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 financial aid are separate and distinct from the university’s academic progress requirements for academic continuance. Academic progress requirements are reviewed each year, and adjustments are made accordingly.

Programs of Study	Minimum Progress Required
Bachelor’s degrees Master’s degrees Ed.D. Ph.D. in Public Health Ph.D. in Psychology Post–Doctoral Psychology Certificate	Undergraduate and graduate students in these course-based programs must successfully complete 67% of all courses attempted (e.g., if 40 credits are attempted, the student must have successfully completed 27 credits). Undergraduate students must successfully maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Aid cannot continue beyond 150% of the published length of the program as measured in credits attempted.
Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences Ph.D. in Education Ph.D. in Health Services Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration Ph.D. in Human Services	Graduate students in these Ph.D. KAM programs must successfully complete 67% of all courses attempted to include SBSF 7100 Research Forum credits (e.g., if 40 credits are attempted, the student must have successfully completed 27 credits). Students in Ph.D. KAM mixed-model programs must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Aid cannot continue beyond 32 quarters of enrollment.

*Minimum progress requirements for federal financial aid do not include academic residency requirements.

Financial Aid Probation

Students who do not meet these progress standards are placed on financial aid probation for two quarters/semesters. During this period, students are still considered to be making academic progress and remain eligible for financial assistance. Students who fail to meet the minimum progress requirements within the two quarters/semesters probation period become ineligible to receive additional Title IV student assistance until such time as the progress requirements are met. A change in academic program does not supersede the above statement.

Should a student become ineligible to receive financial aid but remain in compliance with the academic progress standards for continuance in the program, the student will not be withdrawn from the program. However, the student must arrange for alternative payment with the bursar by the appropriate tuition due date.

Right to Appeal

Occasionally, a student’s academic progress may be delayed by circumstances that are beyond the student’s control. In instances such as this, the student may appeal to the financial aid office no later than 10 days following the notification of financial aid denial.

If the appeal is accepted, the student must meet the requirements set forth by the written approval of the appeal. Students may not appeal the decision a second time.