. It uses 12 to 18 by default, which you can change.
- Term by term plan: each term with its credits, spread as evenly as possible in whole credits.
- W or retake: what happens to your timeline if you withdraw from a class or retake one you already passed.
- Copy and Print: take the plan to your advisor meeting.
The math, worked through
Example one. A student needs 120 credits, has earned 45 and is taking 12 now, so 63 credits are left (120 minus 57). To graduate after four more fall and spring terms, they need 63 divided by 4, or 15.75 credits a term. In whole credits that is 16, 16, 16 and 15. At their usual 15 credits a term it would take five terms (63 divided by 15 is 4.2, which rounds up to 5), one term late.
Example two. The same student adds one 6 credit summer term. Now 57 credits are left for fall and spring (63 minus 6), or 14.25 a term: 15, 14, 14 and 14. At 15 credits a term, four terms is enough, so they finish on time.
Example three. If that student withdraws from a 3 credit class, 66 credits are left without the summer term. Finishing on time then takes 16.5 credits a term (66 divided by 4), with up to 17 in the heaviest term. That still fits under an 18 credit limit, but at a usual 15 credits a term it takes five terms.
Full time status: why the range matters
Many undergraduate programs treat 12 credits a term as the full time minimum and require approval above about 18, but the numbers vary by school and by quarter or semester system. Full time status can affect financial aid, health insurance through a parent’s plan, student visas, athletics eligibility and campus housing. If your plan puts a term under the minimum, or if you are thinking about a W that would, talk to your financial aid office and academic advisor first. Our guide to choosing a college course load covers how to balance the number with your schedule.
What a W or a retake does to your timeline
A W keeps a failing grade off your GPA, but it earns no credit, so those credits have to be made up later. A failed class works the same way for credit. A retake of a class you already passed, done to replace a low grade, usually earns no additional credit toward graduation. In each case the planner adds the class’s credits to what you still need and shows two answers: the load it takes to stay on schedule, and how many terms it takes at your usual load. If you are deciding right now, the drop, withdraw or stay class decision helper walks through the choice.
How to use your plan
- Check your numbers against your degree audit. Use the credits that count toward your degree, including accepted transfer and AP credit.
- Look past the total. Required courses, prerequisite chains and classes offered only in certain terms can add a term even when the credit math fits.
- Pick a load you can hold. A plan that needs 18 credits every term only works if your schedule, job and habits can carry it. Summer or winter classes can spread the load.
- Bring it to your advisor. Print or copy the plan and ask your advisor to confirm it before you register.
Common questions
How many credits do I need per semester to graduate in four years?
Divide the credits your degree requires by the number of fall and spring terms. For a 120 credit degree over eight semesters that is 15 credits a term. If you are behind, divide the credits you still need by the terms you have left, or enter your numbers in the planner above.
Is 12 credits full time?
At many schools 12 credits a term is the full time minimum for undergraduates, and 18 is a common maximum before you need approval to take more. These limits vary by school, program and type of financial aid, so check your catalog or registrar.
How much does a W set back my graduation?
A W earns no credit, so the class’s credits go back on your list. Whether that delays graduation depends on how much room you have: you can spread the credits over your remaining terms, take a summer or winter class, or add a term. The planner shows each option.
Does retaking a class add credits toward my degree?
Usually not. At most schools a course counts toward graduation once, so retaking a class you already passed for a better grade adds load without reducing the credits you still need. Retaking a class you failed or withdrew from does earn the credit when you pass. Check your school’s repeat policy.
Is my information saved anywhere?
No. The planner runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent, stored or logged, and it is gone when you close the page.
This planner is general information, not academic, legal or financial advice. Credit requirements, full time rules and withdrawal and retake policies vary by school, so confirm with your registrar, academic advisor or financial aid office.