was my daughter considered full time

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
January 24, 2026
1 reply
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My daughter finished classes in fall of 2024 but she did not graduate until the Spring of 2025. I believe she still received a partial pell grant for some of 2025. For tax purposes can she be considered full time? I am unsure on the pell grant situation but she is over 19 and so I know that has something to do with it.

Hal_Al

Level 15

For 2025, probably not. She must have actually attended classes full time (typically 12+ hour load) to be considered a full time student.

But, it may depend on the details. Why did she not graduate sooner; example: she was working on a thesis. If the school considered what she was doing as being enrolled as a fulltime student (unlikely), then maybe yes. Then it would depend on when in 2025 she graduated (it must have been May [even May 1] or later to meet the 5 month rule).

Scholarship money, including a Pell grant, that was received in 2025 and not spent on tuition, books or other course materials (e.g. it was used for living expenses) is taxable income to the student.