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SAP - Graduate Student Requirements

All students who wish to qualify for financial aid while enrolled at WSSU will be assessed on three standards: qualitative (grade point average), quantitative (pace) and timeframe. These standards are applied uniformly to all WSSU financial aid applicants. All hours (including transfer hours) are included in the SAPFA calculation. Students may receive financial aid for remedial courses for one year. A student who meets the standards is eligible to be considered for financial aid. A student who does not meet these standards is not eligible to receive financial aid.

The qualitative standard is the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

The quantitative standard (pace) is the number of overall credits earned in relation to those attempted.

All students must complete at least 67 percent of all courses attempted at any college attended. The completion ratio is measured by dividing total hours earned by total hours attempted.

Grades of F, W, WF, I, or U do not count as passing grades. Grades of IP are not considered passing for undergraduate students as it is assigned only for thesis or project research or similar courses to indicate that a grade is pending until the sequence of courses is completed. Repeated courses do not count toward the overall earned credit hours if no credit toward graduation is awarded the semester the course is repeated.

The timeframe standard refers to the maximum time frame allowed to complete the academic program. A student is eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum number of overall attempted hours. Completion of a degree must be accomplished within a maximum timeframe.

Graduate students are subject to the requirements outlined by their program.

Graduate (Masters or Doctoral) Degree

Students must have a degree objective and be officially admitted into a graduate program. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. If the graduate cumulative GPA falls below the minimum standard, financial aid will be cancelled immediately. Grades of A and B are acceptable for SAPFA. Students must earn a minimum of 67% of the credit hour registered for at the end of schedule adjustment period (drop/add). Students must enroll in at least 3 semester hours at the graduate course level to be eligible to receive financial aid. Students must earn their graduate or professional degree within the timeframe limitations set by their department.

The standards are reviewed and assessed based on the student’s official academic record, which is maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Students who have failed to meet one or more of the SAPFA standards are not eligible for financial aid. Financial aid eligibility may be regained if:

  • The student raises their cumulative GPA to the required minimum at WSSU (please see the section above entitled, “Minimum GPA”); 
  • The student’s credit hour completion rate has been increased to 67% or greater; Or
  • A SAPFA appeal has been approved by committee.