Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, as specified below, to be eligible for renewal of federal financial aid and credit-based loan certification. At the end of each payment period or semester, a review of student’s SAP is conducted. A student’s failure to meet SAP standards may result in loss of federal or private financial aid eligibility.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
- Questrom Graduate students must maintain a 2.7 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
- Questrom PhD students must maintain a 3.3 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
- Students must complete at least 75% of all cumulative attempted credit hours in order to be eligible for federal financial aid
- Merit award recipients must meet the merit award renewal criteria established for the particular scholarship(s) they are receiving
- For program specific information pertaining to academic progress please refer to your Program Handbooks
Financial Aid Warning
A student who fails to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will be automatically placed on Federal Financial Aid Warning for the next registered semester or payment period.
- At the end of the each semester, warning letters are sent by Questrom Graduate Financial Aid to each student reminding them that they must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement by the end of the next semester or they will not be eligible for federal financial in future semesters
- The Faculty Program Development Committee (PDC) will review and decide who is placed on academic probation/dismissal
Appeal Process
Students who are denied Boston University, federal and/or state aid, or certification of a private loan because their academic performance falls short of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, are welcome to appeal the decision to Questrom Graduate Financial Assistance. A student has the right to appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility due to extenuating circumstances that occurred during the preceding payment period/semester.
Electronic notification detailing the appeal process for mitigating circumstances will be sent to the student’s Boston University email address.
Students must submit their Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, supporting documentation and an advisor approved academic plan by the deadline of the last day to drop a course (without a W) for that term. Appeals received after the deadline can be automatically denied.
Additional Information
- A student must be registered for courses during the term for which they are submitting the appeal. Appeals will not be considered for students who have dropped courses or withdrawn
- A student is responsible for all tuition and fee charges at the time the balance is due, even if they are planning to appeal or are waiting for a response from Questrom Graduate Financial Assistance
- The decision of the Faculty Program Development Committee (PDC) is final, and students will receive an electronic communication to their university email address regarding the decision
- A student whose appeal has been approved, will receive federal financial aid consideration for the current term – at the end of the probationary term, the student’s academic progress will be reviewed again to determine financial aid eligibility for the following semester
- A student whose appeal has been denied is not eligible for financial aid until they meet satisfactory academic progress standards – the student may continue to enroll in courses, but is responsible for all University charges
- Questrom Graduate Financial Assistance does not make academic decisions – if circumstances warrant, we will request the cooperation and assistance of your Academic Dean

Rafik B. Hariri Building
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
MBA CENTER
For Residential MBA Students:
CONTACT
mbacenter@bu.edu
617.353.7800
OFFICE HOURS
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Fridays:
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Friday:
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For OMBA students needing support, please contact ombasuccess@bu.edu
SPECIALTY MS & PhD CENTER
For students in the MSBA, MSMFT, MiM & PhD programs:
CONTACT
qstmsphd@bu.edu
617.353.7800
OFFICE HOURS
M-F 9am – 5pm
HAR 416
@questromgrad

