Regulations require us to have minimum standards for progress that apply to students receiving federal, state, and/or University financial aid. Academic progress for all aid recipients and all types of awards is reviewed at the conclusion of the spring semester and takes into account all coursework the student has attempted, whether or not the student received financial aid at the time the coursework was attempted.
To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for federal and state financial aid, a student must meet each of the following three requirements:
Cumulative Grade Point Average
Undergraduate students must meet the following minimum cumulative grade point average requirements to retain their eligibility for financial aid:
- Freshmen: 1.6
- Sophomore: 2.0
- Junior: 2.0
- Senior: 2.0
Note that class level is defined as follows:
Freshman – a student who has completed 29.5 or less credits
Sophomore – a student who has completed at least 30 credits, but not more than 59.5 credits
Junior – a student who has completed at least 60 credits, but not more than 90 credits
Senior – a student who has completed at least 90 credits
Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of at 3.0 to retain their eligibility for financial aid.
Pace
All students must successfully complete (i.e., earn a grade of “D-“ or better or a grade of “P”) at least 67% of the credits they attempt. Repeated courses and coursework assigned a grade of “W,” “WF,” “F,” or “I” will not count as credits completed, but will count as attempted credits. “I”ncomplete grades that are later converted to a letter grade are factored into the next regular evaluation of academic progress. Coursework taken at the developmental level (i.e., courses numbered “050”) will also be counted as credits attempted and, if the student successfully completes the course, as completed credits; a student may not receive financial aid for more than 30 credits of developmental level courses. Credits transferred from another institution will count as both attempted and completed credits. Coursework graded on a Pass / Fail basis and that counts toward degree requirements will count as attempted credits and courses in which the student receives a grade of “P” will count as completed credits.
Maximum Time Frame
The maximum number of credits an undergraduate student in a 120 credit degree program may attempt and receive funding for is 180 credits or 150% of the number of credits (120) required to complete the degree program. Coursework attempted on a Pass/Fail basis and credits transferred from other institutions will be counted toward the maximum. Students who add majors and/or change majors or degree programs are still subject to the same maximum time frame requirements. Although students may attempt more than 180 credits, federal and state funds will not be awarded for credits attempted in excess of the limit.
The maximum number of credits a graduate student may attempt and receive funding for is 150% of the published number of credits required to complete the degree, certificate, or endorsement program in which they are enrolled. Coursework attempted on a Pass/Fail basis and credits transferred from other institutions will be counted toward the maximum. Students who add majors and/or change majors or degree programs are still subject to the same maximum time frame requirements. Although students may attempt more credits than the 150% limit, federal will not be awarded for credits attempted in excess of the limit.
Monmouth University Grants and Scholarships
Each University grant or scholarship for undergraduate students has a minimum cumulative grade point average requirement that must be met in order to continue to receive that award. The following is a list of the more common awards and students can confirm the grade point average requirements for awards not on this list either by reviewing their financial aid award letter or contacting the Financial Aid Office.
- Academic Excellence Scholarship – 3.0
- Academic Grant – 2.5
- Incentive Grant – 2.0
- SOAR Grant – 2.0
- Great Lawn Grant – 2.5
- Shadowlawn Grant– 3.0
Academic progress for University grants and scholarships will also be reviewed at the conclusion of the spring semester. If a student has not met the academic standards for their particular award, the student is encouraged to submit an appeal, following the process noted below, to have their eligibility reinstated. When students have met the required standards for original award, they may appeal to have that award reinstated.
Graduate students receiving institutional aid must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Students who do not meet this requirement will automatically be given one semester on probation. If, at the conclusion of the probationary semester, the student has not met the required grade point average, their award will be removed. There are no further avenues of appeal for graduate students.
Appeals Process
Students who fail to meet one or more of the standards (cumulative grade point average, pace, or maximum time frame) noted above are ineligible for financial aid. Students will be notified in writing that they are ineligible and offered the opportunity to appeal. All appeals must be submitted using the Satisfactory Academic Progress Etrieve form and must be received by the stated deadline. Students who do not appeal will remain ineligible for federal and state financial aid, and will (if applicable) receive an automatic reduction to their University grant or scholarship. Students should note that the appeals process for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress is separate from the University’s Academic Standards Review process for academic reinstatement to the University.
Circumstances that might merit an appeal include, but are not limited to: serious illness or injury to the student or a member of the student’s immediate family, a death in the immediate family, or other special circumstances outside the student’s control. Supporting documentation of the circumstances forming the basis for the student’s appeal must be submitted with the appeal. Students who have been deemed ineligible in a prior semester, but who have since improved their performance to the required level are also encouraged to submit an appeal for the reinstatement of their aid; a student’s aid will not be automatically re-instated.
The Associate Director of Financial Aid will review the appeal, and may elect to either grant the student a one semester probationary period and require the student to agree to an academic plan or uphold the determination of ineligibility e.g., cancel the student’s financial aid; University grants and scholarships may be reduced.
A probationary period may not last more than one semester and if, at the conclusion of the probationary semester, the student has not met the standards for academic progress their award(s) will be removed. If the student is offered an academic plan, the student must return a signed copy of it to the Financial Aid Office; funding will not be restored to the student’s account until the plan has been received. The student’s academic progress will be reviewed at the conclusion of each semester that the plan is in force.
Throughout the duration of their enrollment, students may submit a maximum of two appeals based upon the same circumstance. Additional appeals must include a description of what circumstances have changed that would enable the student to meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress and the allowability of such appeals will be determined on a case by case basis by the Associate Director of Financial Aid.
Students who submit an appeal will receive written notification of outcome of the appeal. Documentation of the student’s ineligibility and any subsequent appeals is maintained within the student’s financial aid record. Students who leave the University and subsequently re-enroll will be evaluated based upon their status at the point they left.