Standards of Academic Progress

Federal regulations require institutions of higher education to establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for recipients of financial aid. These standards must equal or exceed the academic standards for students not receiving financial aid. In keeping with these regulations, Claremont Lincoln University has established the following policy governing Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is cumulative and made up of both a qualitative component and quantitative component. Students must meet both aspects of the standard in order to maintain their eligibility during all periods of enrollment, even those for which the student did not receive or request financial assistance. The satisfactory academic progress policy is printed in the Claremont Lincoln University catalog. All students are urged to review this policy.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some scholarships have additional grade point average requirements that may be higher than those listed below. Review the catalog for the specific grade point average requirements for your scholarship or contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information.

Master's Degree Programs: Master of Arts

  • Qualitative Progress: All students must achieve a 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to meet the Qualitative Progress Standard requirement for financial aid. Students receiving aid are required to take at least 50 percent of their coursework for letter grade to prove that they are adequately meeting the Qualitative Standard. If students drop below the required 2.50 GPA, they will have one semester of grace in which to bring the GPA up to the required level. If students are unable to raise their GPA, they will lose their eligibility for financial aid.
  • Quantitative Progress: All students must complete their program of study within the maximum time frames established in the Claremont Lincoln University catalog.
  • Students Registered More Than Half-Time: In order to complete their program within the maximum time frame, students must complete a specific percentage of their coursework per year. For example, a student in the Master of Divinity program has a six-year maximum time frame in which to complete 90 units. Therefore a student enrolled more than half-time (7 units or more per semester) must complete 16.66 percent or 15 units per academic year to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Half-time Students: Students enrolled in 6 units per semester will meet the Quantitative Progress component if they meet the Qualitative component (2.50 GPA) and do not fail, withdraw or take incompletes. Students who enroll half-time (6 units per semester) or less may not be able to complete their degree program within the established time frames. However, any student who is making steady progress toward the completion of their degree program may petition the Academic Dean to extend the time limitation. Petitions will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Qualitative Progress: A student must achieve a 3.30 GPA to meet the Qualitative Progress standard requirement for financial aid. Doctor of Philosophy students must take 100 percent of their course work for letter grades. If students drop below the required 3.30 GPA, they will have one semester of grace in which to bring the GPA up to the required level. If students are unable to raise their GPA, they will lose their eligibility for financial aid.
  • Quantitative Progress: Doctor of Philosophy students must complete all coursework and advance to candidacy within four years. Once Ph.D. students complete all coursework requirements, they will be eligible to apply for financial aid for up to three additional years with the possibility of one additional year of eligibility after advancing to candidacy. Students who fail, withdraw or take incompletes will maintain eligibility for financial aid as long as they are meeting both the Qualitative (3.30 GPA) and Quantitative Standards (successfully advance to candidacy within five years).

Academic Progress Review

The Director of Financial Aid, in conjunction with the Registrar, will review the records of each student who applies for financial assistance at the time the student applies for assistance and before the disbursement of aid. Students will be notified in writing if they are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined in this policy, and will be placed on probationary status for one semester. If after the probationary period expires students are still unable to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, they will be ineligible to receive further financial assistance.

Ineligibility/Reinstatement of Aid

Students disqualified from financial aid but maintaining minimum academic standards for enrollment at Claremont Lincoln University may register for classes at their own expense. If students are not meeting the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will not receive further financial aid assistance (institutional, state or federal). When a student again meets both the Qualitative and Quantitative components of Satisfactory Academic Progress, her or his eligibility will be reinstated. Financial Aid will not be awarded retroactively. Students with extenuating circumstances may appeal their disqualification from financial aid and/or request earlier reinstatement to the Director of Financial Aid, who will make recommendations to the Dean.