The Average Class Times of College Courses

When transitioning from high school to college, there are several changes to adapt to, including a new learning environment, style, and structure.

A student's experience and knowledge regarding studying, tests, and grades likely need to be modified to the college or university they want to attend. Now in the driver's seat of their education, students have more freedom to tailor their education and experience to their liking. Once a student’s online college application is approved and the candidate accepts the offer, the reigns are handed over to the student to pave their way to success.

With more independence, students also have more responsibility. When attending college, this is often the first time students are away from their family and friends. They are not only in control of choosing their majors and class schedules but also in how they manage their time. Ultimately, this can impact a college student's success during the academic year.

How Does A College Class Schedule Differ From A High School One?

In high school, students are typically on a four-year track taking many pre-determined classes with little to no flexibility. Class schedules remain the same day-to-day throughout school operating hours. On average, students attend six classes every day in the same building. While some classes such as electives only last for a fall or spring semester, other classes like English or math last the entire academic year. Classes like these depend heavily on each institution's curriculum.

A college course schedule, on the other hand, provides more freedom and flexibility. Instead of having a set quarter or semester schedule, college students can tailor their classes and class times to what works best for them. Depending on the times of classes offered, students can choose from attending classes in the morning, afternoon, and even in the evening. If available, they can also choose which days of the week to attend a class, whether that is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Summer class is often offered for students who want to take college level courses. Summer semester enrollment can be different for different colleges and universities but they are a great way to take core classes or classes specific to your degree plan. Taking classes during the summer semester will lighten your course load and free up time to take different classes or participate in extracurricular activities. 

In addition to the many classes and class times offered, you may be wondering, "how long are college classes typically?" The average time spent in a class differs as well. For high school, classes usually last around 55 minutes long, meeting every day. In college, classes can last around 50 minutes, meeting three days a week or twice a week, meeting for an hour and 15 minutes. A class that meets for an hour two or three days a week is a standard college schedule for full-time students.

Before registering for your first year, you may be wondering “how many classes should I take a semester to graduate on time?” When attending college full-time, students must take a minimum of 12 credits. Even as a full-time student, there is less time spent in the classroom compared to high school. A student will spend, on average, 15-20 hours per week compared to 25-30 hours. Fewer hours spent inside the classroom allow students to arrange more time to study and work on a variety of college-level projects or research.

A better understanding of how high school and college class schedules differ is essential to discuss how the length of classes is measured.

Class Length Based Off College Units

Before discussing how college units impact the length of a class, it is essential to understand what college units are and how they work. As defined by ​ThoughtCo.​, "A "college unit of credit" is a number value assigned to each class offered at a college or university." The purpose of these units is to measure the value of a class. Several factors determine this value.

As stated by ​College Express​, "All college classes are not created equal." Often determined by the level, rigor, or the number of hours spent, one class can be worth more credit units than others. It is common to find that the harder or higher a class is, the more units of credit it will be worth.

ThoughtCo. ​breaks this down further by stating, "Typically, a 1-unit course corresponds to classes that meet for one hour of lecture, discussion, or lab time per week. As follows, a course that meets twice a week for one hour would correspond to a 2-unit course, and a class meeting twice for 1.5 hours would be a 3-unit class." The more frequently a class meets, the more likely it will be worth more units of credit. In most cases, college classes are 3 or 4 units.