In most colleges, a student is considered full time when he takes between 12 to 18 credits a semester. Most classes count for two to four credits depending upon work load and class time. The translates into a maximum amount of five to six classes depending their credit worth. Some colleges will not let a freshman exceed this limit under any circumstances.
There is a way to exceed this credit limit. By talking to an appropriate college official, such as an adviser, you can get a waiver signed that may grant up to 24 credits, giving you one or two more classes. This permission usually depends upon previous grades to make sure you can handle to extra load. Some colleges nationwide have even began eliminating a credit limit.
Although taking more credits can be stressful and time consuming, there are benefits to graduating sooner, such as entering the work force sooner, where you can start making money. Employees will also be impressed that you graduated faster than most students and that you show a determination to succeed. This may mean the difference between you getting the job over somebody else.
Colleges are generally two-year institutions that prepare people for the work force or to go on to a four-year institution like a university. Occasionally some of these colleges have partnerships with universities for specific programs. This means you could take classes from both institutions simultaneously, while working towards a bachelors' degree. With this option, you could take upwards of 30 credits per semester to graduate in astounding time.