8-week terms are part of a 16-week semester
Here’s how it works, and why it matters
For undergraduate students, SNHU offers courses in 8-week terms, so you have more opportunities to start
throughout the year, and a faster path to moving forward. Like many other colleges and universities,
these terms are grouped into 16-week semesters (summer, fall and spring) for billing and financial
aid.
In short, most courses at SNHU are 8 weeks long — but billing and financial aid are based on 16-week
semesters.
Billing & Financial Aid Follow 16-Week Semesters
To enable students to start every eight weeks, we use two overlapping calendars — Calendar A and Calendar B (illustrated below).
| Summer (16 Weeks) | Fall (16 Weeks) | Spring (16 Weeks) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar A |
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|
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| Calendar B |
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|
Each 16-week semester includes two consecutive 8-week terms from either Calendar A or Calendar B.
Super Important:
To keep your Direct Loan eligibility, you need 6 credits
per 16-week semester
For most undergraduate students, this equals two 3-credit courses — completed across either or both 8-week terms within the semester.
If you take a term off and complete fewer than 6 total credits, it may affect your Direct Loan eligibility.
| One 16-week semester | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 8-Week Term | Second 8-Week Term | = | Total Credits | Direct Loan Eligibility |
| 1 Course (3 credits) | 1 Course (3 credits) | = | 6 | Eligible |
| 2 Courses (6 credits) | 0 Courses (0 credits) | = | 6 | Eligible |
| 0 Courses (0 credits) | 2 Courses (6 credits) | = | 6 | Eligible |
| 1 Course (3 credits) | 0 Courses (0 credits) | = | 3 | Not Eligible - under 6 credits |
*Note: There are more ways to accrue 6 credits across a semester. These are only a few examples. This chart assumes 3 credits per course. You must complete 6 total credits within the 16-week semester and meet all eligibility requirements to qualify for Direct Loans.
Questions? Please reach out to Student Financial Services at 877-455-7648 or studentfinance@snhu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
At SNHU, you take classes in 8-week terms so you can focus on fewer courses at a time and have more opportunities to start throughout the year.
Behind the scenes, those terms are grouped into 16-week semesters. This is how billing and financial aid are structured — just like at many other colleges and universities.
Financial aid is offered for the full 16-week semester and then split into two disbursements:
- Once in the first 8-week term
- Once in the second 8-week term
As long as you’re enrolled and meet eligibility criteria, your aid will automatically apply to your account.
Understanding how your 16-week semester works can help you:
- Make sense of your student account balance
- Know when your financial aid will be applied
- Plan your courses across terms
- Stay eligible for certain types of financial aid, including Direct Loans
- Avoid unexpected impacts if you need to take a term off or adjust your schedule
To stay eligible for Direct Loans, you must complete at least 6 credits within a 16-week semester.
For most students, that means completing two 3-credit courses across one or both 8-week terms.
No. The 6-credit requirement applies specifically to Direct Loans.
Other types of financial aid, such as Pell Grants, may have different eligibility requirements. If you’re unsure what applies to you, Student Financial Services can help you understand your specific situation.
If you only complete 3 credits in a 16-week semester, you will not be eligible for Direct Loans for that semester.
Other types of financial aid may not be affected in the same way, but it’s important to confirm based on your specific aid offer.
Yes. As long as you complete at least 6 total credits within the 16-week semester, you can remain eligible for Direct Loans.
That could mean:
- One course in each term
- Or two courses in a single term
Taking a term off can affect your Direct Loan eligibility if it results in completing fewer than 6 credits during the 16-week semester.
For example:
- If you take one course (3 credits) in the first term and skip the second, you may fall below the 6-credit requirement for Direct Loans.
Before taking a break, it’s a good idea to connect with Student Financial Services to understand how it could impact your aid.
Planning ahead can help you avoid unexpected impacts.
Yes—especially for Direct Loans.
Eligibility for Direct Loans is based on the total credits you complete within the 16-week semester. If taking a break causes you to fall below 6 credits, you may lose eligibility for those loans for that semester.
The best way to stay eligible for Direct Loans is to complete at least 6 total credits within your 16-week semester.
If you’re thinking about changing your schedule or taking time off, reaching out ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected impacts.
Our Student Financial Services team can help you understand how your courses, financial aid, and semester structure work together — based on your specific situation.
Yes. In addition to meeting credit requirements, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for Direct Loans. You may also need to meet other federal eligibility criteria, such as maintaining satisfactory academic progress and being enrolled in an eligible program.
If you have questions about your specific situation, Student Financial Services can help you understand your options.
877.455.7648
studentfinance@snhu.edu