Determine Eligibility

To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must meet the following requirements.

• Be a citizen of the United States or an eligible noncitizen
• Be registered for the selective service, if required to do so
• Have a high school diploma or GED, or have successfully completed an Ability to Benefit Test
• Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student or enrolled in an eligible certificate program
• Not owe a refund on any federal grant, be in default on a federal student loan, or have borrowed in excess of the loan limits under the Title IV programs at any institution
• Maintain good academic standing in your program and make satisfactory progress toward the degree sought, as outlined below
• Be enrolled at least half-time; undergraduates at least 6 credits half-time, 12 credits full-time; graduate students 3 credits half-time, 6 credits is full-time

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for Receipt of Federal Financial Aid

Walden University’s satisfactory academic progress requirements for receipt of Title IV student financial assistance comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations. These standards are intended to establish minimum, reasonable levels of advancement toward degree completion and to guard against abuse of aid programs. Satisfactory progress requirements for receipt of federal financial aid are separate and distinct from the university’s academic progress requirements for academic continuance. Financial aid academic progress requirements are reviewed each quarter/semester, and adjustments are made accordingly. Students will receive email notification in their Walden University email accounts if they are placed on financial aid probation or become ineligible for federal aid. However, it is the student’s responsibility to know these requirements, and failure to receive notification will not nullify the financial aid status.

Programs Type	Minimum Financial Aid Course Completion Rate	Minimum Cumulative Financial Aid GPA	Maximum Time Frame to Receive Federal Aid
Bachelor’s degrees	67%	2.0	272 financial aid attempted credits
Master’s Degree	67%	3.0	20 quarters or 15 semesters
Doctoral Degree	67%	3.0	32 quarters or 24 semesters
Certificate	67%	3.0	4 quarters or 6 semesters
Educational Specialist	67%	3.0	20 quarters or 15 semesters
Teacher Preparation (without Master’s Degree Option)	67%	3.0	56 financial aid attempted credits
Endorsement (without Master’s Degree Option)	67%	3.0	32 financial aid attempted credits
Preparatory Coursework	67%	2.0	12 consecutive months

• Minimum financial aid GPA is cumulative for the current program of study.
• Minimum financial aid course completion rate is calculated by dividing financial aid completed credits by financial aid attempted credits. (e.g., if 40 credits are attempted, the student must have successfully completed 27 credits.)
• Financial aid attempted and completed credits are cumulative for all courses in all programs attempted at Walden.
• Financial aid attempted and completed credit requirements include transfer credits.
• Financial aid attempted credits include all registered courses with the exception of courses dropped before the start of the term or during the drop period.
• For course repetitions, only the most recent grade is counted in the cumulative GPA, but the credits from all attempts must be counted in the course completion rate and maximum time frame.
• Minimum progress requirements for financial aid do not include academic residency requirements.
• The maximum time frame will be reset for students completing a second or further degree at Walden.
• The maximum time frame for students who change programs without earning a Walden degree is cumulative for all programs attempted and is measured against the maximum time frame for the current program.
• The maximum time frame excludes quarters/semesters of non enrollment and quarters/semesters in which all courses are dropped before the start of the term or during the drop period.
• Financial aid progress requirements include all terms of enrollment including periods in which the student did not receive federal aid.

Financial Aid Probation

The financial aid office reviews progress every quarter/semester. Students who do not meet the course completion rate and/or GPA standards as defined above are placed on financial aid probation for two quarters/semesters. During this probation period, students remain eligible for financial assistance. Students who fail to meet the minimum progress requirements after completing the two-term probation period become ineligible to receive Title IV Aid until such time as the progress requirements are met. A change in the academic program does not supersede the above statement.

Maximum Time Frame

Federal financial aid eligibility expires without probation when the student reaches the maximum time frame or if the financial aid progress review makes it clear that the student cannot mathematically finish his/her program within the maximum time frame.

Right to Appeal

Occasionally, a student’s academic progress may be delayed by circumstances that are beyond the student’s control. A student may appeal for an extension of federal aid if he/she can document that unexpected, unusual, and temporary circumstances affected his/her ability to progress at the required rate (i.e. death in the immediate family, illness, or other significant life change). In instances such as this, the student may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid no later than 15 calendar days following the end of the second probationary term. Students who wish to appeal must complete the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeals Form and provide supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid for review. Failure to provide supporting documentation will result in an automatic denial. If the appeal is accepted, the student must meet the requirements set forth by the written approval of the appeal. A preexisting condition (a condition or illness that you have had before the beginning any Walden
program) is not cause for appeal. Students may not appeal the decision a second time.

Loss of Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who become ineligible to receive financial aid but remain in compliance with the academic progress standards for continuance in their program are not withdrawn from the program but must arrange for alternative payment with the bursar by the appropriate tuition due date. Students may be eligible for private educational loans if federal aid eligibility is lost.

This policy is effective 12/1/2009 for all students.