Current and Returning Students

GPA and Pace Criteria

• Undergraduate Students: The Office of Financial Aid will review progress in May of each year to verify eligibility for aid for the next academic year. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% (two-thirds) of cumulative credit hours attempted and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Graduate Students: At the University of Dayton, graduate and doctoral students who take advantage of federal student loans are expected to successfully complete at least 75 percent of their cumulative attempted credit hours and to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Law Students: At the University of Dayton, law students who take advantage of federal student loans are expected to successfully complete at least 75 percent of their cumulative attempted credit hours and to maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Successful completion of a course is defined as receiving a grade of A, B, C, D, _S or S. The grading marks of F, NC, I, W, X, IP or P and audited courses will not be considered as successful completion of a course. At the time of SAP review, students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Cumulative grade point average is calculated as the total number of cumulative quality points divided by the total number of cumulative credit hours. Marks of CR, I, K, IP, P, S, _S, W, X and NC are disregarded in the computation of the cumulative GPA.

Maximum Timeframe

We will also measure the progress toward degree completion by calculating the number of hours attempted in comparison to the published length of the student's program. Federal regulations require that students must not exceed a maximum timeframe of completion of 150%. For example, if a program requires 120 hours in order for completion, the student must not exceed attendance of 180 credit hours. If the student does not meet this requirement, financial aid eligibility for the next year will be revoked and you will be notified by e-mail. The student's SAP status will also be viewable via Porches.

Students who do not meet the required standards of GPA, Pace or Maximum Timeframe will lose their eligibility for financial aid. In order to regain eligibility to receive federal student aid, the student must satisfactorily improve their cumulative grade point average and/or make up the deficient credit hours at their own expense. Students may either attend the University of Dayton or another institution, provided the credit hours can be transferred to the University of Dayton and provided that they do not receive any federal Title IV Funds while attending that institution.

If during the course of academic career, the student changes major/degree, this can be taken into consideration, if the student is appealing the maximum time frame or cumulative grade point average requirement. A change of major/degree is not an automatic appeal approval.

Students seeking a second undergraduate degree are subject to the maximum timeframe component for undergraduate study. Once it has been verified that the student is pursuing a second undergraduate degree, we will determine the maximum timeframe requirement.

If the student has a grade of incomplete (grades of 'I', 'IP') in a course at the time the Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation is completed, aid eligibility can be affected. These letter grades count as attempted hours but do not count as earned hours and will negatively impact academic progress.

Once an incomplete grade is updated with a final grade, the cumulative GPA will be recalculated accordingly. If the student has a grade changed after our review, please contact Flyer Student Services and we will review new progress based on the updates to the student's academic record.

If the student repeats courses in accordance with University policy, those hours will be included as attempted hours. After a retake course is completed, the higher of the grades earned will be used in the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA. In addition, the student may only take a specific course and receive a passing grade twice and still receive federal aid for this course.

These courses are not considered in the calculation of the student's grade point average and are not included as part of the maximum timeframe.

Coursework that is transferred toward the student's degree will be included in both attempted and earned hours. Transferred coursework does not include a GPA and therefore is not included in the cumulative GPA.

Courses for which the student enrolls but do not complete will be counted as attempted hours. Summer Enrollment Progress is reviewed at the end of the academic year in May. If the student is enrolled in summer class, we will review grades upon completion upon request from the student.

Please contact Flyer Student Services if you have questions.

If there are extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from making satisfactory progress, they may appeal our decision to withdraw your financial assistance.

The student will be asked to explain the reason(s) for their inability to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. In addition, they’ll need to share with us what steps have been taken to ensure their ability to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards at the next evaluation point.

Appeals will be reviewed within two weeks of receipt and the student will be notified of a decision via email. Reasons for appeal that will be considered include medical conditions or serious personal or family circumstances that impacted the student's ability to meet standards. If an appeal is reviewed and approved, a student becomes eligible to receive financial aid under a status of Financial Aid Probation. Students receiving aid under a status of Financial Aid Probation will be evaluated at the end of the first term in the new academic year.