Credit Hour Converter
Convert between semester hours, quarter hours, and clock hours
Convert Credit Hours
Use your school's policy. 15 instructional hours is the common classroom standard; Federal Student Aid clock-hour programs use at least 37.5 (34 CFR 668.8)
Standard Conversion Ratios
Semester to Quarter
- 1 semester hour = 1.5 quarter hours
- 1 quarter hour = 0.67 semester hours
Semester to Clock
- 1 semester hour = 15 clock hours (typical)
- Can vary from 15 to 18 clock hours per program
Quarter to Clock
- 1 quarter hour = 10 clock hours (typical)
- Derived from semester-to-clock conversion
Common Conversions
12 semester hours =18 quarter hours
15 semester hours =22.5 quarter hours
12 quarter hours =8 semester hours
3 semester hours =45 clock hours
Important Notes
- Clock hour conversions vary by program type (lab, lecture, clinical)
- Always verify with your institution's official conversion policy
- Some programs use non-standard credit systems
- Transfer credit evaluations may round differently
When to Use Credit Hour Conversions
For VASCOs
- Certifying transfer students from different systems
- Comparing credits against the student's degree plan
- Explaining clock-to-credit ratios (VA measures clock-hour courses weekly)
- Not for training time: certify quarter terms in quarter hours
For Students
- Understanding transfer credit equivalencies
- Planning course loads across different systems
- Estimating benefit usage rates
- Comparing program requirements
Reminder: These are standard conversions. Your institution may have specific policies for credit hour conversions that differ from these standards. Always consult your registrar for official conversions. VA measures clock-hour courses by clock hours per week, not by these ratios.