LMU recognizes the challenge of constantly increasing educational costs and thus offers a substantial program of financial aid to help students pay for their education. The University makes every effort to ensure that qualified students are not denied the opportunity to attend LMU due to limited financial resources.
Frequently, it is less expensive to attend a private college than a public university since institutionally funded financial aid is designed to equalize educational costs.
At LMU, more than $100 million is awarded annually to qualified students under federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Except for academic, athletic, and certain talent-based scholarships, all financial assistance at LMU is based on financial need. Need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending LMU and the calculated expected family contribution. After the student submits the necessary application forms, the Student Financial Services Office will determine the student’s eligibility for student financial assistance.
Each applicant applying for student financial assistance must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be submitted to the federal processing center by April 1 for students entering in the following Fall. The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is April 1.
The following policies and procedures relate specifically to Financial Aid requirements.
Financial Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress
The United States Department of Education requires all students who receive federal student financial assistance to make progress toward their declared degree. This measurement is called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). LMU is required to have policies that ensure students are making this progress by measuring both qualitatively and quantitatively. SAP will be reviewed at the end of each semester, including the summer.
A student whose academic performance drops below the minimum standards will be placed on financial aid warning. A student may retain financial aid while on warning for one semester but must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of that semester or be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
Students who fail to maintain SAP may not receive the following types of student financial assistance: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Tennessee Student Assistance Awards, Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships, Lincoln Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, other aid involving Title IV funds, and/or any other aid for which SAP is a requirement. These policies apply only to those eligible to receive financial aid.
Students enrolled in undergraduate programs must earn a minimum cumulative GPA to maintain financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). For graduate programs, please refer to specific graduate catalogs for GPA requirements.
Qualitative: (GPA)
| Hours Attempted Cumulative GPA | |
| 0-29 | 1.50 GPA |
| 30-45 | 1.75 GPA |
| 46-59 | 1.90 GPA |
| 60+ Hours | 2.00 GPA |
Quantitative: Hours Attempted vs Hours Earned (Completion Rate)
A student is considered to have made satisfactory academic progress provided he/she passes at least 67% of the cumulative credit hours attempted. For instance, a student who attempts 45 credit hours must complete at least 30 of those credit hours to make satisfactory academic progress.
Quantitative: Maximum Time Frame
No student will be eligible to receive financial aid for more than 150% of the published length of their declared program. This time is measured by credit hours attempted. For example, a student seeking a baccalaureate degree totaling 128 credit hours cannot receive aid for more than 192 attempted hours (128 x 150% = 192). Failing a class or withdrawing from a class, whether passing or failing, can affect SAP. SAP will be reviewed at the end of each semester.
SAP Notification
All Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress notifications will be sent in two ways: a letter will be sent to the student at the home address, and an e-mail notification will be sent to his/her LMU e-mail address. These notifications will be sent no later than four weeks after the end of the academic term reviewed.
SAP Appeals
Students who are on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal this decision by contacting Student Financial Services. The appeal must be made in writing and explain why the student failed to make SAP and what has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation. An approved appeal would typically contain an extenuating circumstance beyond your control along with supporting documentation.
Student Financial Services will review the appeal along with any additional recommendations from appropriate faculty or staff members to determine if the student will be able to meet SAP standards by the next evaluation. If the appeal is denied, the student may take classes at his/her own expense to try to regain SAP. If the appeal is approved, an academic plan will be developed to help the student meet SAP standards.
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
Quantitative-Maximum Time Frame
To regain eligibility, you must graduate and advance to a new academic level.
Quantitative: Hours Attempted vs. Hours Earned (Completion Rate)
To regain eligibility, take courses at your own expense in a subsequent term or terms and meet the standards according to the cumulative credit hours completion ratio outlined above under the heading Quantitative. Once you have taken the courses and earned passing grades, you will need to notify the Office of Financial Aid.
Qualitative: Maintaining Financial Aid Academic Progress (GPA)
To regain eligibility, complete courses at your own expense and raise your cumulative GPA to the acceptable standard. Once you have completed the course and raised your GPA, you will need to notify the Office of Financial Aid to evaluate the coursework taken to see if financial aid can be awarded.
Both qualitative and quantitative measures must be met before Financial Aid eligibility is regained.
Withdrawal from the University and Financial Aid
Any student withdrawing from the University and has received financial aid must make an appointment with the Student Financial Services office.