Satisfactory Academic Progress
The US Department of Education requires the University to establish a Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility that describes the academic criteria a student must meet to maintain eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid. This policy was established by the University's Scholarships & Student Aid Committee and is enforced by the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid. Students who do not meet the conditions of this policy are not eligible for continued financial aid the following year. Financial Aid includes Pell grants, State grants, Institutional need-based grants, Federal work-study, and federal loans (including Stafford loans, Perkins loans and PLUS loans). Private aid offered by agencies outside the University is not subject to the conditions of this policy, but will be administered according to donor and/or lender specifications.
The policy on Satsifactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility is different than other academic policies on campus which govern a student's eligibility to continue taking courses. A student may be eligible to take courses at the University but still be ineligible to receive financial aid.
For full-time undergraduate students, the policy includes 3 components. Students must:
- not be suspended or on probation according to university policy;
- have passed a total of 12 credit hours (all first year students) or 24 credit hours (all continuing undergraduates);
- have attempted no more than 125% of the required hours to complete a degree.
These requirements apply to all students, including those who have grades of incomplete and those who withdrew for one or both semesters. Students who attended part-time, are working toward a second degree, and graduate students should view the policy for specific requirements.
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid reviews academic progress and determines eligibility at the end of each spring semester. Students who failed to meet the conditions of the policy are ineligible to receive aid during the summer session and remain ineligible during the following academic year. Students who have become ineligible for aid may re-establish eligibility by submitting an appeal for reinstatement.
Academic Support Services
NC State offers a variety of services to help prevent academic struggles from leading to academic progress issues. Please utilize these resources on campus to ensure that you meet the University's academic standards:
- Undergraduate Tutorial Center
- OASIS (Office of Advising Support, Information and Services)
- University Counseling Center
Unofficial Withdrawal from the University
Students who fail to earn a passing grade for any of the courses they attempted are considered to have unofficially withdrawn from the University. Whether you withdraw officially or unofficially, you may be required to repay all or a portion of the aid received for the term you did not complete.