Academic Requirements for Receiving Financial Aid
For a student to be able to receive financial assistance from Title IV Federal funds (Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, and Federal Work Study Program), State funds (North Carolina Legislative Tuition Grant, and North Carolina Incentive Grant) or Belmont Abbey College funds, he/she is required to make satisfactory academic progress.
Criteria for Determining Satisfactory Academic Progress
A student must successfully complete the following number of credit hours per academic year.
Enrollment Status Hours of Completion
Full-time (12 or more credit hours) 24
Three-quarter time (9-11credit hours) 18
Half-time (6-8credit hours) 12
Note: Credit hours earned through competency assessments, challenge exams, co-curricular activities, CLEP, etc., are not counted. No credit is given for WP, WF, or I grades; however, WF and I grades are reflected in calculation of the student’s grade point average (GPA). The grading system and calculation of GPA are explained in the College Bulletin.
A student must have received a minimum cumulative GPA as defined in detail in the College Bulletin and summarized below, or have earned a minimum of 2.0 for the most recent semester’s work.
GPA Requirements
0-24 attempted credits 2.00
25-58 attempted credits 2.00
59 and after 2.00
A student must complete requirements for a degree within a maximum of five and a half years or 11 semesters as a full-time student. Less than full-time students will be prorated in accordance to the student’s enrollment status as defined in #1 above.
If a student fails to meet any one of the requirements stated above at the end of an academic year, he/she will be considered not making satisfactory academic progress and has the following options:
Submit a written appeal to the Director of Financial Aid to explain any extenuating circumstances. Documentation will be required and appearance before the Student Financial Aid Committee may be required.
Attend Summer School at Belmont Abbey College (without student financial aid) to regain eligibility by successfully completing the number of credit hours needed to meet the minimum standard. (The student may attend another institution with the approval of the Academic Dean).
