Federal regulations require the Office of Student Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of students receiving financial aid. Reasonable Academic Progress (RAP) is defined as the successful completion of coursework toward an eligible certificate or degree.

The Standards apply to undergraduate and graduate students who wish to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility. They apply to a student's entire academic record at The University of Iowa, whether or not financial aid was received for prior terms of enrollment.

For students enrolled in the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, and Law, and the eligible hospital certificate programs, academic progress is monitored by the individual colleges and programs.

The Registrar's records are reviewed at the end of the academic year and summer session to determine student compliance for the prior year with the RAP Standards. There are three components to the Standards:

1. Failure to meet the Minimum Grade-point Average;
2. Failure to meet Minimum Semester Hours requirements.
   Both will result in a probation status for the upcoming academic year with continued aid eligibility.
3. Exceeding the Duration of Eligibility; students who meet or exceed the duration of eligibility standard are not given a probationary term and become ineligible for financial aid consideration unless a Reasonable Academic Progress appeal is submitted and accepted by the appeal review committee. The RAP appeal forms are available via the links at left.

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   Minimum Grade-Point Average

   Undergraduate and graduate students must maintain the minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirement of their respective colleges.

   The minimum GPA required by each college is listed in The University of Iowa General Catalog. Questions regarding the grade-point requirement should be directed to the individual college. Some scholarships may require a higher GPA than the minimum required to remain in good standing.

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   Minimum Semester Hours

   Undergraduate and graduate students are required to earn the following number of semester hours per year (fall, spring, and summer terms combined).

   Classification     Hours Undergraduate 22 Graduate 12

   
   
   Students who enroll for only one term of the academic year are required to earn half the hours listed above.

   Courses successfully completed (grade of D or better, S or P) at The University of Iowa or at another institution that fulfill a degree requirement at the University count toward the minimum semester hour requirement. Courses that are not successfully completed (grades of F, N, U, W, O, and I) do not count towards the minimum semester hour requirement. Course completion requirements for graduate students are based on graduate level courses only.

   Some undergraduate aid programs may require enrollment of 12 hours.

   Duration of Eligibility

   Students are considered for financial aid for a limited time. Transfer hours and withdrawal semesters are included in the duration of eligibility.

   Eligibility for undergraduate students ends when the total semesters enrolled equals 12 or the total semester hours earned equals the limits outlined below. These limits are in accordance with the Federal regulation which allows aid eligibility for 150% of the intended degree program.

   College Hours Business 180 Liberal Arts 180 Engineering 192

   Nursing students are allowed five semesters of clinical rotation. Pharmacy students are reviewed in coordination with the Dean of the College of Pharmacy.

   Eligibility for master's level students ends when the total semesters enrolled equals 8 or the total semester hours earned equals the limits outlined below by specific graduate degree.

   Degree Hours Ed.S. 67 M.A., M.S. 50 M.Ac. 30 M.A.T. 67 M.C.S. 32 M.F.A. 64 M.N.H.P. 62 M.P.A.S. 92 M.P.H. 46 M.S.N. 52 M.B.A., M.H.A., M.S.W. 60

   Eligibility for doctoral level students (Au.D., D.M.A., D.N.P., D.P.T., Ph.D.) ends when the total semesters enrolled equals 16 or the total semester hours earned equals the limits outlined below.

   Degree     Hours Au.D. 95 D.M.A. 72 D.N.P. 78 D.P.T. 102 Ph.D. 103

   
   Students returning to earn additional degrees at the same level (second bachelor's degree) or to earn teacher certification must complete a Duration of Eligibility Appeal Form to establish financial aid eligibility. Students returning to earn a second master's degree should complete the Graduate Appeal Form.

   Students returning to earn only an additional major are not eligible for financial aid.

   RAP Probation

   Failure to meet the minimum grade-point average or semester hours requirement results in a probation status for the upcoming academic year with continued aid eligibility. Students must increase the GPA to good standing and/or earn sufficient hours to make up the deficit hours from the prior year in addition to the semester hours required for the academic year.

   Students who do not meet the requirements during their probation status will become ineligible for aid consideration. Students who comply with the probation requirements will remain eligible for financial aid.

   RAP Appeal Probation

   Students who submit a RAP appeal and it is accepted are given specific requirements during their probation status. Students must meet these requirements during the probation term(s) in order to remain eligible for financial aid. Students who do not meet the requirements during their probation term(s) will become ineligible for aid consideration.

   Regaining Eligibility

   Students have three options to regain financial aid eligibility.

   1. Earn the necessary GPA or semester hours to meet the minimum requirements while not receiving financial aid.

   2. Submit a RAP Appeal Form documenting individual circumstances. Appeal forms can be obtained in 208 Calvin Hall or by calling 335-1445 or via the links in the left column .

   There are separate appeal forms for undergraduate and graduate students. If appeals are approved, students are given specific probation requirements or the duration of eligibility is extended.

   3. Choose not to register for classes at The University of Iowa for at least one year and then return as a reenrollment student to the University.

   Withdrawal from the University

   Students who enroll for both semesters of an academic year but withdraw during one of the semesters must still fulfill the minimum semester hours requirement.

   Students who withdraw twice in an academic year are ineligible for financial aid. Students who withdraw during the RAP probation year are ineligible for financial aid.