Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal law (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving federal financial aid. These standards apply to all Federal Title IV financial aid programs. In addition, the Pennsylvania State Grant program, as well as grant programs from other states, has established academic progress standards for state grant eligibility. Finally, Duquesne University itself has established academic standards with regard to awarding its institutional grants and scholarships. Students must meet these standards of academic progress to continue to receive funds from each source.

As required by law, the academic records of all students will be reviewed annually after each spring semester to calculate the percentage of attempted credits the student has successfully completed and to determine the cumulative grade point average the student has earned. Any student not meeting the standards set by this policy will be ineligible for aid until the deficiencies have been made up.

Please review the policy summary chart below:
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

 

To Appeal your Satisfactory Academic Progress status, please complete and submit the following form:
Satisfactory Academic Progess Appeal Form

 

PROGRAM
CUMULATIVE GPA
REQUIREMENT
CREDIT EARNED
REQUIREMENT

Federal Student Aid:

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Federal Perkins Loan

Federal Direct Stafford Loan

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

Federal Work Study
  • 1.50 cumulative GPA for undergraduate students who have earned fewer than 30 credits
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA for undergraduate students who have earned 30 or more credits
  • 2.00 for all graduate and law students
  • All students must have earned at least 67% of the cumulative number of credits attempted, including all credits attempted at Duquesne and all credits transferred in from other institutions that count toward the degree.

Pennsylvania State Grant
  • No minimum cumulative GPA required
  • Full-time students must complete a total of 24 credits over the 2 semesters of full-time study within an academic year.
  • Part-time students must complete 12 credits over the 2 semesters of part time study within an academic year.
State Grants from states other than Pennsylvania
  • Contact your state grant agency for information.
  • Contact your state grant agency for information.
Duquesne University Academic Scholarships

 
  • No credit requirements. However, University scholarships are awarded for a maximum of 8 semesters (with the exception of Pharmacy majors who are awarded for a maximum of 10 semesters).
Duquesne University need-based grants

 
  • No credit requirements. However, University need-based grants are awarded for a maximum of 8 semesters (with the exception of Pharmacy majors who are awarded a maximum of 10 semesters).
Revised 10/25/2018