To remain eligible for financial aid at Saint Mary's University, a graduate student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined below:

Full-time
Must complete 8 semester credits per term, and attain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first term of at least 2.0 subsequent terms at Saint Mary's University.

Half-time
must complete 4 semester credits per term, and attain a cumulative GPA as defined above.

Full time students must complete their educational objective in a maximum of twelve terms during which they will be considered eligible for federal financial aid programs, provided they meet all other satisfactory academic progress standards. Half-time students must complete their educational objective in a maximum of twenty-four terms and meet all other satisfactory progress standards to remain eligible for federal financial aid programs. Individual aid programs may have other restrictions.

Cumulative grade point averages and credits earned will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of each term. Students not maintaining satisfactory academic progress will receive written notification.

Students who transfer to Saint Mary’s University are considered to be in good standing, and will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of their first term at Saint Mary's University. Students who are readmitted to the university are considered to be in good standing and will be reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of the first semester after returning to the university.

Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained during all periods of enrollment whether or not financial aid is being received.

If a student does not meet satisfactory academic progress standards AT THE END OF THE FIRST TERM of attendance (falling below cumulative GPA standards), the student will be placed on financial aid probation during the next term. To be removed from financial aid probation, the full-time student must successfully complete the required number of credits to earn 16 credits by the end of the second term, and he/she must raise the cumulative GPA to the required level at the end of the probationary period. If these conditions are met, financial aid eligibility is reinstated.

If these conditions are not met, the student's aid eligibility is terminated. Students will be notified in writing if their aid eligibility is terminated, and they may appeal this decision by following the steps listed in the appeal section.

Appeals for special circumstances when aid eligibility is terminated may be directed (in writing) to the Director of Financial Aid. The director will present the written appeal to the Financial Aid Committee for review. Appeals must be received within two weeks after the student's notice of termination is received. Appeals will be considered for medical reasons, family/personal emotional problems, learning disability, and other extenuating circumstances.

If the Financial Aid Committee determines that mitigating circumstances existed during the probation period, one additional term of aid eligibility can be extended to the student. During this term the student must complete the minimum number of credits for his/her status (8 credits for full-time and 4 credits ½ time) with a semester GPA of 2.0. Successful completion of the extended probationary period will reinstate the student's aid eligibility for the next term. If the student does not meet these conditions, aid eligibility is terminated; no further appeal will be granted.

Only those courses for which ACADEMIC CREDIT is received will be considered in meeting satisfactory academic progress standards. REPEATED OR AUDIT COURSES WILL NOT BE COUNTED. Incomplete will be considered if the Academic Dean has given permission to the student to carry the incomplete.

Students who withdraw from the University are eligible for a refund in accordance with the policy in the University catalog. Federal aid will be refunded in accordance with the Department of Education Return of Title IV Funds. This policy can be found on our website. If financial aid is awarded to assist with costs incurred before the withdrawal, that term is considered in the total number of terms allowed to complete the student's educational objective. The term is also considered in the total credits and GPA for satisfactory academic progress, therefore, it is likely that the student will be placed on financial aid probation if he/she returns for the following term.