Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students must make satisfactory academic progress, as specified below, to be eligible for renewal of need-based financial aid and credit-based loan certification.
Course repetitions will be factored into the overall Grade Point Average (GPA) by Boston University. A student can receive Federal Title IV aid and BU need-based aid for repeating a course if:
- The previous grade received was insufficient (“W” or “F”) to meet degree requirements, or
- The previous grade received was sufficient to meet degree requirements (repeating to attempt to earn a stronger grade, or other reason) and if they are otherwise enrolled in at least 12 other academic credits.
Merit award recipients must meet the merit award renewal criteria established for the particular scholarship(s) they are receiving.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
Credit Hour Requirements
At Boston University, to be considered for any form of financial aid – including credit-based educational loans – full-time students must successfully complete at least 12 Boston University credits each semester in the prior academic year. Overall students must complete at least 75% of the total academic credits for which they enroll.
Students registered for only one semester during the prior academic year must have completed at least 12 credits in that semester.
Generally, part-time students must complete at least 75% of the total credits for which they enroll.
Enrollment at Boston University during the summer after the academic year enrollment is considered only upon appeal.
For transfer students, credit hours that are accepted from another institution towards the educational program will be counted as both attempted and completed credit hours.
Grade Point Average Requirements
The calculation of grade point average (GPA) in determining eligibility for financial aid does not include Physical Development Program (PDP) courses.
Students at all grade levels must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for renewal of federal, state, and Boston University financial aid, and for certification of all credit-based educational loans.
Boston University need-based scholarship aid may be offered to eligible returning students who have not previously been awarded a BU need-based scholarship.
Part-time students must meet the same GPA requirements for eligibility.
Enrollment at Boston University during the summer after the academic year enrollment is considered only upon appeal.
Enrollment at other institutions is not considered.
Mid-Year Satisfactory Academic Progress and Appeal Form
Generally, academic records are reviewed for satisfactory academic progress on an annual basis. However, during the first semester of the academic year full-time students must successfully complete at least 8 credits with a minimum 1.00 grade point index (GPI).
Students who do not meet these minimum academic standards are very unlikely to meet the annual renewal criteria. Thus, falling short of first semester academic standards will result in a cancelation of second semester/term aid – first semester aid will remain intact.
Although BU Financial Assistance will make every effort to promptly notify students of the cancellation of their awards, students are responsible for obtaining their grades and determining if they have met the criteria for continuation of their awards.
Students may appeal the cancellation of their awards if they expect to receive an additional grade(s), have any grades changed prior to the first day of classes for the next term, or have extenuating circumstances. To appeal, submit a completed Mid-Year Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to BU Financial Assistance, as instructed on the form.
Financial aid will not be reinstated after the first day of classes, even if there are subsequent changes in the GPI or the number of first semester credits completed.
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress and Appeal Form
Students who are denied Boston University, federal and/or state aid, or certification of a private loan because their academic performance falls short of satisfactory academic progress standards are welcome to appeal the decision to BU Financial Assistance.
Aid may be fully or partially reinstated for students who appeal with:
- A documented change in their academic record that enables them to meet the academic criteria for renewal (including a change resulting from a summer enrollment at Boston University).
- Documented extenuating circumstances.
To Appeal:
- BU Financial Assistance must receive all three (3) sections of the completed Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form by August 1. To submit your appeal electronically, download and save a copy of the form to your computer. (Do not try to complete the form in your browser.) Complete and save your copy of the form, then submit it as instructed.
BU Financial Assistance does not make academic decisions. If circumstances warrant, we will request the cooperation and assistance of your academic dean.
Finally, federal financial aid regulations stipulate that the University must assume a student has unofficially withdrawn if they enroll, start attending classes, do not officially withdraw, and fail to earn passing grades in at least one course over an entire semester, unless the institution can document that the student engaged in some form of academic activity beyond the 60% point of that term in at least one course.
To retain full eligibility for federal financial aid (i.e. earn aid eligibility) a student must be engaged in academically related activity beyond 60% of the enrollment period. BU must return unearned federal financial aid funds to the source, which in most cases will result in a charge not covered by financial aid on the student’s account. This applies to any student who does not engage in an academically related activity beyond the 60% point of the semester in at least one course during that semester.