Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility
- Qualitative Measures of Academic Progress
- Quantitative Measures of Academic Progress
- Repeat Course Policy for Financial Aid
- Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Process
- Unusual Enrollment History
The various federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance programs require that an institution develop a standard to measure students’ reasonable progress towards a degree objective – Satisfactory Academic Progress. Academic progress is reviewed at the conclusion of the academic year. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will result in the denial or cancellation of your financial aid.
The following qualitative and quantitative standards MUST be met to remain eligible for aid and retain financial aid at the university. Certain programs, including the TEXAS Grant and Texas B-on-Time Loan, may have higher standards than those listed below.
Qualitative Measures of Academic Progress
The minimum cumulative UH grade point average for undergraduate students is 2.00. The minimum cumulative UH grade point average for graduate students is 3.00. When a student applies and is accepted to graduate school, the student's satisfactory academic progress will be measured according to graduate student classification.
Quantitative Measures of Academic Progress
The Financial Aid Office determines the number of hours a student must complete by the end of each enrollment period based on the student's total registered hours during fall, spring and summer at UH. Summer will be considered part of the total hours of the current academic year. Students are required to complete 67% of the courses in which they enroll for that semester.
| Classification | Cumulative GPA | Ratio of Passed Hours to Attempted Hours | Total Maximum Attempted Hours (Including Transfer Credits) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Minimum 2.00 | 67% | 190 Credit Hours |
| Graduate | Minimum 3.00 | 67% | 100 Hours Beyond Bachelor's Degree |
| Law | Minimum 2.00 | 67% | 100 Hours Beyond Bachelor's Degree |
| Optometry | Minimum 2.00 | 67% | 200 Hours Beyond Bachelor's Degree |
| Pharmacy | Minimum 2.00 | 67% | 100 Hours Beyond Bachelor's Degree |
| Post Baccalaureate | Minimum 2.00 | 67% | 100 Hours Beyond First Bachelor's Degree |
NOTE: Hours passed DO NOT include grades of: I (incomplete), U (unsatisfactory), F (failed); Q or W (withdrawal); however, these hours are included in hours attempted. Courses that have been repeated will be counted for each enrollment as hours attempted and will be counted as hours completed if a grade other than I, U, Q, or W is received.
Ratio is determined by dividing the cumulative number of credits you have earned by the cumulative number of credits you have attempted.
Number of Passed Hours ÷ Attempted Hours = Ratio
Repeat Course Policy for Financial Aid
Federal policy states that a student may receive federal financial aid for a repeated course only once if the course was previously passed (credit was received). You can read the form here for a complete explanation of the policy.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Process
If extenuating circumstances exist, you may initiate an appeal through our office. The satisfactory academic progress appeal form, requirements, and deadlines are available on the Financial Aid & Scholarship Forms page.
Unusual Enrollment History
Certain students that complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be flagged for “unusual enrollment history” (UEH) by the U.S. Department of Education as a result of students having received Federal Pell Grant Program funds at multiple institutions in recent years. These flags (flags “2” and “3”) will be indicated on the FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
The University of Houston’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will be required to review UEH flags and check the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for complete enrollment history (i.e., name of each school attended during the previous four academic years). They will then determine if a student had a valid reason for having unusual enrollment at multiple institutions or if the student was only enrolled long enough to receive cash refunds of federal student aid.
NOTE: Unusual Enrollment History (UEH) must be resolved before you can receive federal financial aid.
How to Resolve
All students with UEH flag 3 and some students with UEH flag 2 will be required to provide the University of Houston their academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended during the review period. If Federal Pell Grant Program funds were received and credit hours (passing grades: A-D) were not earned at each institution attended during these award years, the student may be determined ineligible for further federal financial aid. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has the authority to request official academic transcripts from any/all colleges attended during the review period, if the documents you submit are unclear.
If your Student Aid Report (SAR) includes UEH flag 3, please complete the Unusual Enrollment History form and submit it to the University of Houston's Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid along with all required documentation.
If your SAR includes UEH flag 2, the university will notify you if you will be required to complete the Unusual Enrollment History Review form.
Appealing the Ineligibility Determination
If a student has been determined by the university as ineligible for federal student aid, he/she may appeal the determination by completing the Unusual Enrollment History Appeal form.
Regaining Federal Student Aid Eligibility
Students whose aid eligibility is denied as a result of their UEH may be re-considered for federal student aid. In order to regain eligibility a student must complete all attempted courses according to their academic plan, in one semester of full-time enrollment or two semesters of at least half-time enrollment. Students cannot drop or withdraw (officially or unofficially) from any courses after the term begins, and must meet the university’s standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). If eligibility has been lost, a student cannot receive financial aid. Also, aid cannot retroactively be reinstated.
Annual, Aggregate, and Lifetime Limits, and Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
Federal Pell Grant Program funds may only be received for up to twelve (12) full-time semesters. (Federal Pell Grant Program funds received for part-time attendance are pro-rated against the 12 full-time semesters.)
There are annual and aggregate borrowing limits on Federal Direct Loans, and these loans can be borrowed only up 150% of the published length of the student’s academic program.
All financial aid programs are subject to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, which measure students’ progress toward program completion.
