Well-versed parents and/or students, I have a question as my student comes up on final semester registration. Student could finish up all his undergraduate degree requirements this fall. But, because of lost on-campus time due to covid, we have been thinking of stretching out to occupy both fall and spring with classes. If he finishes his degree requirements in the fall will he be ineligible for spring? Have you run across this before? Should he spread his remaining requirements out so as not to complete his STARS undergraduate requirements? (Yes, we know this means $$, but we have been fortunate to be able to afford tuition and are big believers in enjoying and taking advantage of the on-campus environment.) Thanks in advance.
Seems like this is a question best asked of the university, although it seems hard to believe that a private university would object to a student taking an extra tuition-paying semester (especially a spring semester that is usually underenrolled compared to a fall semester).
Could the student graduate after the fall because he is one semester early (fall is 7th semester), one semester late (fall is 9th semester), or had a gap or co-op semester (fall is 8th semester)?
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From a financial aid standpoint, I believe they can take up to 144 units as an undergrad. Do they have any GEs left? If so, you might want to wait on taking the last GE until spring semester. Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students - University of Southern California - Acalog ACMS™
Undergraduate Classification
While classified as undergraduates, students are assessed the undergraduate tuition rate, and their enrollment status and financial aid eligibility are determined by undergraduate standards. Undergraduate-level progressive degree students maintain their eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, Cal Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loans and any applicable eligibility for USC Merit Scholarships or USC University Grants, as long as they are enrolled in courses that are required for, or that can be applied as an eligible elective credit toward, their undergraduate degree. The Registrar’s Office determines when a student has completed his or her bachelor’s degree and manages the process of posting degrees to a student’s record. The Financial Aid Office relies on the Registrar’s determination of the applicability of a course to a degree program and the completion of the bachelor’s degree.
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@overit2019 We did the covid stretch as well for senior experience and better job placement opportunities. This one is a double major so there were classes to spread out. You can stay as long as you want doing another major/minor as long as you can pay for it. 
But ya, for undergrad single major, you want to leave a class hanging or you won’t be offered sign up/renewal for the next semester.
So keep one undergrad class, or does he want to consider adding a minor? (Keep in mind, they are more classes than a lot of people think, so it may not be practical if not already planned for, just an idea.)
Do think about whether he may get a job or internship so he may not want to commit to a lot of classes. He could also look at when the classes he has remaining are offered and find one in the evening so it keeps days open incase he wants to work.
Is he planning to graduate in May ceremony even though fall grad? He has that flexibility. He might want to register for all classes for fall, then change after May and move a class to spring to maintain that eligibility. He can check the grad rules on that. Thornton operates differently (of course they do) in terms of what they allow (more flexible that other USC schools).
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