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Merced College Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

For financial aid eligibility, federal regulations require students to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate when receiving financial aid. These regulations state that Academic Progress Standards MUST include a review of periods of enrollment in which students did not receive aid as well as the periods they did receive aid.

Student's satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester or upon the student's initial application for financial aid, whichever comes first.

For the purpose of financial aid eligibility, students MUST meet the following minimum standards:

  1. Maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0.
    This is the Qualitative Measure. A, B, C, D, and F grades are used to calculate a student's GPA. Transferable units from prior colleges are not included in the GPA calculation.

  2. Receive credit for at least 67% of the total units attempted.
    This is the Quantitative Measure (Pace of Progression). Withdrawals (W), Incompletes (I ), No Credit (NP), and Failing (F) grades are considered units attempted.

  3. Have attempted less than 150% of the maximum cumulative units required for completion of their program. This is the Maximum Timeframe. For example, a 60 unit program = 90 units maximum timeframe.

Students may appeal a denial of aid based on the maximum time limits by submitting an appeal form and an educational plan, which has been reviewed and signed by a counselor, and which shows the revised goal and specific additional unit requirements. Students may also appeal a denial based on poor grades. Students can appeal online. Each appeal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students will be notified by email of a probationary status or denial of financial aid when academic progress has not been met.