Satisfactory Academic Progress
Each student will be reviewed for progress annually after the spring semester. A student must meet the following requirements in order to satisfy the academic progress policies for Federal and State financial aid. Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with these standards will result in the loss of financial aid until such time as the student is again maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements
In order to receive and remain eligible for Federal Title IV financial aid, students must progress towards the completion of their program of study at a rate that will ensure graduation in a reasonable length of time. Federal Title IV financial aid includes, but is not limited to, Pell grant, TEACH grant, Direct Stafford student loans, Nursing loan and PLUS. West Chester University has established a policy utilizing both qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (time-based) measures required by the U.S. Department of Education as follows:
1. Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all credits attempted
when progress is evaluated by the University at the end of each Spring semester
2. Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA
a. Undergraduate: Must earn a 2.0 GPA by the end of the fourth semester of enrollment
and in each subsequent year of enrollment
b. Graduate: Must earn a 3.0 GPA by the end of the second semester of enrollment
and in each subsequent year of enrollment.
3. Students must not exceed 150% of the published number of credit hours for your
program. For example:
a. Undergraduate majors requiring 120 credit hours will not be eligible for financial
aid after exceeding 180 attempted credit hours (120 x 1.5 = 180).
b. Graduate majors requiring 48 credit hours will not be eligible for financial
aid after exceeding 72 attempted credit hours (48 x 1.5 = 72).
Students denied financial aid for non-compliance may appeal that denial through the SAP Academic Appeal Process.
Please see the full Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Title IV Aid for additional information about requirements and appeal procedures.
Courses Taken at Other Institutions
Courses taken at other institutions will be used in the determination of satisfactory progress only if they are accepted for transfer to WCU and count toward the student's degree. Credits transfer, but grades do not.
The following definitions are used in the academic progress assessment:
- Credits Attempted: Credits for which a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, P, W, AU or NG has been received.
- Successfully Completed Credits: Credits for which a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, or P has been received. Grades of F, NG, AU, W, Y, Z AND grades in repeated courses do not count as successfully completed credits.
PA State Grant (PHEAA)
After students are determined by PA State Grant to be eligible for a state grant, the Financial Aid Office determines if they are maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Students may receive a maximum of 8 full-time semester grants (or its equivalent). PA State Grant progress is reviewed annually after the spring semester. To qualify, students must:
- Successfully complete a minimum of 12 new credits for each full-time semester of PA State Grant received during the preceding academic year.
- Successfully complete a minimum of 6 new credits for each part-time semester of PA State Grant received during the preceding academic year.
If you believe that you have grounds to request an exception to this policy, complete and submit a State Grant Program Academic Progress Exception Form .