Academic Warning FAQ

At Ball State University, students are required to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher. Students are placed on Academic Warning when their cumulative GPA drops below 2.0.  

Students may remain in classes while on Academic Warning. However, they are encouraged to meet regularly with their Academic Advisor and a Student Success Coach as well as utilize campus academic resources to achieve their academic goals.  

There is not an appeal process for Academic Warning. 

Students can remain on Academic Warning until their cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) reaches 2.0 or higher. Until that time, students must maintain a term GPA of: 

  • 2.0 or higher for students with 29 or less earned credit hours 

  • 2.1 or higher for students with 30 or more earned credit hours 

The University College Success Scholars program is designed to support students as they work to return to good academic standing. As part of the UCSS program, students are asked to do the following:

  • Meet with their primary academic advisor no less than 5 times throughout any semester that they are on academic warning.

  • In consultation with their academic advisor, create an academic success plan that includes specific steps and resources the student will agree to utilize during the semester

  • 2.0 or higher term GPA for students with 29 or less earned credit hours 

  • 2.1 or higher term GPA for students with 30 or more earned credit hours 

More specific questions can be answered by your academic advisor. 

Students will be invited to participate in UCSS by University College and should take advantage of the benefits that it provides. Students will be invited to meetings with their academic advisor and/or student success coach throughout any semester they are on academic warning.

Once a student earns a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 or higher, their Academic Standing will be changed from Warning to Good Standing.  

Please note that Academic Standing changes are only made one time a semester. If a student notices that their cumulative GPA has reached the required before the end of the semester (due to part of term grades), their standing will be updated at the end of the semester. 

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal for Financial Aid Eligibility process is separate from Academic Warning. However, it is imperative that you complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal form for Financial Aid and submit all required documentation to finaid@bsu.edu in order to have your Financial Aid eligibility reviewed.  

Students may remain in University Housing while on Academic Warning. 

If a student does not earn the required term Grade Point Average: 

  • 2.0 or higher for students with 29 or less earned credit hours 

  • 2.1 or higher for students with 30 or more earned credit hours 

They will be moved to Academic Separation at the end of the semester.

Yes. When students step away from the university their Grade Point Average (GPA) is frozen from the time they left. Upon their return, the student will start with the GPA they had when they left. 

Furthermore, when students transfer classes into Ball State from other colleges and universities, the credit hours transfer in, not the grade the student earned. Therefore, the student’s Ball State GPA is not affected by the transfer credits.