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.
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.
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.
