Satisfactory Academic Progress

To receive financial aid under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA–College Work-Study, Perkins Loan, Stafford/SLS loans), a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the standards and practices of the institution in which the student is enrolled. A student who is not maintaining satisfactory progress, and whose inadequate progress is not judged to be attributable to mitigating circumstances, is ineligible to receive Title IV financial aid.

Degree candidates must complete all requirements for the degree with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 (B). Every course creditable toward the degree or certification must be taken for a letter grade. Students in certification programs are required to maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 (B). Every course creditable toward the certificate must be taken for a letter grade. Postbaccalaureate (non-certification) and Visiting students must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 (C).

Students must complete a minimum of 67% of their attempted credits. In order to calculate the percentage of completed credits, divide completed credits by attempted credits and multiply by 100.

Students must complete all requirements for degree programs and non-degree programs within the time prescribed by each program. Programs must be completed within the following timeframe:

If a student believes that an academic dismissal was the result of an administrative error or if the student can offer compelling reasons for reconsideration of his/her academic standing, the student may submit an appeal of this decision to the Senior Vice Dean and Chief Academic Officer. A student who has been dismissed must submit their request for an appeal within five (5) business days after the receipt of the dismissal notice. The student may submit the appeal via email to sps-studentaffairs [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (sps-studentaffairs[at]columbia[dot]edu). The written request must provide concrete reasons as to why the dismissal should be reversed; in particular, if there were significant extenuating circumstances of a temporary nature that contributed to the student’s poor academic performance, the student may present this information. Original documentation explaining or corroborating the student’s circumstances must be included with the written appeal. The Chief Academic Officer for SPS will consider the appeal to determine if a modification of the original decision is warranted. A member of the senior leadership team in the School of Professional Studies will notify the student of the final decision in writing upon review of their appeal. There are no further possibilities of appeal beyond the Chief Academic Officer. A student's university privileges remain in effect until the dismissal is final.