Satisfactory Progress
Satisfactory progress is the minimum progress required toward the completion of a degree and must be maintained to receive federal and institutional financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study) as well as some Private Educational Alternative Loans. Standards for PHEAA State Grant satisfactory progress differ. More information regarding this can be found in the Grants section of this publication.
Guidelines to maintain satisfactory progress are as follows:
- Undergraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis (twelve or more credit hours per semester) for both the previous fall and spring semesters, must earn at least 24 credit hours.
- Undergraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis (twelve or more credit hours per semester) for only either the previous fall or spring semester, must earn at least 12 credit hours.
- Undergraduate students enrolled on a part-time basis (less than
twelve credit hours per semester) for one or both of the previous fall and
spring semesters must earn credit hours as follows:
- 1 to 8 credit hours attempted - half of all the credit hours attempted must be earned.
- 9 or more credit hours attempted - two-thirds of all credit hours attempted must be earned.
- Summer/January Freshmen admitted the previous academic year, who are enrolled half-time (six to eight credit hours per semester) during the previous summer semester, are required to earn two-thirds of the credits attempted during their freshman year.
- Graduate students enrolled for one or both of the previous fall and
spring semesters must earn credit hours as follows (This includes both
undergraduate and graduate credits attempted):
- 1 to 8 credit hours attempted - half of all the credit hours attempted must be earned.
- 9 or more credit hours attempted - two-thirds of all credit hours attempted must be earned.
Students must also meet qualitative measures of progress. To meet the qualitative measures, a student must possess a 2.00 or higher cumulative quality point average. Students who earn credits as required, but who do not have the required grade point average, may receive financial aid for probationary semesters upon review by the Director of Financial Aid.
An incomplete grade, a failing grade, or a withdrawal from a course will count as zero credits earned. Course repeat grades will only be counted toward the minimum satisfactory progress standard if credits were actually earned. A repeat of any passing grade will not be counted as credits earned in two different semesters. Credit will only be awarded during the semester in which the grade was first earned.
Students are urged to review the withdrawal and repeat policies stated in the Bloomsburg University Catalog. Exceeding the maximum number of allowable repeats and/or withdrawals will adversely affect the student's ability to meet satisfactory progress standards for financial aid purposes. Prior to withdrawal from a course, students should contact the Office of Financial to determine what implications this may cause to current and future financial aid eligibility.
Students are expected to complete their degree or certificate within a time frame that is no longer than 150 percent of the published length of the program. For example, full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a program that would normally take eight semesters to complete would be required to complete their program within twelve semesters. The total semesters for completion of a program of study for a part-time student will be extended proportionally. After the twelfth semester, regardless whether of not you received aid in the previous semesters, federal eligibility (grants, loans, and work-study) will be terminated.
Students enrolled in a non-degree program must also meet satisfactory progress standards to obtain financial aid in subsequent semesters.
Students who are academically eligible to continue their enrollment, but do not meet the guidelines, may attend classes at their own expense until they are eligible to receive financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss possible ways to regain satisfactory progress as well as options that do not require satisfactory progress.
The Office of Financial Aid monitors satisfactory progress each semester. Students are notified that aid is being canceled if the number of credits earned during the fall, spring, and summer semesters does not meet satisfactory progress requirements.
Any student whose financial aid has been canceled because of unsatisfactory progress may appeal this decision in writing to the Director of Financial Aid.