Gwynedd Mercy University 2025-2026 University Catalog 65
Eligibility To be eligible for any of the federally funded financial aid programs, an undergraduate student must be( 1) a U. S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen, as defined by the U. S. Department of Education,( 2) a student enrolled for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate,( 3) making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a chosen program of study, and( 4) in need of financial aid as determined by the federal methodology needs analysis system. Students who have already earned a bachelor ' s degree are not eligible for Federal, State, or University Grants / Scholarships.
Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Federal regulations require that all students who receive any financial aid meet federal academic progress standards while taking courses toward a degree or certificate program. This policy applies to all terms of enrollment, even if not receiving federal aid, and all enrollment types( full-time / part-time). Academic progress is measured by cumulative grade point average, percentage of credits successfully completed, and the time it takes to complete the degree program. The financial aid office checks student academic progress after each term.
Academic Progress Standards
• Completion Rate( 67 % Rule): Students must receive a satisfactory grade in courses attempted by completing at least 67 % of the credits for which they are enrolled. This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted. All withdrawals, failures and incompletes are counted as attempted but not earned credits. o Exception to the 67 % Rule: It is important to note that the 67 % completion rule applies to most types of financial aid. However, specific programs may mandate a higher completion rate. For example, the PA State Grant requires that a full-time student earn 24 credits( repeated coursework does not count in this total) in an academic year and requires a minimum of 12 credits for part-time students.
• Cumulative GPA Minimum Requirements( GPA Rule): The maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for upperclassmen and 1.8 for freshman students. Graduate, second bachelor’ s degree, and doctoral students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Additionally, specific grants and scholarships may require a higher minimum cumulative grade point average.
• Developmental Courses: Developmental courses are evaluated in the progress calculation, including completion rate, maximum hours, and cumulative grade point average. Federal financial aid may be awarded for 30 semester hours of developmental coursework.
• Withdrawals, Incompletes, Audits and Repeat Courses: Withdrawals, Incompletes, and Audits do not count as passing grades. These grades are counted in attempted credits. Once an Incomplete grade has been changed to a passing grade, progress can be recalculated upon written request. Repeated coursework is also counted as attempted credits, with all grades related to this repeated coursework included in financial aid GPA calculation.
• Change of Major and Double Majors: Once all the requirements for a program are completed, a student may no longer receive financial aid unless they enter a new degree program. Students may apply for financial aid for the completion of a double major. All applicable courses in the completed program will count as part of the 150 % attempted credits in both majors.
When Minimum Standards of Academic Progress are Not Achieved
• Any student who fails to meet the progress standard and cumulative grade point average