Federal regulations mandate that colleges and universities determine whether a student is maintaining satisfactory academic progress each academic year before he or she can be awarded federally-fund (Title IV) financial aid.
Satisfactory academic progress is based on semester hour completion standards and Upper Iowa University Grade Point Average. For students enrolled in at least six semester hours per semester in any degree program, the charts below outline the criteria which must be met in order to be considered maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Semester Hour Completion Standards
| Academic Year |
Semester Hours Attempted |
Semester Hours Completed |
| 1st Year | 30 | 20 |
| 2nd Year | 60 | 40 |
| 3rd Year | 90 | 60 |
| 4th Year | 120 | 80 |
| 5th Year | 150 | 100 |
| 6th Year | 180 | 120 |
Academic/Grade Point Average (GPA) Standards
| Academic Year |
Semester Hours Accumulated |
Upper Iowa University GPA |
| 1st Year | 0-30 | 1.50 |
| 2nd Year | 31-45 | 1.75 |
| 3rd Year | 46-60 | 1.80 |
| 4th Year | 61-75 | 1.90 |
| 5th Year | 76-90 | 1.95 |
| 6th Year | 91+ | 2.00 |
Each course failed or withdrawn from after the last day to drop will be included as an attempted course. Each semester the Academic Progress Committee meets and reviews the records of all the students who do not meet the minimum standards for satisfactory academic progress.
If the student is determined not to meet the minimum standards outlined above, the student will be issued a letter of concern. If significant progress is not made, an academic warning is issued. The student will be able to receive financial aid after receiving an academic warning.
Failure to show academic progress at the end of the semester following the receipt of an academic warning may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. If progress is not made following an academic warning, the student may be academically suspended. An academic suspension will result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. A complete copy of the academic guidelines may be found in the Upper Iowa University Bulletin.
