Doctoral Student Enrollment Status Definitions for VA Benefits and Federal Student Aid (FSA)

Doctoral Student Enrollment Status for VA Benefits

Credit Hours per 16-week Term	Enrollment Status for VA
4+ credit hours or enrolled in dissertation course DOCT899	Full-Time
1 to 2 credit hours	Half-Time

Credit Hours per 8-week Term	Enrollment Status for VA
4+ credit hours or enrolled in dissertation course DOCT899	Full-Time
3 credit hours	Three-Quarter Time
1 to 2 credit hours	Half-Time

Doctoral Enrollment Status for Federal Student Aid (FSA)

If a student plans to use  Federal Student Aid (FSA)  to pay for their education, they will need to understand how enrollment status is defined and assessed for FSA.

APUS defines and measures enrollment status by the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled in a 16-week semester/term. The chart below outlines how enrollment status is assessed, and reported, for FSA:

Credit Hours per 16-week Term	Enrollment Status for FSA
6+ credit hours or enrolled in dissertation course DOCT899	Full-Time
3 to 5 credit hours	Half-Time
1 to 2 credit hours	Less then Half-Time

Enrollment Requirements for FSA

Students must be half-time to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans or in-school deferment.
Any changes to enrollment status may impact aid eligibility or require an adjustment to the financial aid packaging and disbursements. Questions regarding enrollment status changes and FSA should be directed to Financial Aid Advising by emailing finaid@apus.edu or calling 877-755-2787.