Academic Eligibility

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What is Academic Eligibility?

Academic eligibility, or academic standing, is a designation given to each student at the end of the semester based on meeting (or not meeting) four different criteria set by the University. Academic eligibility determines “Satisfactory Academic Progress,” or SAP. If at the end of a semester there are one or more SAP criteria you are short of meeting, you will shift out of Good Academic Standing.

What are the four academic eligibility criteria?

GPA

You need to earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain good standing.

Completion Ratio

Completion ratios are made up of how many classes you’ve attempted to take versus how many you’ve successfully finished. All classes you enroll in and stay enrolled in past Census count towards attempted classes. Only classes in which you earn a passing grade count as completed. That means any course you drop past Census or fail will count towards your attempted hours. Divide your completed hours by attempted hours to calculate your completion ratio. You need to maintain at least a 66% or .667. Please note that By-Exam (BE) and Transfer (TR) credit count towards your attempted and completed credit hours.

Minimum Number of Completed Hours per Term in Residence

There is a standard set by the university to make sure you’re on pace to finish your degree on time. That metric is a threshold of completed credit hours per Terms in Residence. For example, after finishing a 4^th Term in Residence, you need to have at least 51 completed credit hours to stay in Good Standing. You can review the complete chart below:

After 1 full-time semester ≥ 9 academic hours
After 2 full-time semesters ≥ 24 academic hours
After 3 full-time semesters ≥ 36 academic hours
After 4 full-time semesters ≥ 51 academic hours
After 5 full-time semesters ≥ 63 academic hours
After 6 full-time semesters ≥ 78 academic hours
After 7 full-time semesters ≥ 93 academic hours

Transfer students who transfer in the UNC-Chapel Hill equivalent of two or more semesters (see “Calculation of Transferred Semesters Based on the Number of Transfer Hours”) may enroll in up to 10 total semesters. Students who enter as first years are required to apply for a ninth or tenth semester. For information about the application process, students in professional schools must contact their professional school dean, and students in College of Arts and Sciences must contact the Academic Advising Program.

*Part-time students are excluded from this standard.

Completing Degree Within 150% of Length of Academic Program

All degree programs are designed to be finished in under 130 credit hours, but most often 120 credit hours is the standard we use. 150% of 120 hours is 180 hours. Your attempted hours should remain at 180 or below when finishing your degree to maintain Good Standing.

Helpful Terms for Understanding Eligibility

Census: The 10^th day of classes in the fall or spring semester; 3^rd day of classes for Maymester, Summer I or Summer II terms.

Cumulative GPA: The average of all grades you’ve earned thus far in your time at UNC.

Term in Residence: Any semester you take 9 or more credit hours.

It’s important to keep in mind that SAP requirements from the University can differ from the SAP requirements for financial aid. You may be able to enroll in classes but not receive financial aid, or vice versa. Please reach out to the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid if you have questions about your financial aid eligibility.

My Academic Standing is…

Good Standing

You have met all four SAP standards and are free to enroll in courses.

Warning

This means you ended a term without meeting one or more SAP standards. You can still enroll in classes without disruption, but you’ll need to meet with your academic advisor to discuss how to return to Good Standing.

Suspension

If you enter a term in Warning and are unable to return to Good Standing by the end of that term, your academic standing will change to Suspension. You will be unable to enroll in classes unless you are approved for Probation. If your Probation Appeal is approved, you will be able to enroll in classes. Or, you may choose to take some time off from UNC and return later, completing your Probation Appeal upon return.

Probation

This means you have successfully appealed your Suspension and been granted the ability to enroll in coursework. You will still be required to meet with an advisor to discuss your plans for how to return to Good Standing. What does the Probation Appeal process entail? Review Probation Appeals for more information.