South University runs on a quarter calendar and measures courses in quarter credit hours, not semester credits — and the two are not the same size. The standard conversion is that quarter credits are about two-thirds of a semester credit: multiply quarter credits by roughly 0.667 to get the semester-credit equivalent, so a 4.5-quarter-credit course is about 3 semester credits. This matters in two places: comparing South's course loads and tuition to semester-based schools, and transferring credits, where the receiving school does the conversion. Confirm exact figures with the school involved, since policies vary.
What a quarter credit hour is
A quarter credit hour measures a course on a quarter calendar, where the academic year is divided into quarters rather than semesters. Because a quarter is shorter than a semester, a quarter credit represents less instructional time than a semester credit — which is why South's course numbers (in quarter credits) look larger than the equivalent semester figures for the same amount of learning.
Converting quarter credits to semester credits
The standard math is to multiply quarter credits by two-thirds (about 0.667). So 4.5 quarter credits is roughly 3 semester credits, and 90 quarter credits is roughly 60 semester credits. Going the other way, multiply semester credits by 1.5. These are the conventional ratios; a specific school may apply its own rounding when it evaluates a transfer.
Why the difference actually matters
Two situations. First, comparison: when you line South's tuition or course load up against a semester-based school, convert first or you are comparing different-sized units. Second, transfer: if you move credits to a semester-based school, they will convert your quarter credits, usually near the two-thirds ratio, so know the semester-equivalent before you assume how many credits will land.
Where a tutor fits
We help with the coursework itself rather than the registrar math, but understanding your program in semester-equivalent terms helps you plan the load realistically — and we can help you carry it, quarter by quarter.
Sources and verification
Facts on this page come from official sources; confirm current policies with South University:
- www.southuniversity.edu: South University's official site
- South University accreditation: the official accreditation page
- sacscoc.org: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, South's regional accreditor
- CCNE accreditation: the accreditor of South's MSN nursing programs