About Credit, Noncredit and the Credit/No Credit option
Credit, Noncredit, Credit/No Credit
What's the Difference?
CREDIT classes are assigned college units or “credits” and must meet specific rigorous standards set by the state. To earn one unit of credit during the semester, each week you must attend one hour of lecture and complete two hours of homework. If you enroll in a three-unit class, you can expect to attend class 3 hours a week and to complete 6 hours of homework assignments. The tuition fees for credit classes are set by the state.
NONCREDIT classes are not assigned college units and are tuition- free. Classes are designed for different purposes including vocational training leading to jobs, adult basic education, English as a second language/citizenship, and personal enrichment. Although there are no tuition fees for noncredit classes, you may need to buy a book and/or other materials. The standards for noncredit classes are also set by the state and are different from credit classes. The classes may be ungraded and homework may not be required. For many noncredit classes, you can enroll simply by attending the first class.
Credit/No Credit is a grading option that you can choose for some credit classes. Instead of a letter grade such as A, B, C, D, or F, you are assigned a “credit” if you pass, and a “no credit” if you fail.