Eligibility for Reduced Registration

Reduced Registration is a status that advanced students in thesis based programs may qualify for through December 31, 2026. After December 2026, students will follow regular registration guidelines.

Students enrolled in thesis-based degree programs who have completed the required number of courses and research credit hours in their degree programs are eligible to continue to pursue their graduate program as full-time students at a reduced level of tuition charging. In order to be considered for this reduced, full-time registration category, students must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. For M.S. students,
    1. Completion of 30 credits of eligible course, research, and transfer credits combined (36, if Master’s degree requires 36 credits), and
    2. Paid for 24 credits (27, if Master’s degree requires 36 credits).
      1. 1-9 credits per semester count as paid credits; 10-15 credits do not count as paid credits.
    3. Submit Degree Audit form (must have approved committee form on file with OGS) and indicate on the form that they want to be on Reduced Registration by:
      • August 31 for fall semester reduced registration
      • December 31 for spring semester reduced registration.  Spring 2027 will be the last term students can qualify for Reduced Registration.  Students will not be able to qualify for reduced registration after December 31, 2026.
  2. For PhD students,
    1. Completion of 72 credits of eligible course, research, and transfer credits combined, and
    2. Paid for 54 credits.
      1. 1-9 credits per semester count as paid credits; 10-15 credits do not count as paid credits.
    3. Submit Degree Audit form (must have approved committee form on file with OGS) and indicate on the form that they want to be on Reduced Registration by:
      • August 31 for fall semester reduced registration
      • December 31 for spring semester reduced registration.  Spring 2027 will be the last term students can qualify for Reduced Registration.  Students will not be able to qualify for reduced registration after December 31, 2026.
    4. Submit Admission to Candidacy form by: August 31st, 2026 to be on Reduced Registration for Fall 2026, and December 31, 2026 to be on Reduced Registration for Spring 2027.

 

Reduced Registration Credit Calculator

Once a student qualifies for Reduced Registration, the student must register correctly. Students who qualify for Reduced Registration, but fail to register correctly will not be put on Reduced Registration.

All students who qualify for Reduced Registration will receive an email with registration instructions. If a student doesn’t get an email, but thinks (s)he should qualify, the student must contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@mines.edu.  Students who register for 4 credits, but are not eligible and or are not on the reduced registration list will not be put on reduced registration and will be considered “less than half-time” students.