Most continuing education students at Newbury College are part-time students. A part-time student is defined as any student enrolled for fewer than twelve credits. The two main differences between part-time and full-time status are credit load and cost. Part-time students are billed on a per credit basis rather than being billed one flat tuition rate per trimester. Part-time students may elect to take day classes at the main campus in Brookline, in which case the tuition rates are still per credit as long as the student stays below twelve credits. However the per credit rate is higher for day classes at the Brookline campus.

Once a student is enrolled for more than twelve credits in a single trimester, s/he becomes a full-time student and is billed the full-time rate.

For the most part, the same programs of study are offered to both part-time and full-time students. Exceptions are Medical Assisting, which is offered only through Continuing Education, and Communication, which is offered only through the Day Division. Also, all of the certificate programs are available only to Continuing Education students.

Part-time students are entitled to the same privileges as full time students. These include, but are not limited to, use of the Newbury College Library, computer labs, and gym.