Credit/No Credit
What is Credit/No Credit?
Credit/No Credit means that a class grade will translate as credit (grade CR) if a student earns a semester grade of A through C- or no credit (grade NC) if they recieve a semester grade of D+ through F in the class. The grade will not factor into a student's GPA regardless of whether they earn CR or NC. If a grade of NC is earned for a class, the credit hours associated with that class do not apply toward credit hours required for the degree, and they do not apply toward credit hours required for financial aid.
This option is available to elect for a limited time during each semester, between the 21st and 30th instructional day in a typical fall or spring semester.
Credit/No Credit may only be used for one class per semester, and cannot be elected for any class that is a requirement for the student's major(s) and/or minor(s).
Instructors are not informed that any of their students have elected Credit/No Credit. They will issue grades as they would otherwise, and the Registrar’s Office converts the grade as appropriate.
What classes qualify?
Classes that aren’t part of a student's major(s) or minor(s) qualify. Classes to fulfill KU Core requirements, the Academic Concentration requirement, the History of Art/Arch/Design requirement, and the General Elective requirement generally qualify.
Please remember that a student can only elect Credit/No Credit for a maximum of one class per semester.
Why might I consider Credit/No Credit?
If you’re trying hard to do well in a qualifying class, but it’s unclear whether the final grade will hurt your GPA, you might want to consider Credit/No Credit as an option!
Would electing Credit/No Credit affect my eligibility for Honor Roll/Dean's List?
The School of Architecture & Design requires that students complete 15 credit hours of classes graded A-F and have a semester GPA in the top 10% of their department in order to be eligible for Honor Roll in a given semester. Because any class for which Credit/No Credit is elected is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, the credit hours attached to that class would not count toward the required hours for Honor Roll eligibility.
For example, if a student is enrolled in 15 credit hours of classes graded A-F and elects Credit/No Credit for an eligible 3-credit hour class, they would then be enrolled in 12 credit hours of classes graded A-F. They would still be enrolled in 15 credit hours total, but they would no longer be eligible for Honor Roll in that semester.
Would electing Credit/No Credit affect my eligibility for financial aid?
Only classes for which credit is earned can count toward the total credit hours required for certain kinds of financial aid. If a class is taken as Credit/No Credit and a semester grade of D+ or lower is earned, the student would not earn credit for the class, so the credit hours associated with that class would not count toward the credit hours required for certain kinds of financial aid.
For example, some scholarships require that recipients complete 30 credit hours per academic year. The recipient of such a scholarship could successfully complete 15 credit hours in the fall semester, then enroll in 15 credit hours in the spring semester to keep in line with the requirements of their scholarship. If that recipient then takes one of their classes in the spring semester as Credit/No Credit and earns a semester grade of D+ or lower, the credit hours associated with that class would not count toward the 30 credit hours that they would need to complete in that academic year. Because KU's Office of Financial Aid considers an academic year to include a fall semester, spring semester, and the following summer semester, a student in such a situation may be able to take a class at KU during the summer in order to round out the total credit hours required for their financial aid.
Conversely, a class that is not taken as Credit/No Credit can count toward the total hours required for most financial aid with a grade of D- or higher. However, the impact of such a grade on a student's GPA - also an important factor in determining eligibility for most financial aid - is important to consider.
In addition to speaking with our advisor, students should consult with their financial aid counselor before electing Credit/No Credit for a class to consider the costs and benefits associated with that option.
What is the process to request Credit/No Credit?
- Talk to our academic advisor during their drop-in hours or by appointment about the class in question to discuss the possible ramifications of taking a class as Credit/No Credit and make a plan for passing the class. Email and phone works in a pinch, but an in-person meeting is ideal!
- If you recieve any financial aid, consult with your financial aid counselor to discuss how taking a class as Credit/No Credit could affect your financial aid.
- Check the Academic Calendar to ensure that you're submitting your request within the Credit/No Credit Period (note that short courses have different deadlines, which can be found on the Academic Calendar page).
- Submit a Credit/No Credit request online before the deadline to do so.