In order to remain in good standing and receive your financial aid (federal, state, institutional and private), you must maintain satisfactory academic progress each term and progress in a timely manner toward your declared degree. We assess your status when you apply for financial aid and each term thereafter.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

• You must maintain a GPA of a 2.0 or higher each term.
• If your term GPA and cumulative GPA fall below a 2.0,
  • First time = Warning Status
  • Second time = Probation Status
  • Third time = Aid Withheld Status
• If your term GPA falls below a 0.75 during any term, you will automatically be placed on Aid Withheld.
• If your cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 by the end of your second academic year, you will automatically be placed on Aid Withheld.
• If your complete zero credits (all F, M, U, W, X, and/or Z grades) during any term, you will be placed on Aid Withheld and subject to the Return Federal Aid calculation.

Status Definitions

Warning Status - Your aid will still be released for the following term, but you are urged to seek out resources on campus to assist in your success.

Probation Status - Your aid will be on hold until you complete a Probation Plan with your advisor.

Aid Withheld - Your aid will be on hold until you complete the reinstatement process and are approved. Inquire at the Financial Aid office for the form and process. You MUST complete this process before or during the term that you are on hold. If you complete the process once the term has finished, we cannot award aid back to that prior term.

• If your request for reinstatement is approved by the financial aid committee, there may be special conditions you must adhere to each term. If you do not follow those conditions, you may be placed back on Aid Withheld Status.
• If your request for reinstatement is not approved by the financial aid committee, you have the one-time option of appearing in-person to the committee to state your case.
• If your request is still denied, you will need to complete the term on your own funds or submit a request for refund to the Student First Stop Center.

150% Timeframe/Maximum Attempted Credit Limit

Federal regulations are set with the expectation that you complete your degree in a timely manner. In order to receive financial aid funding throughout your degree, you must complete your degree within a 150% timeframe.

Example: If you are in a degree that requires 90 credits to graduate, you must complete that degree within 135 attempted credits.

If you are unable to complete your degree within the 150% timeframe, you will be placed on Aid Withheld Status.

Your progress is measured at the end of each student’s third full-time term. If you attend full-time Fall, Winter and Spring terms, your progress will be assessed at the end of Spring term. If you attend half-time Fall, Winter and Spring terms, your progress will not be assessed until the end of the next Spring term if you continue to enroll half-time.

Attempted credits include earned, unearned, and transfer credits. Grades of F, W, X, U, Z and M are considered unearned credits.

If you exceed the 150% time frame, you will need to complete the request for reinstatement process. See the Financial Aid office for forms and the process. We may, without a formal appeal, extend the time-frame when remedial credits are the reason you are unable to complete your credits within the 150% timeframe. If this occurs, you will be notified by mail of the extension of time.

Request for Dual Major
Financial aid only covers one declared degree. In some cases, students may pursue more than one degree for various reasons. Contact the Financial Aid office about an appeal for a dual major.

Request for Change of Major
You are only allowed one major change under financial aid. If there are extenuating circumstances for changing your major more than once, you will have to complete the appeal process. Contact the Financial Aid office about an appeal for a change of major.

Request for Transfer Credits
Up to 124 transfer credits may be transferred to a four-year Oregon college. You may appeal to the Financial Aid Committee to allow for additional credits you intend to use to transfer to another college. Any transfer credits that are attempted whether completed or not count toward the number of transfer credits you have. Contact the Financial Aid office regarding an appeal.

NOTE: These services are provided at no cost to Southwestern students.

*Students must fill out an application to join Support Services