What does this tool do?
Colleges describe courses in credit hours, but your calendar sees class meetings plus homework. This calculator uses credit hours and a study ratio to show the full weekly and term commitment.
The Formula
Weekly study = Credits × Study hours per credit; Term commitment = (Weekly study + Weekly class) × WeeksFrequently Asked Questions
Is two hours of study per credit realistic?
It is a common starting estimate, especially for reading-heavy courses. Problem sets, labs and project courses can require three or more hours per credit.
What counts as a credit hour?
In the US system, one credit usually represents about one hour of class per week for a semester. The study expectation is added on top of that contact time.