Final answer:
The number of credit hours for full-time status in college is typically 12 to 18 per semester, but this can vary by institution. Full-time students can take varying amounts of time to graduate, with some completing in four years and others taking longer. In U.S. labor statistics, part-time workers, students working part-time, and senior citizens working part-time are all considered employed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of credit hours that constitutes full-time status for a college student generally ranges from 12 to 18 credit hours per semester. Typically, most colleges and universities consider a student registered for 12 or more credit hours as full-time. However, this can vary depending on the institution's policies. It's important to be aware of your school's specific requirements as full-time enrollment can affect eligibility for financial aid, as well as students' ability to maintain certain scholarships or participate in honor roll programs.
Reviewing the provided data, 40 percent of full-time students took four years to graduate, while 30 percent took five years to graduate. This is relevant because maintaining full-time status can influence the time it takes to complete a degree. Full-time enrollment does not guarantee a four-year graduation timeline, as the percentage of students graduating in five or six years is also significant.
The definition of employment in U.S. labor statistics counts any part-time work as employment. Therefore, an individual out of school working part-time is considered employed. A full-time student working 12 hours a week at the college cafeteria is also considered employed, while a senior citizen working as a greeter and collecting social security is considered employed too.