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Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of all students applying for federal financial aid at Colorado Mesa University. All financial aid recipients are reviewed for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of each term (fall, spring, summer). 

To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, you must:

  1. Successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours.
  2. Maintain at least the minimum cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA) for the credits earned.
  3. Complete your degree program within the maximum time frame of no more than 150% of your program’s length.

Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards may result in being placed on Financial Aid Ineligibility for the next term you attend Colorado Mesa University.

This policy applies to all semesters of enrollment, not just those in which you received financial aid. All credit hours and all transfer credit hours recorded by the Registrar’s Office will be evaluated. Financial Aid reserves the right to re-evaluate your Satisfactory Academic Progress if additional coursework is received.

1. Pace: Percent of Attempted Credit Hours Earned

You must complete at least 67% of your overall credit hours attempted at Colorado Mesa University.

Attempted credit hours include: all enrolled hours (including withdrawn courses); remedial; badge; credit/no credit; satisfactory/unsatisfactory; and repeated courses.

Satisfactory completed credits: include letter grades of A, B, C, D, or P

Unsatisfactory completed credits: include grades of F, I, W, WP, WF, or IP

 

2. GPA: Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

You must maintain at least the minimum cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA). 

Undergraduate Students: 

Cumulative Credit Hours Cumulative GPA
0 – 15 1.70
16 - 30 1.80
31 - 45 1.90
46 and above 2.00

Graduate Students: 3.00 GPA

 A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation requirements.

3. Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

Federal regulations limit eligibility for federal aid to no more than 150% of the published length of your educational program. 

Undergraduate Students:

  • Certification's Degree: 72 Attempted Hours
  • Associate's Degree: 90 Attempted Hours
  • Bachelor's Degree: 180 Attempted Hours

Graduate Students:

  • Graduate students may not exceed 150% of the published length of the educational program.

 

Financial Aid Warning

The first term in which you do not complete the minimum Pace of your credit hours and/or do not meet the minimum GPA, you will be placed on financial aid warning. While on warning, you may continue to receive financial aid without filing a financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal. This is not the same as being on academic probation with the University.

You cannot be in warning status for two consecutive terms. At the end of the next term of evaluation, you will either be placed in an eligible financial aid status (if you meet the required Pace or GPA requirements) or in an ineligible financial aid status.

Financial Aid Alert

The first term in which you reach 100% of your degree attempted hours (Maximum Time Frame), you will receive an alert email and be placed on financial aid alert. While on alert, you may continue to receive financial aid without filing a financial aid ineligibility appeal.

At the end of the term of exceeding 150%, you will be placed on financial aid ineligible status.

Financial Aid Ineligible

You will be made financial aid ineligible, resulting in the loss of your financial aid, if either of the following situations occurs:

  • You fail to meet Pace and/or GPA standards for two or more consecutive terms.
  • You reach the Maximum Time Frame for your educational program.

Financial Aid Appeal Process

If extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, you may appeal the ineligibility Status. If your appeal is approved, your aid may be reinstated for one semester on “financial aid probation.”

If you are on financial aid probation, you will be expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of your financial aid probation semester or successfully follow the academic plan designed specifically for you (as explained below in the appeal process). Failure to meet either of these expectations will result in becoming financial aid ineligible.

Financial Aid Ineligibility Appeal

Re-Establishing Eligibility

If you did not have extenuating circumstances, or if the appeal was denied, it is still possible to re-establish your financial aid eligibility for future terms. To re-establish eligibility, you must take courses at your own expense in a subsequent term(s) until the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress are met and then complete a financial aid ineligibility appeal.