Financial Aid Office
Student & Administrative Services Center, Rm. 1013 · (570) 327-4766 or (800) 367-9222 · Fax: 570.321.5552
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Students Receiving Financial Aid
In order for students to be eligible to receive financial aid, they must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree or certificate. The standards by which progress is measured are established by the College.
Federal Pell, FSEOG, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National SMART Grant, Federal College Work-Study, Stafford Student Loans, Parent PLUS Loans
A. Eligibility: Full-time students may receive aid for twelve
semesters in a four-year program, six semesters in a two-year program and
three semesters in a one-year program. Part-time students may receive aid
for twenty-four semesters in a four-year program, twelve semesters in a
two-year program or six semesters in a one-year program.
B. Point of measurement: Academic progress in four-year and two-year
programs will be measured at the end of each academic year. Academic
progress in one-year programs will be measured after each semester of
attendance. All semesters of attendance will be considered, regardless of
when the student first enrolled or first received federal aid.
C. Minimum credit requirements: Full-time students must successfully
complete at least 24 credits if enrolled for a full academic year, or 12
credits if enrolled for just one semester. Part-time students must
successfully complete at least 75% of the credits attempted. Students not
meeting these credit requirements will be ineligible to receive federal aid
until they have completed enough additional credits to bring them into
compliance with this policy.
D. Nonstandard credit: Non-credit courses, external transfer credits,
and credits earned through Advanced Placement or Credit for Life Experience
will not count toward the total number of credits needed for satisfactory
progress. Credits earned for repeated courses will only count in the
semester in which the credits are applied toward graduation requirements.
Developmental courses will count in determining the number of credits used
to measure progress.
E. Grade requirements: Only those courses for which the student
receives a grade of A, B, C, or D will count as credits earned
toward satisfactory progress. Courses for which the student receives a grade
of F, W, I, SP, Z or T will not count toward
satisfactory academic progress.
F. Academic probation: Students who are placed on academic probation
may continue to receive financial aid, but are subject to the credit
requirements stated above and must have a cumulative grade-point average
(GPA) of at least 2.0 by the end of the second academic year (fourth
semester of attendance).
G. Program changes: Any student who changes programs two or more
times (enters a third different program) will be ineligible for aid pending
further review by the Director of Financial Aid or designee.
H. Appeals: A student determined ineligible for aid may appeal this
determination by writing to the Director of Financial Aid or his/her
designee, stating the basis for the appeal. Exceptions may be made based on
extenuating circumstances including, but not necessarily limited to,
documented illness, change of program, or the required completion of
developmental courses. The Director or designee will inform the student in
writing of the decision, specifying the conditions, if any, under which an
exception has been made, or explaining the reason for denying the appeal and
detailing the actions necessary for the student to regain eligibility. A
student may request a review of this decision in a meeting between the
student, the Director, and the chief Student Affairs officer.
Pennsylvania State Grant Program (PHEAA) Academic Progress - (subject to revision by PHEAA)
Students must successfully complete at least 12 credits for each full-time
semester and at least 6 credits for each part-time semester in which PHEAA
Grants were received. Progress will be checked after the spring semester of each
academic year. Appeals must be made in writing directly to PHEAA. Full-time
eligibility is limited to eight semesters for four-year programs and four
semesters for two-year programs. Part-time eligibility is limited to sixteen
semesters in four-year programs and eight semesters in two-year programs.
Remedial credits, in some instances, do not count toward the credits required
for progress.
Non-Pennsylvania State Grant programs may have different Satisfactory Academic
Progress guidelines. Students should refer to their state grant award letters for
program-specific requirements.