What is considered a failing grade for financial aid?

Students must: Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA between 1.6 and 2.0. Complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours.

What is a passing grade for financial aid?

This cumulative grade point average is 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. If you drop below a cumulative GPA of 2.0, you will be placed on a financial aid Warning.

How bad do your grades have to be to lose financial aid?

If you receive federal college loans, failing a class may disqualify you from them based on your school's SAP requirements. Federal student aid typically requires you to maintain a 2.0 GPA to qualify — so failing a class may put you at risk of losing it.

Will I lose my financial aid if I fail 2 classes?

Failing or taking an incomplete grade in courses can impact your financial aid in multiple ways. The 3 main impacts may be owing money back for the current term, losing federal aid eligibility for future terms, and not meeting the renewal criteria for scholarships and institutional aid.

Does an F grade affect financial aid?

If all of your grades in a semester are "F":

If you earn all "F" grades from non-attendance within a semester, your aid will be adjusted according to federal regulations and you will be required to repay part or all of the federal and/or state student aid funds you received that semester.

Financial Aid FAQ:​ What Happens if I Drop a Course?

Will I lose financial aid if I fail a semester?

To maintain your eligibility for financial aid, you must meet specific academic requirements throughout your time in school. If you fail classes or need to complete more credits, you may lose your scholarships, grants or loans.

Do you have to pay back FAFSA if you fail?

If you fail a class, do you have to pay back your FAFSA financial aid? No, failing a class doesn't mean that you'll be forced to pay back any money that you received for that class. It could mean that you'll lose out on future money because you didn't perform well, though.

How many classes can you fail before you lose financial aid?

Failing one class does not mean you'll automatically lose access to federal financial aid. But these funds do have academic eligibility requirements, as outlined in your school's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) guidelines.

How many classes does FAFSA let you fail?

*SAP allows financial aid to be awarded ONLY to students who have NOT attempted more than 150% of the units required to complete their degree.

Do I have to pay back Pell Grant if I fail?

If you fail a course, you will not have to repay the Pell Grant that you took out for it. Although failing a course can have drastic effects on your GPA and hurt your transcript, it will not require repayment of any Pell Grant funds.

What disqualifies you from FAFSA?

For example, if your citizenship status changed because your visa expired or it was revoked, then you would be ineligible. Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school.

Is it better to fail or drop a class with financial aid?

In most situations, withdrawing from a course should not affect your aid package. But if you fail to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, your aid may be affected. Withdrawing from a course can also change your enrollment status, which could reduce your aid.

Is it better to fail a class or drop it financial aid?

In most situations, it is better to withdraw from a course rather than fail the course. However, if you will be ineligible for aid after you withdraw from a course, or are a student athlete and need to be enrolled in a minimum number of hours to be eligible to play, it might be better to fail a course.

How do I get my financial aid back after failing?

Why did I lose my Pell Grant?

Students may lose Pell Grant eligibility if they withdraw from courses, do not maintain enrollment status or fail to continue making academic progress, which can include GPA requirements set by individual institutions.

What happens if you fail one semester but pass the other?

It will still show as an F on your transcript and count in your GPA. Your only ways to deal with it are (a) work hard in other classes to try to compensate for that F in your GPA, and (b) if it is allowed, retake the class: it would reset your GPA, although the F would still be on your transcript.

Does FAFSA pay to retake a class?

Once credit - a letter grade of "D" or better - has been earned in a course, a student may receive financial aid for only one additional (second) attempt of the same course, regardless of the earned grade for the second attempt.

Can you get financial aid again after dropping out?

If you drop or withdraw from classes, you may jeopardize future eligibility for student aid (including loans). If your enrollment drops below half-time, your financial aid awards may be adjusted, and the grace period repayment of loans will begin.

What happens if I fail 2 classes in college?

Under most grading systems, an F or fail grade contributes no points towards your GPA, which can significantly drop your overall GPA. This drop in GPA can trigger consequences such as academic probation or even dismissal, especially if one fails multiple classes or a high-credit course.

Does retaking a class replace the grade in college?

Repeating Coursework

A course may be repeated only once. Although only the second grade earned (for better or worse) will be computed into your GPA, both grades will remain on your transcript.

What counts as failing a semester?

Failing a semester. Failing a semester usually means you haven't earned the minimum GPA required by your college or university over a semester. The most recent Persistence and Retention rate report shows that 25% of students did not return to school after their first year of college.

Do I lose FAFSA if I fail a class?

If you failed one class, but received strong marks in the rest of your courses, you should be fine. Each institution has its own satisfactory academic process, but for the most part, you should maintain a “C” average to continue receiving aid. If one “F” doesn't bring you below that average, your aid won't change.

Do you lose your Pell Grant if you fail a class?

Failing a class may impact future distribution or qualification for the remaining Pell Grant only if a student fails to remain in good academic standing or make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

What happens to your financial aid if you drop below 12 credits?

Your financial aid may be adjusted if your credits drop below the minimum required. If you are a Federal Pell Grant recipient, the grant may be adjusted; for example, if you drop from 12 to 9 credits, your grant may be prorated. Review additional information about the Pell census date.

What income is too high for FAFSA?

Both students and their parents often think their household income makes them ineligible for financial aid. However, there's no income limit for the FAFSA, and the U.S. Department of Education does not have an income cap for federal financial aid.