• Download the Satisfactory Progress Financial Aid Appeal Form

Satisfactory Progress is a qualitative and quantitative measurement of your academic work at the university.

The qualitative measurement looks at your cumulative grade point average (gpa). This is a measurement of your Academic Good Standing.

The quantitative measurement looks at the number of classes you've completed with a passing grade in comparison to the number of classes for which you have enrolled. This is a measurement of your Academic Completion Rate.

The Office of Student Financial Services measures your satisfactory progress at the end of each academic year.

Because St. Edward's participates in the Federal Title IV Aid programs (which include Federal Stafford Loans as well as Federal Pell Grant and Federal College Work-Study), the university is required by law to make these measurements of academic progress at least once an academic year.

Additionally, the university has tied in its own types of assistance as well as state assistance to these guidelines. As a result, all students who receive financial assistance at St. Edward's are subject to these guidelines.

In order to maintain eligibility for financial assistance, undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative gpa.

In addition, both undergraduate and graduate students must complete 75% of their attempted coursework during an academic year (defined as summer, fall, and spring).

If you have failed to meet these standards by the end of the academic year, then you will lose your eligibility for financial assistance.

First, measure your Academic Good Standing.

If you are an undergraduate student, your cumulative grade point average (gpa) needs to be a 2.0 or higher.

If you are a graduate student, your cumulative gpa needs to be a 3.0 or higher. If your cumulative gpa is below the required benchmark, then you are not making satisfactory progress.

Next, measure your Completion Rate. To do so, you will add up the number of classes you have enrolled for during an academic year and compare it with the number of classes you have actually successfully completed with a passing grade.

For example, to determine your Completion Rate for the 2007-2008 academic year, you would use your enrollment history from the Summer 2007, Fall 2007, and Spring 2008 semesters.

To get your Completion Rate Percentage, divide the Total Completed B, by the Total Enrolled A, and multiply by 100:

(B ÷ A) x 100 = Completion Rate Percentage

An undergraduate student who registers for 6 hours in the summer, 12 hours in the fall, and 12 hours in the spring and drops one class each semester will only end up with a 70% completion rate.

Similarly, a part-time student who registers for 6 hours in the fall and 6 hours in the spring and drops a class each semester will only end up with a 50% completion rate.

In each case, the student would lose eligibility for further financial assistance.

Not only does failing a class affect your cumulative gpa, but it also prevents the class from being counted as successfully completed. For example, a student who registers for 12 hours during a semester and fails two of those classes will end up with a 50% completion rate (and a much lower gpa).

Complete withdrawal from classes for even a single semester will almost certainly place a student below the satisfactory progress benchmarks. If you are having to completely withdraw from your classes, you should meet immediately with your financial advisor in the Office of Student Financial Services.

An appeal process is available before the start of each new academic year. You will be required to complete and submit the Satisfactory Progress Financial Aid Appeal Form. The Satisfactory Progress Appeals Committee will review the information on the form and a decision will be made regarding your continued eligibility for financial assistance. Submission on an appeal form does not guarantee approval by the committee. Please note that the decision of the Satisfactory Progress Appeals Committee is final.

You may download the appeal using Adobe Acrobat Reader at the link below:
Satisfactory Progress Financial Aid Appeal Form

The form is also available from our office.

Please contact Student Financial Services with any questions regarding this brochure.

Phone Numbers:
512-448-8523, 800-555-0164

Email Address:
seu.finaid@admin.stedwards.edu