Credit vs Non-Credit – what’s the difference?

Colleges and universities throw around a lot of terminology and abbreviations that may be confusing – in fact, we have an entire glossary of them. A common area of confusion is the difference between credit and non-credit courses. 

Credit courses are designed for students who are interested in earning college credits toward a degree or certificate. Whether you’re seeking a job that requires a specific level of education or you have plans for a bachelor’s degree or higher, credit courses can get you on that path.  

Non-credit courses are intended for students who want to gain general knowledge, learn a new skill, upgrade existing skills or develop personal interests. These courses can be an excellent way to build professional skills, prepare you for the workforce or increase your value to employers.

Corporate and Continuing Education (CCE) at Greenville Technical College offers continuing education courses that are considered “non-credit.” Take a look at how these options compare.

Credit vs. Non-credit
Subject Credit courses Non-credit courses
Registering Credit courses require completion of the enrollment steps, including applying for admission, taking placement tests and submitting transcripts. Upon acceptance, students may register for classes. Students wishing to take non-credit courses will create a profile, select a course and submit payment to complete registration.
Credentials earned Successful completion earns academic credit that may be applied toward a certificate or associate degree or higher academic degree. Successful completion may earn continuing education units (CEUs), industry certifications or continuing education certificates.
Records Credit courses generate a college transcript including grades, credit hours and GPA (grade point average). Non-credit courses result in a certificate of completion.
Grading Numeric or letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory)
Course length Full semester Short-term classes
Financial Aid Traditional federal and state financial aid (Pell grants, subsidized student loans, etc.) is available, as well as a variety of grants and scholarships. Federal and state financial aid is not available for non-credit classes but there are options for financial assistance for non-credit students.
Transfer Because of our accreditation, your GTC academic credits should transfer with you. Many students continue their education and complete bachelor's degrees through four-year institutions. Non-credit courses don’t transfer, but some non-credit health care courses provide points for the weighted admissions process into academic credit health programs. There are also options to receive a credit equivalency for prior learning.