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University of Wyoming

Keeping Your Financial Aid


To keep your financial aid each semester, there are different requirements for different programs.  Here’s the information you need to know so you can be sure you don’t unexpectedly lose your financial aid. If you have questions, please clarify your situation with a counselor in the scholarship area of the Office of Student Financial Aid.  It is your responsibility to understand the requirements for your specific awards.

 

UW Academic Scholarships

  • Most university scholarships require a minimum of a 2.50 cumulative UW GPA and full-time enrollment (12 or more credits per term for resident students and 12 or more main campus credits per tem for non-residents). 
  • If lost, students may submit a written appeal based on documented mitigating circumstances.  These appeals are considered on an individual basis.
  • While many scholarships may be awarded for one or two semesters of eligibility, many of the university’s major scholarship programs (Trustee’s Pride, President’s Promise, Peak Achievement, Hoyt, etc.) are limited to eight semesters for students receiving the award as an entering freshman and four semesters for students entering as a transfer student.

Federal Financial Aid Programs (Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work Study, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans

  • Eligibility for federal financial aid programs, called Satisfactory Academic Progress or SAP) are checked annually at end of each spring semester. A more in depth discussion of SAP requirements is available at: http://uwadmin.uwyo.edu/sfa/Specific_topics/SAP.asp
  • All students must meet the following requirements:
    • Must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA at UW (3.00 for graduate students).
    • Must complete and pass a minimum of 67% of coursework taken at UW
  • Undergraduate students must also meet the following requirement:
    • May not exceed 180 credits attempted in pursuit of a first undergraduate degree (220 credits are allowed for students seeking multiple majors/degrees).
      • Important - Transfer credits accepted by the university are included in the 180/220 hour limit.
  • Students not meeting the GPA and hours completed requirements after their first spring semester review are given a one-time two semester probationary period to resolve deficiencies.
  • After the probationary period, students continuing to not meet the requirements may appeal (form is available at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/sfa/Forms/ ) a SAP deficiency due to documented mitigating (out of the student’s control) circumstances.  However, approvals for continued eligibility are severely limited.
  • Students not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements will receive no federal financial aid until they make up their academic deficiencies.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)/SMART Grants

  • Students must continue to be a Federal Pell Grant recipient each year.
  • The Academic Competitiveness Grants are for the first two years of undergraduate enrollment only.
  • The National SMART Grants are for the third & fourth years of undergraduate enrollment only.
  • Students must maintain the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements listed in the previous section.
  • Students must maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA at UW.
  • Students must be enrolled full time (12 or more credits per term).
  • 1st year ACG recipients must have been enrolled in a ‘rigorous program of study’ in high school (varies by state).  Entering transfer students must have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on the coursework accepted for transfer to UW.
  • 2nd year ACG recipients must have 30-59 hours to qualify.  Entering transfer students must have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on the coursework accepted for transfer to UW.
  • SMART recipients must be enrolled in an eligible major to qualify (in general, majors are limited to math and science) that must be checked each semester.  See a financial aid counselor for more details.
  • SMART recipients must be enrolled in at least one course in their qualifying major each semester.
  • 1st year SMART recipients must have earned between 60-89 hours and have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average at UW. Entering transfer students must have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on the coursework accepted for transfer to UW.
  • 2nd year SMART recipients must have earned between 90-120 (or more depending on major requirements) and have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average.  Entering transfer students must have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on the coursework accepted for transfer to UW.
  • ACG/SMART recipients may only receive one award per grade level (1-29 hours, 30-59 hours, 60-89 hours and 90 or above hours).

Hathaway Scholarships (WY high school graduates only)

  • Remedial coursework (900 level courses) are excluded from FT/PT award status determination and from total credits earned review at end of each academic year.
  • Recipients must have continuous enrollment of two semesters per year (the summer session is excluded).
  • FT awardees (enrolled 12+ non-remedial credits per term) must complete and earn 24 non-remedial credits per academic year.
  • PT awardees (enrolled 6-11 non-remedial credits per term) must complete and earn 12 non-remedial credits per academic year.
  • Combination FT/PT (different each semester) must complete and earn 18 non-remedial credits per academic year.
  • Students enrolled for five or less hours per semester are not eligible.
  • The Hathaway program cumulative GPA is determined from all Hathaway eligible coursework taken at any Hathaway eligible institution.  Be aware that this may differ from your university grade point average.
  • Honors and Performance level recipients must achieve a 2.50+ cumulative Hathaway GPA (checked at end of each spring semester) to continue at that level for the next semester (generally the following fall semester).
  • Honors and Performance level recipients achieving between a 2.25 – 2.49 cumulative GPA slip to an Opportunity level award the following semester.  Should the student later achieve a 2.50+ cumulative GPA, they may then receive their original Honors or Performance level award the ensuing semester.
  • Opportunity level recipients must achieve a 2.25+ cumulative GPA (checked at the end of each spring semester) to continue at that level the next semester.
  • Students may appeal for reinstatement of their award for deficiencies in their grade point average, credit hour and/or continuous enrollment requirements if they can document mitigating circumstances (out of their control).
  • Eligibility is limited to the equivalent of eight full time semesters within a six year period upon receipt of a student’s first Hathaway award.  Appeals to this limit that are based on military service and religious service will be allowed for periods longer than the six year window of eligibility Also, students pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree have a ten year window of eligibility.
  • Summer Hathaway awards are available to eligible students who are enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours.  The receipt of a summer award counts toward the recipients eight semester limit.
  • Students that have not used their full eight semesters of eligibility as an undergrad may use their remaining eligibility for graduate study as long as the enrollment falls within their six year window of eligibility.