Registration Policies

A student taking 12 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semester is considered full-time. A student taking nine (9) or more credit hours but less than 12 credit hours is considered three-quarter-time. A student taking six (6) or more credit hours but less than nine (9) credit hours is considered half-time.  A student taking less than six (6) credit hours is considered less-than-half-time.  For summer term, full-time is six (6) credit hours or more, three-quarter-time is four and half (4.5) credit hours or more and less than six (6) credit hours, half-time is three (3) credit hours or more and less than four and a half (4.5) credit hours, and less than three (3) credit hours is less-than-half-time.

A student who wishes to audit a course will be required to pay full tuition and fees** and must obtain written approval from the instructor, department chair or dean prior to enrollment in the course. Registration for audit status may be completed only during the first week of the class and must be the original enrollment in the class. Changes from credit to audit or from audit to credit will not be permitted. Students taking a course for credit are given priority in registration. Upon completion of the course, the instructor will assign an H grade. This grade does not count in cumulative hours or grade point average. Courses in which an audit (H) grade is received are not eligible for financial aid.

Resident students desiring to pursue a certificate or degree program not available through Harper College, may apply for a joint agreement to attend another public community college in Illinois which offers that program as part of the statewide CAREER Agreement. 

Apply for a Joint Agreement. 

If the application is approved, the student will be able to receive the in-district rates at the community college they will be attending. For further information, call 847.925.6500.

Employers, background search firms and recruiters may require verification that a degree or certificate has been earned.

Our institution has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for all verifications of student enrollment. Please visit the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or contact them by phone at 703.742.4200. 

If you, the student, decide not to attend classes, it is your responsibility to officially drop/withdraw from class(es) by the prescribed date. If you do not drop/withdraw officially from the class(es) listed on the registration confirmation statement, you will be responsible for the tuition and fees** for that semester. There is a $15 non-refundable registration fee.

The following withdrawal guidelines apply to 16-week classes only. See important payment, financial aid, and registration dates.

Withdrawals can be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar or on the MyHarper Student Portal.  (A fax with a signature is acceptable but email is NOT acceptable).

Classes dropped prior to the second week of classes in a 16-week term will not become a part of the student's permanent record.

A "W" grade will be assigned for withdrawal from classes after the beginning of the second week and prior to the thirteenth academic week. A grade of "F" will be assigned to a class dropped after the twelfth week of a full semester course.

Loan agencies, insurance companies, and other organizations may require you to verify that you are an enrolled student in order to be eligible for certain benefits. Our institution has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for all verifications of student enrollment. Please visit the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or contact them by phone at 703.742.4200.

The Office of the Registrar provides letters of verification when academic information such as grade point averages and student course schedules is requested by the student. Download the Request for Verification Form .PDF

In support of America's call to military action, the College will offer full refunds of tuition and mandatory fees to all military reservists, National Guardsmen and active-duty military personnel who receive emergency orders preventing them from attending classes after they have enrolled at the College. Please contact the Office of the Registrar for additional information at 847.925.6500.

The maximum load that a student in good standing can carry is 18 credit hours during the fall and spring terms and 10 hours in summer. Under certain circumstances a student may receive permission to carry a heavier load. Loads of 19 credit hours can be approved by the Coordinator of Registration. Loads of 20 hours or more must be approved by the Registrar. Submit the Request for Overload form. You will be notified once the decision is made.

Tuition refund requests must be made in writing (fax at 847.925.6064 is acceptable) to the Office of the Registrar. Email is NOT acceptable. Refunds for 16 week classes will be made according to the schedule listed on the See important payment, financial aid, and registration dates.

Students can take a maximum of 18 semester hours in the fall and spring or 10 semester hours in the summer. Please note: You may be limited to fewer hours based on assessment scores, academic history and / or enrollment status.

Students can register for classes several months prior to the start of each semester.  The college offers a full-semester term as well as several late-start terms with varying start dates each semester. 

Students may not register for a class once the class has started.  Harper College has classes that start at various times throughout the semester.  Check the course search for additional options.  Be sure to register early for the best course selection! If you have any questions about the late registration policy, please contact us here.

Note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, registration policies may change.  Please visit harpercollege.edu/advisory for term specific information.

Registration Appeal for Late Refund or Withdrawal

A registration appeal is when a student requests an exception to a registration policy. Appeals are granted for exceptional circumstances and are not guaranteed approval. If you believe you have extenuating circumstance that would permit the issuance of a refund or late withdrawal from a course, you may submit the form below. 

Supporting documentation must have dates that coincide with your request.

A student who feels they have extenuating circumstances that would permit the issuance of late withdrawal for a course may apply for relief, by submitting the Registration Appeal Form.

Medical Withdrawal

Applications for medical withdrawals are reviewed after the semester withdrawal date has passed and grade(s) of ‘F’ have been posted to a student’s transcript. A medical withdrawal does not provide a tuition refund or credit. Medical withdrawals are done to assist students in withdrawing from a class due to an incapacitating medical or psychological illness or a personal crisis, such as the death of an immediate family (mother, father, sister or brother) member or the required extended care of an ill/injured family member. Requests must be submitted after the course withdrawal deadline has passed within a particular semester or within 5 years from the last day of that semester.  No more than 2 terms will be considered.

A student who feels they have extenuating circumstances that would permit the issuance of late withdrawal for a course may apply for relief, by submitting the Registration Appeal Form.

The Office of the Registrar maintains student addresses for mailing purposes, telephone numbers for College use, student major area of study for advising purposes and corrects social security number errors. If any of this information changes, be sure to notify us. Failure to do so might mean you would not receive an important mailing or communication affecting your college studies. Update your information.