All students who receive federal and state financial aid must meet federal and institutional standards for satisfactory academic progress in order to establish and retain financial aid eligibility. Students receiving athletic or other University-administered awards must also meet the satisfactory academic progress standards that have been established by the awarding entity.
Satisfactory academic progress for federal and state financial aid programs is based on three measures: cumulative grade-point average, completion rate based on credit hours completed compared to attempted, and a maximum timeframe for degree completion. The following describes the University’s standards for each of these three measures, and when these standards are reviewed:
Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 based on credits earned at Illinois State University. The first time a student’s GPA is below 2.0, the student is placed on Academic Probation and Financial Aid Warning. This means the student continues to be eligible to receive financial aid while on Financial Aid Warning status. If the student does not raise the GPA to 2.0 in the following semester of attendance, or the GPA falls below 2.0 in a subsequent semester, the student will be Academically Dismissed in the subsequent semester (only considering Fall and Spring semesters) and lose financial aid eligibility (applies to all semesters, including the summer session).
Graduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 based on credits earned at Illinois State University. Students who fail to meet this requirement will either be terminated from that degree program or placed on Academic Probation and Financial Aid Warning by the Graduate School. Students on Academic Probation and Financial Aid Warning. Students on Financial Aid Warning status continue to be eligible to receive financial aid. Upon recommendation of the department/school, the student can be placed on Academic Probation and provided with a period of time not to exceed two (2) academic terms (including summer if enrolled) or a number of credit hours not to exceed twelve (12) credit hours, within which to raise the GPA to the required standard.
The Graduate School will terminate a student who fails to bring the cumulative GPA up to a minimum of 3.0 GPA during the probationary period from that degree program. The student can receive financial aid during the probationary period. The Graduate School will send a letter of probation/termination to any students who fall below a 3.0 GPA.
Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of the credit hours attempted at Illinois State University. Courses with a grade of “D” or higher, as well as “CR” or “CT”, count as completed. Credit hours attempted (but not earned) include audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes.
The first time a student does not complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) of credit hours attempted they are placed on Financial Aid Warning. This means the student is still eligible to receive financial aid but must meet satisfactory academic progress at the end of the subsequent term. The second time a student does not complete a minimum of sixty-seven percent (67%) the student is suspended from financial aid eligibility until their completion rate improves to at least sixty-seven percent (67%) or the student submits an appeal and is approved for reinstatement of eligibility. Transfer student completion rate is calculated by counting transferred hours as hours attempted and completed. Only hours attempted and not completed at Illinois State University are counted in the formula.
Graduate students must meet the same completion rate requirement as undergraduate students. However, thesis and dissertation credits are excluded from the completion rate calculation because these two types of credits are not graded.
The maximum timeframe for the completion of a degree is limited by federal regulations to 150% of the published length of the degree program. This is equivalent to a maximum number of credit hours that includes transfer credits and all attempted credit hours at Illinois State University. Credit hours attempted include completed credits, audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes. The maximum number of credits allowed for a subsequent degree program at ISU excludes the credits from any previous degree(s) earned at ISU.
The maximum number of credit hours for which a student is eligible to receive financial aid is 180. The maximum number of credit hours for which a student pursuing a second undergraduate degree is eligible to receive financial aid is 90. Hours transferred to Illinois State University are counted as hours earned.
The maximum number of graduate credit hours for which a student is eligible to receive financial aid is equivalent to 150% of the total hours required for the student’s degree program as published in the Graduate Catalog.
Cumulative GPA is reviewed at the end of each period of enrollment–fall semester, spring semester, and the summer session–for both financial aid eligibility and for continued enrollment at Illinois State University. University College reviews GPA after each term and issues Financial Aid Warning/Academic Probation letters to undergraduate students not maintaining the minimum GPA requirement. After fall and spring semesters, University College notifies students of Academic Dismissal/Financial Aid Suspension. After summer session, the Financial Aid Office reviews GPA and sends a letter to students no longer eligible for financial aid due to not maintaining the GPA requirement.
Completion rate is reviewed upon submission of a financial aid application (the FAFSA), and at the end of each period of enrollment, including the summer session. The Financial Aid Office sends a “Financial Aid Warning letter” to any aid recipient who has not completed 67% of hours attempted. If a financial aid recipient does not meet the 67% standard at the end of any subsequent term, the student will be placed in violation and financial aid will be suspended.
Maximum timeframe is reviewed upon submission of a financial aid application (the FAFSA), and at the end of each enrollment period, including the summer session. The Financial Aid Office sends a “Financial Aid Warning letter” to any aid recipient who is within 15 hours of reaching the maximum attempted hour for their degree program.
If financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet the completion rate or maximum timeframe standard, the Financial Aid Office notifies the student regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
If the student is not meeting the GPA standard, University College first sends the student a “Financial Aid Warning” letter. If the student fails to meet the GPA standard a second time, financial aid eligibility is suspended. During fall and spring semester reviews, University College notifies the student regarding Academic Dismissal and the Petition for Reinstatement. The Petition for Reinstatement may also serve as the appeal for failure to meet the GPA standard. If the review of the GPA standard occurs for the summer session and financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet the GPA standard, the Financial Aid Office notifies the student regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form or Petition for Reinstatement must include reasons for failure to achieve good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress, and what has changed in the student's situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and any applicable documentation. Appeal Forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office and are reviewed by the Reinstatement Committee. For the Completion Rate standard, students can also restore aid eligibility by earning enough additional hours to meet the 67% requirement.
University College sends the student a dismissal letter, including instructions for writing and submitting a petition for reinstatement. The petition must be submitted to University College by the date stated on the dismissal letter.
If financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet the completion rate or maximum timeframe standard, the Financial Aid Office sends a letter to the student including a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
The Appeal Form must include reasons for the student’s failure to meet the academic standard and satisfactory academic progress, and what has changed in the student's situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and any appropriate documentation. Appeal Forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office and are reviewed by the Graduate School. For the completion rate standard, the student may also restore financial aid eligibility by earning enough additional hours to meet or exceed the 67% standard.
If the student is not meeting the GPA standard, the student also will receive instructions on Academic Probation from the Graduate School.
For undergraduate students, the Reinstatement Committee reviews appeals and petitions for consideration of reestablishing financial aid eligibility and for continued enrollment at the institution. For graduate students, the Graduate School reviews appeals and petitions for consideration of reestablishing aid eligibility and for continued enrollment at the institution.
The basis for granting an appeal (for either undergraduate or graduate students) may include death of a relative, injury or illness to the student, or other special circumstances. If a student is academically dismissed from the University, the applicable process used for reinstatement (either undergraduate or graduate) may also be used to reestablish the individual’s eligibility for financial aid. If a decision is made to reinstate a student’s financial aid eligibility, the student will be placed on financial aid probation. If the student does not meet satisfactory academic progress or academic requirements listed in the reinstatement notification at the end of the subsequent term, the student will not be eligible for financial aid, subject to the appeal process described above.
Policy Owner: Office of Financial Aid
Contact: Office of Financial Aid (309-438-2231)
Revised on: 04/2022
