Maximum Time-Frame / Mathematically Impossible

Students are expected to complete the requirements for a degree program within a reasonable time-frame. For this standard, the allowable time is based upon the number of hours each student attempts.

The maximum number of hours a student is allowed to attempt for a first bachelor degree program is 150% of the minimum number of hours required to graduate in a specific major. For example: If 120 hours of course work is required to complete the degree, then a student can attempt a maximum of 180 hours (120 X 150%). This includes all course work attempted at MSU, including credit courses, remedial/developmental courses, pass/fail courses, and all transfer work from other institutions that is accepted by MSU. Students who exceed the maximum allowable time-frame (hours) to complete their degree program are no longer eligible to receive financial aid.

Federal regulations also state that a student becomes ineligible for financial aid whenever it becomes mathematically impossible to complete degree program without exceeding the maximum time-frame/hours. Students in this scenario are no longer eligible for federal aid and are placed on financial aid suspension.

Hours remaining in Maximum Time-Frame Allowance
- Required Hours Remaining in Program to earn degree
= Negative Number: Student Ineligible for aid
Hours remaining in Maximum Time-Frame Allowance
- Required Hours Remaining in Program to earn degree
= Positive Number: Student Eligible for aid

Students who have changed majors or are pursuing a double major may reach their maximum time- frame/hours before their program of study is complete. All credits attempted are calculated in the SAP evaluation (quantitative, qualitative, and maximum time-frame).

Students who have had academic amnesty or academic forgiveness applied may also reach their maximum time-frame/hours before their program of study is complete. In calculating a student’s academic progress for federal aid eligibility, federal regulations prohibits schools from omitting attempted or earned grades from previously enrolled periods due to academic amnesty. All courses that have been attempted and completed (including transfer hours) will count towards overall hours and will be part of the SAP evaluation (both quantitative and qualitative components).

If at the time of the SAP evaluation, student is not meeting maximum time-frame/hours standards, s/he is no longer eligible to receive financial aid assistance. Students who lose student aid eligibility due to this standard can only regain eligibility for financial aid by submitting a successful SAP Appeal. Please refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process.

Additional information about maximum time-frame/hours for other degree programs is provided in our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at https://www.sfa.msstate.edu/policies/satisfactory-academic-progress/. Students can review their "overall hours" on their transcript via their myState account.