Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Classes

Advanced undergraduate students may enroll in graduate courses and begin their graduate degree early while still completing their undergraduate degree requirements. Accelerated degree programs, often referred to as “combined” programs, allow students to work on a certain number of graduate degree credits while completing their undergraduate degrees, thus shortening the time it takes to earn both degrees.

It is recommended that students apply for a combined program prior to registering for a graduate-level course. More information can be found on the graduate programs site.

Combined Program Basics:

• Undergraduate students may apply for a graduate program once they have completed 75 credits.
• Students admitted to a ‘combined program’ are permitted to share or ‘double-count’ a maximum of 2 courses between a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree (MS, MSNT, PhD).
• Students must have at least one semester of fall or spring overlap between their undergraduate and graduate programs to be considered “Combined” and qualify to “Double-Count”.
• Including double-counting courses, students can complete a MAXIMUM of 18 credits of graduate coursework prior to the BS being awarded.
  • Previously completed graduate courses count toward the maximum.
• Courses must be taken at the graduate level (500+) to be eligible to apply to a graduate degree, even if double-counted.
• Beginning spring 2026, graduate courses will ONLY appear on the graduate transcript even if applied to an undergraduate degree.
  • Double-counted graduate courses will not factor in undergraduate cumulative GPA. Effective Spring 2026 term.
  • Double-counted courses completed prior to spring 2026 will continue to appear on the undergraduate transcript and apply toward undergraduate GPA.
• Transcripts will include notations for graduate courses used toward undergraduate degree.

In order to be in compliance with federal and accrediting requirements, the following rules and policies apply for all undergraduate students enrolling in graduate-level coursework, even if they are not enrolled or intending to enroll in a combined program.

Enrolling in graduate courses (500-level and above) as an undergraduate:

• All undergraduate students may register for graduate level courses if they meet the following criteria:
  • 90-credit hours completed prior to the first day of the class.
  • Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 2.500 or higher
  • Enrolled in fewer than 18 graduate-level credit hours prior to completion of undergraduate degree.
• Undergraduate students must submit a Level Override Form to request permission from the instructor to register for any graduate level courses.
  • Upon approval from the instructor, the student will be permitted to register during their assigned registration time ticket.
• All graduate level courses (500-level and above) will be registered at and recorded only on the graduate transcript and will never be included in the student’s undergraduate cumulative GPA.

NOTE: ONLY 2 graduate-level courses may be used toward an undergraduate degree.

To apply a graduate course to an undergraduate degree:

• For a graduate course to qualify for undergraduate aid, it must apply to the Bachelor’s Degree (e.g. Cross-listed, Tech Electives, Free Electives).
• By the first day of the semester the course will be taken, students must submit a Petition for Undergraduate Credit to inform the advisor and Registrar’s office that the course will be used toward an undergraduate degree requirement. **DUE BY FIRST DAY OF CLASSES**
• A limit of two graduate courses can be approved. Requests for additional courses beyond the two will be denied. Any additional courses can only be counted toward a future graduate degree.
• If your course is approved, it will be applied as requested on the form to the undergraduate degree requirements in Degree Works.
• Starting in spring 2026, all graduate courses taken will remain on the graduate transcript, regardless of whether they are approved to be applied to the undergraduate degree. A graduate transcript comment will be added to identify the courses. Graduate courses will never apply to undergraduate cumulative GPAs, including any related designations (e.g., dean’s list, graduation awards).

Current Combined Program Students with 60 credits earned prior to Fall 2023 (including students admitted through spring 2025):

• Previously approved courses taken prior to Spring 2026 will be allowed to count under previous catalog guidelines.
• Financial Aid rules related to course level are still applicable.
• Double-counted courses completed prior to Spring 2026 will appear on the undergraduate transcript.
• A maximum of 18 graduate credits can be completed prior to the conferral of the bachelor’s degree.

Forms & Processes

• Undergraduate and combined program students will need to submit the Level Override Form for all graduate level courses.  This form validates general student information (e.g., GPA, earned credits, prior graduate coursework credit totals) and requests the instructor’s consent to take the course. You must be enrolled in coursework by the add/drop deadline. To ensure adequate time for approvals and processing, especially if you intend to apply the graduate course to your BS degree, we recommend submitting this form as soon as possible before the first day of the semester in which the course will be taken. Upon approval, students must self-register for the course.
• IMPORTANT: After enrollment, students who wish to apply a graduate course to their B.S. degree and be eligible for undergraduate financial aid must additionally submit the Petition for Undergraduate Credit by the first day of class. If the form is denied, the student may stay enrolled in the course, but the course will not be permitted to apply to the undergraduate degree and the course will not be eligible for financial aid.
• After all applicable forms have been approved, students should double-check their Degree Works degree evaluation(s) to ensure the course is applying as expected. If the course is not applying correctly to the BS degree, an undergraduate course exception is required. If the course is not applying correctly to the MS-non-thesis degree, a graduate course exception form is required. For thesis-based programs, consult with your graduate advisor.

Financial Aid

• Financial aid can only be awarded for courses that apply to a student’s primary degree and courses can only be awarded for one degree at a time.  Therefore, undergraduate financial aid cannot be awarded for graduate courses that are not counting toward the undergraduate degree.
• To qualify for full undergraduate financial aid, a student must be in a BS program AND be enrolled in minimum of 12 qualifying credits. Up to two courses (or 6 credits) of GR coursework can qualify prior to graduation, if approved via the Petition for Undergraduate Credit.
• Financial aid for UG enrollment for fewer than 12 qualifying credits a semester will be pro-rated or unavailable.
• If a change is made at any time, students are responsible for any changes to tuition and financial aid.
• Questions regarding course level registration and effects on financial aid should be directed to finaid@mines.edu.

Undergraduates in Graduate Courses FAQS 

What are changes to the graduate course enrollment process starting in spring 2026?

Students will first submit the Level Override Form to request instructor consent to take a graduate course and can register if approved. If they wish to apply the course to their BS degree and ensure the course is eligible for Financial Aid, they will additionally need to submit the Petition for Undergraduate Credit. Additionally, all graduate-level courses taken spring 2026 or later will remain on the graduate transcript, regardless of how the student intends to apply the course. Graduate courses will not apply to undergraduate cumulative GPA calculations. GR courses taken fall 2025 or earlier, a note was added to the graduate transcript to indicate double-counted courses can be found on the undergraduate transcript.

What is the rationale behind this change?

These changes aim to simplify the registration process and ensure students’ progress toward their bachelor’s degree in a timely manner. This process also ensures courses apply appropriately to undergraduate and graduate degrees and ensure accurate application and compliance of undergraduate financial aid to student accounts.

Can I take more graduate-level courses if I’ve already taken two that apply to my undergraduate degree?

Yes, additional “graduate-only” courses are permitted, but students are expected to prioritize their BS completion. Consult with your advisor to ensure continued progress toward your undergraduate degree. Beyond the first two applied to your undergraduate record, additional graduate-level courses (500-level or higher) will not qualify for undergraduate federal aid or COF. It is recommended to consult with Financial Aid if taking additional graduate-only courses. Undergraduates may not take more than 18 total graduate credits before they complete their bachelor’s degree.

Can a Combined undergraduate student take two double-counted courses and an additional graduate-level course (500-level or higher) for bachelor’s degree credit only?

No, undergraduate students may only have a maximum of two graduate-level courses (500-level or higher) apply to their BS degree.

Can additional graduate-level courses (500-level or higher) beyond the six credits (two courses) be used to satisfy undergraduate requirements?

No.

Can I correct errors on my Level Override or Petition for Undergraduate Credit?

Yes, email the Registrar’s Office with corrections before the first day of classes for the semester the course is taken. For incorrect course details, submit a new form by the first day of classes for the semester the course is taken.

How do grades from graduate-level courses affect undergraduate and graduate GPAs?

Graduate courses that an undergraduate student takes in spring 2026 or later will always be posted on the graduate transcript, and the course will factor ONLY into the graduate cumulative GPA, regardless of how the student intends to apply the course.

For any graduate courses taken in fall 2025 or earlier which are coded to the undergraduate transcript, the course will factor into the undergraduate cumulative GPA only.

Can I use scholarships or financial aid for graduate-level courses?

If the graduate-level course (500-level or higher) applies to your undergraduate degree (undergraduate only or double-counted), you can receive undergraduate aid and scholarships for up to six credits (or two courses) if the course has been approved via the Undergraduate Course Permission Form. This form is due no later than the first day of the course. Courses cannot be approved after the add/drop deadline.

Do I need to be admitted to a combined program to start taking graduate-level courses as an undergraduate?

No. However, to be eligible to double-count courses between undergraduate and graduate degrees you must be admitted as combined student a least one full fall or spring semester prior to your BS graduation.  There is also eligibility criteria to register and some courses may be restricted to graduate students in the program that have earned their bachelor’s degree.

Can previously taken graduate-level courses (500-level or higher) for undergraduate credit be changed to graduate-only credit? 

No.

What happens if a Combined student leaves Mines after taking two or more graduate-level courses (500-level or higher), without completing the Combined program? 

The courses will remain on the Mines transcript. Any courses that were previously approved for the undergraduate degree will remain applied to the undergraduate degree.

If I am graduating this term or this coming summer term, do I need to get approval to register for graduate-level courses (500-level or higher)?

You will still need to complete the Level Override Form for each course you plan to register for, but the approval process will be expedited, and you should be able to register yourself shortly after submission.

What happens if my Petition for Undergraduate Credit form is denied?

You can choose to remain enrolled in the course for graduate-credit only. The course will not be eligible to apply towards undergraduate financial aid – consult with Financial Aid for more information on how your aid may be impacted. If you choose to remain in the course, you must do that in self-service by the drop deadline.

What if I enrolled in a graduate level course but forgot to submit the Petition for Undergraduate Credit form? Can I still apply the course to my bachelor’s degree?

After the add/drop deadline, the course will not qualify for financial aid – no exceptions. You can still request the course apply to your bachelor’s degree via the undergraduate course exception form, as long as it is approved by your department and the enrollment would not exceed the maximum of two graduate courses (6 credits) that are allowed to apply.

What if I enrolled in the 400-level version of a cross-listed course and want to switch to the 500-level version after the add/drop deadline?

Students must submit the Late Add/Drop/Swap Petition for instructor approval as soon as possible. The Registrar’s Office can approve if the student meets the eligibility requirements to be registered for the graduate version of the course (Denied if less than 90 credits completed, GPA under 2.500, would exceed 18 credits of graduate coursework, or already completed 2 graduate courses toward the undergraduate degree). Course cannot be changed to a graduate-level only option after the Add/Drop deadline.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to the Registrar’s Office.