Satisfactory Progress

Students wishing to apply for and receive Title IV assistance must meet specific academic progress requirements in order to maintain Title IV financial aid eligibility. Satisfactory academic progress requires that a student must accumulate a minimum number of credit hours over a maximum number of enrollment periods, and a minimum cumulative grade point average for each period of attendance.

The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is listed under “Scholarship Standards” below and in the graduate catalog.

Satisfactory Progress is defined as satisfactory based on the following maximum academic years and earned credit hours per school division of enrollment:

Full-time Students

Undergraduate College
Academic Years Completed
1      2      3       4       5       6
Earned Credit Hours:
16    34    55    77    100    128

Graduate College
Academic Years Completed
1       2      3      4
Earned Credit Hours
12    27    39    48

Satisfactory Academic Progress determination is made for all students at the end of each academic year.

For a student to be eligible for Title IV Aid at Lindenwood University, the student must have academic standing at the point in the program that is consistent with Lindenwood University’s requirements for graduation as listed under “Scholarship Standards” previously. Before each payment period, the student’s academic record will be checked for satisfactory academic progress based on the most recent determination.

In general, satisfactory progress requires that for each two semesters (which constitutes one academic year, summer being optional) of enrollment, 16 credit hours must be earned the first year, a total of 34 by the end of the second year, and so on according to the above chart for full-time undergraduate semester students, and 12 hours the first year, and so on for full-time graduate students.

Part-time and quarter schedule undergraduate students must successfully complete at least 50 percent of their credit hours attempted and have academic standing at that point in the program that is consistent with Lindenwood University’s requirements for graduation.

Failure to maintain minimum academic progress will result in a student being ineligible to receive Title IV financial assistance, following a financial aid probationary period, except as follows: If a student fails to meet the minimum requirements as stated at the end of the second academic year, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Probation/Suspension Reinstatement

Except at the end of the student’s second year, if a student fails to meet the minimum requirements as stated, the student will be placed on financial aid probation for the next succeeding academic year of enrollment. If at the end of the probationary academic year of enrollment, the student does not meet the minimum requirements, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension and will not be eligible for financial aid reinstatement until the minimum cumulative requirements of the policy are attained. Students placed on probation or suspension will have their L.U. Institutional Grant re-evaluated. Withdrawal from the university has no effect on the student’s satisfactory progress upon re-entering.

Appeal

A student has the right to appeal if the student feels that he/she has complied with the requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy, or that there are factors such as undue hardship because of the death of a relative, the student’s injury or illness, or similar special circumstances that could affect the decision, or that said decision was not correctly made. If the student’s appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Financial Aid probation and will have the next succeeding term of enrollment to meet the minimum requirements stated above.

In order to appeal a decision, the student must submit a written application to the dean of financial aid, including any evidence that would substantiate the appeal.The case will be evaluated by the Appeals Committee. The committee will advise the student of its decision within 20 working days following the date the appeal is received.

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