The maximum timeframe for students completing degree requirements is 150 percent of the published program length. For example, a student in a 4-year program may not receive financial aid for more than six years. Eastern University funded aid (scholarships, grants, and discounts) is not available for more than eight (8) semesters - four (4) full-time years of study.

Therefore, students must complete 67% of all credits attempted at the current academic level of enrollment (undergraduate, graduate or professional), which is calculated by dividing cumulative credits earned by cumulative credits attempted.

The following grades count as attempted, but not as completed/earned credits:

• Incomplete (I)
• Withdrawn (W)
• Failing (F)

Transfer and advanced placement credits count as attempted and earned credits.

Undergraduate students should also be aware that by completing the minimum 24 credits per year on a full-time basis would not allow the degree to be completed in four (4) years. Students enrolling for 12 credits per year on a part-time basis will not be able to complete the degree in eight (8) years.

Students must maintain the cumulative GPA based on the earned credit levels listed below. When progress is reviewed, these requirements must be met by both full-time and part-time students. If this level has not been maintained, the student MAY NOT RECEIVE ANY FINANCIAL AID OF ANY KIND until that progress level is achieved.

Traditional Undergraduate, Esperanza College, Adult Undergraduate (Associate’s and Bachelor’s-GPS)
Less than 25 credits 1.75 grade-point average
25 - 41.99 credits 1.85 grade-point average
42 - 54.99 credits 1.95 grade-point average
55+ credits 2.00 grade-point average

Graduate and Doctoral (GPS)
All Graduate and Doctoral GPS students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 once 12 credits are earned; 2.75 GPA is acceptable for less than 12 credits.

Graduate and Doctoral (Palmer Theological Seminary)
All Graduate and Doctoral Palmer Theological Seminary students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Academic Progress is measured at the end of every academic year.  Failures and withdrawals are courses attempted, not completed. Incomplete grades are not counted toward credits completed until after the course work is successfully completed and posted by the Registrar. Students who have an incomplete grade in one or more classes will not have financial aid processed until those courses are completed, a grade has been assigned, and satisfactory academic progress has been verified. The exception to the incomplete rule is enrollment in Graduate or Doctorate level thesis or dissertation courses where an incomplete grade will be allowed to continue until graduation. Repeat courses will not count toward credits completed for Satisfactory Academic Progress since the credits were already counted toward the standards the first time the course was completed and the student already received aid for these courses.

The Financial Aid Office will notify students who fail to meet these requirements when information on academic progress is available at the end of their academic year. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be considered for financial aid until all standards have been achieved. Under no circumstances will financial aid be awarded retroactively to the semester(s) in which the standards were not met. Students who fail to meet these requirements are encouraged to make up the hours and grade point requirements during the summer sessions at their own expense (FastPass awards are not held to SAP requirements).  It is the student's responsibility to ensure the grades and credits completed have been properly posted by the Registrar and to notify the Financial Aid Office once this has occurred.

A student who has not made progress may submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee to request an extension to meet the progress requirements if they feel that there were extenuating circumstances that contributed to not making progress. A student filing the appeal form should indicate why the requirements were not met and what has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation, then submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form along with documentation of the extenuating circumstance to the Financial Aid Office.  The student will be contacted in writing regarding the outcome of the appeal.

Students receiving a Pennsylvania (PA) State Grant must meet the state’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to continue to be eligible to receive the grant. Students must appeal directly to the state when progress has not been made for the state to reconsider their eligibility for the grant. The University may not override the state’s decision regarding the loss of a state grant.

Minimum Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress for Eastern University Scholarships/Grants
Students who receive the Eastern University scholarships and grants must also maintain the stated minimum cumulative grade point average in order to receive the scholarship for the following academic year.

*See University Catalog for further details.