Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
In order to receive federal financial aid or other need-based aid, a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) must meet the minimum requirement as defined below:
Grade Point Average |
Hours Earned |
Minimum Required Cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) |
| Undergraduate | 0 – 30 | 1.8 |
| 31 – 60 | 1.9 | |
| 61+ | 2.0 | |
| Graduate/Advanced Degree | 3.0 |
Incremental Progress: Minimum Credit Hour Completion Rate
University of Mary Washington students must complete at least 70% of all hours attempted towards graduation. Repeated courses and courses with a grade of W, WA, F, I, G, UN or FA will count as attempted coursework and not as completed coursework. Students repeating a course, previously passed may do so only once. A course repeated more than once will not be included when determining enrollment status. All students must earn a minimum of 70.0% of the credit hours that they have attempted.
Example A:
The student below has earned 120 credit hours at UMW and has attempted a total of 123 credit hours. Divide 120 (earned credit hours) by 123 (attempted credit hours). This student’s credit hour completion rate is 98%.
| Attempt Hours | Passed Hours | Earned Hours | GPA Hours | Quality Points | GPA | |
| UMW: | 76.000 | 73.000 | 73.000 | 73.000 | 283.00 | 3.877 |
| Transfer: | 47.000 | 47.000 | 47.000 | 0.000 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| Degree: | 123.000 | 120.000 | 120.000 | 73.000 | 283.00 | 3.877 |
Example B:
The student has attempted a total of 48 credit hours during his entire attendance at UMW. In order to meet the minimum credit hour completion rate requirement and be eligible for financial aid for future semesters, the student must have earned 34 of those credit hours (48 x 0.70 = 34). In this case, the student has only earned 24 credit hours and is NOT meeting the minimum credit hour completion rate. (24 divided by 48 = 50%). This student is not eligible for financial aid.
| Attempt Hours | Passed Hours | Earned Hours | GPA Hours | Quality Points | GPA | |
| UMW: | 48.000 | 24.000 | 24.000 | 24.000 | 60.00 | 2.500 |
| Transfer: | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Degree: | 48.000 | 24.000 | 24.000 | 24.000 | 60.00 | 2.500 |
Earned Hours: A, B, C, D, PA or SA
Unearned Hours: F, I, W, WA, G, UN or FA
Withdrawals (W): Courses for which a student has withdrawn and a W is posted on their transcript, are counted as attempted but not earned credit hours.
Course Repeats: If a student repeats a course, both the original and the repeated courses will count toward the earned and attempted credit hours. Students may only receive federal financial aid for one repeat of a course that has been successfully completed with a grade of “D” or higher.
Incomplete Grades (I): Courses for which a student earns a grade of incomplete (I) are counted as attempted but not earned credit hours. Once a grade is received it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid by submitting an appeal.