Policy Table of Contents
Class Level Affects:
- Registration Periods
Students at a higher class level will register before students at lower levels - Financial Aid
Class Level determines eligibility for some forms of aid based on the catalog year (set of program requirements) assigned at the time of admission - Course Selection
Some courses are restricted by class level- see the course catalog for details
Class Level Does not Affect a Student’s Degree Completion Timeline
- A student may earn 60 credits but if they are not at ‘UCR’ status, they may not be able to earn their degree within two years /four terms.
- Credit accepted in transfer toward CCS requirements may expedite degree completion only when applied toward a student’s major studio (art and design) requirements. This will vary by program (major).
- Non-studio (Liberal Arts/General Education) credits earned may not reduce the number of semesters required for completion.
Undergraduate Students Enrolled in 120+ Credit Degrees (BFAs and BA)
Class level is determined at the time of admission and at the end of each subsequent semester during which the student is enrolled based on the number of credits earned. Degree-seeking students are classified as follows:
For students following the 2024/2025 catalog year (or later):
- Freshmen up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
- Sophomores 30 – 59.5 credits completed or in progress
- Juniors 60 – 89.5 credits completed or in progress
- Seniors 90 or more credits completed or in progress
For students following the 2023/2024 catalog year (or prior): - Freshmen up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
- Sophomores 30 – 62.5 credits completed or in progress
- Juniors 63 – 92.5 credits completed or in progress
- Seniors 93 or more credits completed or in progress
All students, regardless of catalog year, will be eligible for assigned priority registration following the class levels defined for the 2024/2025 guidelines.
Financial Aid eligibility will factor in a student’s current assigned catalog year to determine class level.
Undergraduate Students Enrolled in 90 credit Degrees (3-Year BA and BDes Completion Degrees)
Class level is determined at the time of admission and at the end of each subsequent semester during which the student is enrolled based on the number of credits earned. Degree-seeking students are classified as follows:
- First-year students up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
- Second-year students – 30 – 59.5 credits completed or in progress
- Third-year students – 60 or more credits completed or in progress
Financial Aid eligibility will factor in a student’s current assigned catalog year to determine class level.
Graduate Students
Class level is determined at the time of admission and at the end of each subsequent semester during which the student is enrolled based on the number of credits earned. Degree-seeking students are classified as follows:
- First Year up to 29.5 credits completed or in progress
- Second Year 30 – 60 credits completed or in progress