Financial Aid » The Process » Eligibility » Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Grand Valley State University 

Federal regulations governing federal funds require institutions to monitor the academic progress of financial aid recipients.  Grand Valley State University's policy is to provide financial aid to students capable of remaining in good academic standing and who make adequate progress toward a degree.  Adequate academic progress required to remain eligible for financial aid is defined below.

Undergraduate students 

• Achieve a minimum 1.5 cumulative GVSU GPA after 24 credits (0-24)
• Achieve a minimum 1.8 cumulative GVSU GPA after 54 credits (25-54)
• Achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative GVSU GPA after 55 credits (55+)
• Complete and pass a minimum of 2/3 of all GVSU and transfer undergraduate collegiate credit hours attempted.
• Complete all degree requirements within 150% of the minimum number of credit hours required to graduate (based on 120 credits for undergraduate students.)

Graduate students

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GVSU GPA.
• Complete and pass a minimum of 2/3 of all GVSU and transfer graduate  collegiate credit hours attempted.
• Complete all degree requirements within 150% of the minimum number of credit hours required to graduate (based on 60 credits for graduate students).

Second Undergraduate Students

• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GVSU GPA.
• Complete and pass a minimum 2/3 of all GVSU and transfer undergraduate collegiate attempted hours.
• Complete all additional requirements within 150% of the minimum number of credit hours required to complete an additional program.  An additional 60 credits will be allowed for subsequent second degree undergraduate work (based on 120 + 60 credits for second undergraduates).

General Provisions and Information

• The complete GVSU academic record is considered regardless of whether or not financial aid was received each semester.
  
• Transfer credits (both attempted and earned) will be included in calculating the 2/3 completion rate and the 150% of required credits limit for both undergraduate and graduate students.
  
• Satisfactory Academic Progress will be determined at the end of each semester for all enrolled students regardless of whether or not financial aid was received that semester.
  
• Students in good Financial Aid academic standing who fail to meet the requirements in the subsequent semester will be placed on financial aid probation.  During the semester the student is on probation, the student must:
  • earn a 2.5 semester GPA or a 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • complete all credits the student is still registered for at the end of the drop/add period
    
• Students meeting financial aid probationary requirements will be continued on FA probation until they again meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.  Failure to meet the financial aid probationary GPA and/or credit completion requirement while on financial aid probation will result in the loss of eligibility for continued financial aid.
  
• Students may regain financial aid eligibility by achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and/or successfully completing a minimum of 2/3 of cumulative attempted credit hours at their own expense.
  
• Students repeating courses are eligible for financial aid; however, repeat classes increase the total attempted hours, but do not increase the total number of credits completed.
  
• Grades of W, I, NC, or F do not count in the GPA or credit completion requirement.
  
• Credit hours earned by testing or other non-standard mean are counted in the satisfactory academic progress calculations as both hours attempted and earned.
  
• All credit hours attempted through international programs and through concurrent enrollment agreements count in both attempted and earned calculations.
  
• Students who fail to meet the above academic progress standards may appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility only if special circumstances exist, such as the death of a close relative or an injury or illness of the student.  Appeals must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office with appropriate documentation of the special circumstances. 
  
• The deadline for submission of an appeal for any semester in which aid is denied under this policy is the last day of the fourth week of classes. 

NOTE: Refer to the Grand Valley catalog for "Academic Review Policy."  These are separate from and different than the financial Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements discussed above.