APU Student Handbook
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Last Revision: January 30, 2024

Course Attempt Limits for Graduation Eligibility

In order to be eligible for graduation at the end of your program, you must have successfully completed all course requirements within a 150% of your allotted course attempts. This includes any courses you took prior to changing your major, even if those courses did not apply to your current major.

Unsuccessful course attempts include:

  • Courses from which you withdraw (grade is W).
  • Any courses that you fail (grade F).

Based on the above:

  • Associate programs (60 semester hours) – only permitted 10 W’s and F’s combined.
  • Bachelors programs (120 semester hours) – only permitted 20 W’s and F’s combined.
  • Certificate programs (18 semester hours) – only permitted 3 W’s and F’s combined.

*Calculations based on the total required semester hours and are adjusted for those programs that are different than the total semester hours listed above.

For students who were admitted on or before April 1, 2022:

  • Students not currently in violation of the updated policy will be granted additional attempts:
    • Associate’s degrees: 5 additional attempts
    • Bachelor’s degrees: 10 additional attempts
    • Certificates: 3 additional attempts
  • Students at the updated limit or currently in violation of the updated policy will be granted 3 additional unsuccessful attempts
    • If the student has already been granted a specific number of additional credits or attempts through an appeal, the appeal approval will supersede this policy

If you meet the unsuccessful course attempt limits, you will be placed on academic suspension pending your academic dismissal. You will have 30 days to appeal your pending academic dismissal in writing before it is processed.