Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

In order to be eligible for federal, state, or institutional financial aid, each student at the College must make satisfactory academic progress toward the attainment of the selected degree, diploma, or certificate according to the following three requirements that comprise financial aid satisfactory academic progress. (Other eligibility requirements also apply.)

1. Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average:

The table below represents the minimum cumulative GPA needed to be eligible for federal/state financial aid. The cumulative GPA is calculated using all courses taken. Official withdrawal from courses (W grades) are not counted in the GPA calculation. Students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs must meet the minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester of enrollment.

2. Completion Rate:

Students at the College must successfully complete, on a cumulative basis, 67% of all credits attempted. All non-completion grades (“W,” “U,” “R,”/“F,” and “I”) are used in the calculation of completion rates. As an example, the following table shows the minimum number of credits a student must successfully complete (with an “A,” “B,” “C,”) on a cumulative basis to be eligible for federal/state financial aid. Developmental (remedial) credits are not calculated in the completion rate.

Completed Credits Required To Achieve Satisfactory Completion Rate

3. Maximum Credits Allowed (MCA) for a Degree/Diploma or Previous Associate Degree:

A financial aid recipient is restricted to a maximum number of credits for which the student can receive financial aid. The maximum credits allowed (MCA) is 150% of the published length of the eligible educational program in which the student is currently enrolled. For example, if 60 credits are required for a specific degree, the MCA for the degree program would be 90 credits (60 x 150% = 90). The published program lengths are available on the College website and in the Catalog.

In addition, the credits from a previous diploma or degree program earned at Delaware Tech or elsewhere that are applied to a new degree program at Delaware Tech will be counted toward the MCA for the new degree program.

Students may receive financial aid for a second diploma or degree providing they are meeting other satisfactory academic progress and financial aid eligibility requirements. An appeal must be completed in order for the student to be considered for financial aid.

Maximum Credits Allowed (MCA) for Remedial Courses:

Developmental (0 and 00 level) classes are considered remedial courses. Basic classes (00 level) are not eligible for federal financial aid payment, but are used in calculating the remedial MCA.

Satisfactory academic progress for remedial courses is measured using the Developmental Hold Policy. Students are not permitted to re-enroll in a remedial course they previously failed until they meet with a faculty member or advisor to develop a plan to successfully complete the course.

The MCA for a student enrolled in remedial courses is 30 credit hours. This MCA value is separate from the degree or diploma MCA value. No extension is permitted for a student who exceeds the 30-credit remedial limit.

English as a Second Language classes are not remedial classes and do not count in the 30 credit hour remedial limit.

Repeat Coursework:

Students may receive financial aid for repeating failed coursework if all other eligibility requirements are met. In addition, one repetition of previously passed coursework is eligible for federal financial aid. However, a previously passed course is not eligible for financial aid if it is being repeated because the student failed other coursework (e.g., must repeat the course again because of co-requisite requirements).

Repeating a course may improve cumulative GPA, but each attempt impacts the completion rate and maximum courses allowed.

Transfer Students:

Coursework completed at another institution that is officially accepted as transfer credit by the College counts toward the cumulative completion rate and MCA. Transferred grades are not calculated in cumulative GPA and, therefore, are not included in the satisfactory academic progress calculation.

All information is subject to change based on revisions to federal laws, regulations, or college policies and procedures. Students are required to abide by any such revision.