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Understanding Repeat Coursework and Aid Eligibility
Repeat Coursework and Aid Eligibility FAQs
- A student may receive federal financial aid when repeating a course that was previously failed.
- A student may receive federal financial aid to repeat a previously passed course (with a D- or better, including CR grade) one additional time, whether or not a student received federal financial aid for an earlier enrollment of the course.
- Once a student has completed any course twice and earned a passing grade (with a D- or better, including CR grade) they are no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid for that course.
- If a student retakes a course that is no longer eligible for financial aid, the units are excluded from the total enrollment and the student’s financial aid will be adjusted to exclude these units.
- All repeated courses are counted as attempted units for Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Applicants.
For financial aid, any grade higher than an “F” is considered a passing grade or demonstrates that the student successfully completed the course.
NOTE: This is regardless of any university or major program policy requiring a higher grade or measure for academic purposes.
- Passing grades are: “A (+/-)”, “B (+/-)”, “C (+/-)”, “D (+/-)”, “CR” (Credit) or “Pass”
- Not passing grades are: “NC” (No Credit), “I,” “W,” “WU,” “WX," "F”
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships does not determine if a student may repeat a class, only if the student is eligible for federal financial aid for the repeated class(es). Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s academic repeat policy is different from the federal financial aid repeat regulations.
Academic Policies surrounding course repetition can be found in the and through the Office of the Registrar.
| Course Examples | 1st Class Attempt | 2nd Class Attempt |
3rd Class Attempt | Would 3rd Attempt be Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example 1 | F | D | Enrolled | Yes (student passed course one time, eligible for 3rd attempt). |
| Example 2 | D | C | Enrolled | No (student passed course twice, not eligible for 3rd attempt). |
| Example 3 | D | F | Enrolled | No (student passed course first attempt, on the second attempt they failed, no longer eligible for federal financial aid on 3rd attempt). |
| Example 4 | W | F | Enrolled | Yes (student has not yet passed course, the 3rd attempt is eligible for federal financial aid). |
| Example 5 | F | F | Enrolled | Yes (student has not yet passed course, the 3rd attempt is eligible for federal financial aid). |
Once a course can no longer be counted within your enrollment for federal financial aid purposes, the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will adjust your financial aid accordingly and will send you a notification email regarding the adjustment. This must be done regardless of the reason(s) you might be continuing to repeat the course:
- Even if you are required to retake a class to meet major/program GPA requirements.
- Even if you have a personal desire to receive an improved grade
We understand that this rule may seem unfriendly to the academic career of a student. However, the rule is part of the federal student aid regulations and there is no appeal process.
If you are repeating a course, you have the option to change your enrollment through the end of the Add period.
- Check with your department or Academic Advisor to see if there is a different class you can take.
- If you do repeat a course, and have exhausted your aid eligibility for that course, the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will adjust your financial aid accordingly and will send you a notification email regarding the adjustment
- Adjustments may result in the repayment of aid that was already released. You will be notified regarding repayment of aid, if any, owed due to repeated coursework.