Federal Financial Aid Requirements
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid
Financial aid is contingent upon continued satisfactory academic progress. Each spring, a review of financial aid eligibility is conducted. Students are notified of their eligibility status via e-mail and may appeal these decisions.
Criteria – Performance and Progress
An undergraduate student is eligible for federal financial aid if the student is (1) in academic good standing as measured by the cumulative and semester GPA, and (2) is progressing toward the baccalaureate degree as measured by completed credit hours per semester according to the university’s Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students must complete their first bachelor’s degree within 150 percent of the normal number of credits required to complete a bachelor’s degree, not exceeding 180 credit hours.
Academic Performance
A student in good academic standing, or who is on academic probation, is eligible to receive federal financial aid if s/he meets the minimum GPA. Federal regulations require a student to have a GPA consistent with the university’s graduation requirement. A student – either full-time or part-time – who fails to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses is placed on academic probation after the second semester of study. A student placed on academic probation is expected to raise his/her cumulative GPA to a minimum of 2.0 within a reasonable amount of time. If a student fails to raise his/her cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above, the student will be dismissed. Dismissed students are ineligible to receive federal financial aid. If a student is dismissed and re-admitted on probation, the student should consult with a financial aid advisor to determine eligibility for federal financial aid.
Academic Progress – Full-time Students
A full-time undergraduate student must demonstrate progress by accumulating academic credits at a rate that indicates graduation in a timely manner. A full-time student who is not progressing toward graduation at the defined rate will not receive federal aid regardless of his/her GPA. The federal aid progress criteria for a full-time student at the university are comparable to the credits-earned criteria for New York State aid, but extend to a five-year period of time as noted below.
Academic Progress – Part-time Students
Academic progress for part-time students who receive federal aid is defined as completion of credits earned according to the Part-Time Chart. Cumulative completed credits are not a measure of progress for a part-time student. Semester credits earned are the sole measure of progress.
| Credit Hours Registered | Credit Hours Earned |
|---|---|
| 11.9 - 6.0 | 50% must be completed |
| 5.9 - 3.0 | 3 credit hours must be completed |
Time Limits for Federal Aid Eligibility
Students must complete their first baccalaureate degree within 150 percent of the normal time required to complete a bachelor’s degree, not to exceed 180 credit hours.
To receive federal financial aid, students must have the following minimum cumulative credits earned prior to the semester noted:
| Semester | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Credits Earned | 0 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 33 | 45 | 60 | 75 | 90 | 105 | 120 | 135 | 150 | 165 | 180 |
Last updated: Thursday, 15-May-2008 16:25:15 EDT