Combining UWW/CPE and “Regular University” Credits: An SBS Guide
SBS degree-seeking students at UMass have asked whether it is possible to combine “regular university” classes (that are mostly in-person, but can also be online) with UWW/CPE classes (that are generally online).
The short answer: Yes, it is possible to combine these options.
Details to consider: Cost and impact on financial aid.
Cost and Impact on Financial Aid
UMass’ Bursars Office and Financial Aid Office will check a student’s total number of UMass Amherst credits (“regular university” and UWW/CPE credits) and adjust tuition bills and Financial Aid appropriately and in the most student-friendly manner possible. A student who has a total of 6 credits, regardless of whether those credits are UWW, regular university, or some combination of the two, will get a normal part time aid package. A student who has 12 or more credits, regardless of whether those credits are UWW, regular university, or some combination of the two, will get a normal full time aid package.
A couple other considerations:
– If a student has a John and Abigail Adams tuition credit (or a tuition credit from one of a few smaller tuition credit programs), they’ll lose that award if they’re not in 12+ regular university credits. Those awards are a waiver of the full-time tuition cost, and if the student is not in 12+ regular university credits, they do not get charged for full time tuition and thus do not qualify for the waiver. Those awards can be relatively small, so it might not make too much of a difference. A student should check in with Financial Aid for details.
– Students cannot add a summer or winter session onto a fall or spring semester to create one, full-time semester. Sometimes students will ask if they can get full time aid by doing 6 credits in fall and 6 in winter; this is not allowed.
– Aid and billing adjustments might not happen for students until after add/drop each semester.
-If a student is fully withdrawing from their undergraduate career for the semester to take UWW courses, they will not be eligible for Financial Aid unless they become a degree seeking student in UWW.
