Navigating GPA Requirements and Financial Aid at Assumption University

Assumption University, a Catholic liberal arts institution, emphasizes a holistic approach to admissions, considering various factors beyond just GPA. While there isn't a strict minimum GPA requirement for admission, understanding the academic profile of admitted students and the financial aid policies is crucial for prospective and current students.

Academic Profile of Admitted Students

Assumption University does not have a specific GPA requirement for admission. The middle 50% of admitted students to Assumption University have a high school GPA range of approximately 2.9 to 3.74 on a 4.0 scale. The average GPA at Assumption University is 3.56. This indicates that successful applicants typically have a solid academic record with a mix of A's and B's.

Factors Beyond GPA

GPA is just one factor considered in the admissions process. Assumption University also evaluates your standardized test scores (although they are test-optional), course rigor, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and essays. Even if your GPA falls below the middle 50% range, you can still have a competitive application by showcasing your strengths in other areas.

Assumption takes a holistic approach to their admissions process, which means they consider many factors in addition to your GPA, such as your coursework rigor, extracurricular activities, application essays, and letters of recommendation. So even if your GPA isn't as high as the average, showcasing strong involvement in other areas can help strengthen your application.

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT

Assumption University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. It is likely test flexible, typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them.

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Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Assumption University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement.

SAT Scores

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1090, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1238. Aim for a 1090 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Assumption University will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Assumption University forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore.

ACT Scores

The average ACT score at Assumption University is 26. The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 28. When you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT.

Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Financial aid is granted for one academic year only. Students are limited to eight undergraduate semesters of institutional (Assumption University) financial aid (summers sessions are excluded), unless otherwise approved by the Director. To continue receiving federal, state, and institutional aid at Assumption University, undergraduate students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward their academic objectives. Students who receive federal financial aid must, in accordance with federal regulations, be in good standing and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree. Under Federal Title IV law, the school’s SAP requirements must meet certain minimum requirements, and be at least as strict as the institution’s established standards for Good Academic Standing.

Components of SAP

To maintain eligibility for financial aid, students must meet specific criteria in three areas:

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Qualitative (GPA): A student must be in good academic standing to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Quantitative (Pace): A student must successfully complete at least 67% of all cumulative attempted credit hours in order to be eligible for all sources of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funding at Assumption University. Each academic year, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with the Office of Financial Aid, will evaluate all students’ academic progress by comparing the number of successfully completed courses with the number of courses attempted during the academic year. A student must demonstrate progress by accumulating academic credits at a rate that indicates graduation in a timely manner. A student who is not progressing towards graduation at the defined completion rate will not receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid regardless of GPA.
Quantitative (Maximum Timeframe): The maximum time frame for completing a program cannot be longer than 150% of the published length of the program or the required number of credits of the student’s degree program. For a full-time student pursuing a 4-year undergraduate degree, the student is allowed up to 6 years or 180 attempted credits of financial aid eligibility to earn the 120 credits required for degree completion. All semesters the student is enrolled will count towards the maximum time frame, even if the student did not receive aid for each of those semesters. If it becomes apparent that the student will be unable to meet SAP standards within the maximum time frame, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.

Review Process and Consequences of Not Meeting SAP

The Office of Financial Aid will review the Satisfactory Academic Progress of all undergraduate, day students at the end of each academic year (end of spring semester). If students take summer classes, the SAP policy will be conducted again at the end of the summer session. Students who fail to meet the required Financial Aid SAP standards will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and become ineligible for continued financial aid funding beginning with the term immediately following the term in which the SAP requirements were not met.

Appealing Financial Aid Suspension

Students not meeting Assumption University’s Financial Aid SAP requirements may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid for review by completing the Financial Aid SAP Appeal Form.

A Financial Aid SAP Appeal Form must be submitted by the student to the Office of Financial Aid for review. The appeal should explain in detail the reason(s) for not meeting the standards for academic progress, the step(s) the student plans to take to correct his/her academic progress, and list in detail any extenuating circumstance(s) of which we should be aware. A student’s appeal may be approved with the condition they follow an Academic Education Plan, standards of which will be set forth by the Director of Financial Aid.

Additional Financial Aid Information

Scholarship funds received from other sources other than Assumption University must be reported to the Assumption University Financial Aid Office. If your full financial need* was not met with financial aid funds, then in most cases, outside scholarship funding can go “on top” of your current financial aid package. All aid awarded is subject to verification of enrollment status. Changes in registration status may result in an adjustment or cancellation of financial aid awards. All undergraduate students must be enrolled full time in order to receive Assumption scholarships or grants. To qualify for certain federal assistance, students must be registered for six credits or more. Financial aid applicants can be selected by either the Department of Education or Assumption University to verify the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA form.

After aid eligibility is determined, students will be sent a financial aid award letter detailing aid available for the specified award year. We will assume that you accept the entire award package offered unless you specifically notify us that you wish to decline all or part of your award. We presume that financial aid recipients meet all tests of eligibility (listed below) established by the federal government and Assumption University. Students who are planning to study abroad must be approved through the Dean of Studies. Generally, the financial aid award does not change with participation in the internship program. Additional costs can include round-trip airfare, student visa fees (if applicable) and weekend travel. In nearly all instances your financial aid status remains the same, just as if you were living on campus.

If you withdraw or need to take a Leave of Absence from Assumption University, we recommend that you meet with the Dean of Studies to discuss your circumstances and complete the paperwork necessary to determine the end date of your enrollment. If you are receiving federal financial aid and withdraw or take a leave of absence from the University, any federal or state aid you are receiving is subject to recalculation to determine how much aid can be applied to your incurred charges and how much aid needs to be returned to the applicable Federal and State agencies. Title IV fund rules assume that a student earns his or her aid based on the period of time he or she remained enrolled for the term. Students are allowed to retain institutional (Assumption grants and scholarships, including academic scholarships) financial aid at the same rate that the credit to tuition (refund) policy is calculated.

If your family has experienced a change in circumstances (i.e. job loss, unexpected medical expenses) since you completed your applications for aid, we are willing to revisit your original need calculations and aid package taking the change in circumstances into consideration. Should you wish to receive such a review you will need to provide more than just a letter outlining the changes. Per Federal Regulations, there are two appeal processes that can be completed through the Office of Financial Aid: Special Circumstance and Unusual Circumstance.

Admission Requirements and Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Assumption University is 83%. Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average.

Application Essentials

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews.

Programs Offered

Assumption University offers a variety of programs designed to support professionals in various fields.

Resiliency in the Helping Professions Program

The Resiliency in the Helping Professions program is an 18-credit program designed to support professionals engaged in a wide variety of helping professions. Most of our students are educators including school counselors, teachers, and administrators; physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists and applied behavior analysts working with elementary and secondary education students. Students interested in earning a 30-credit C.A.G.S. to meet the requirements of some school districts are invited to apply to the C.A.G.S. in School Counseling Program (SCP). All the courses in the Resiliency in the Helping Professions program are available to students matriculating through the SCP C.A.G.S. Those students may also take courses electively from programs that include Special Ops: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), Transition Specialist C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement) and Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders C.A.G.S.

Program Details

Students can take our program part-time only. Our program can be completed in one year by taking two courses each semester, or over two years by taking one course at a time. With rolling admissions for this program, students may begin courses the semester of their choice. Furthermore, they can enroll in courses as a non-matriculating student to get a feel for whether this program is a good fit for them or to simply get started while they complete the application process.

Admission Requirements for Specific Programs

Federal Financial Aid is offered in the form of unsubsidized student loans. A 3.0 GPA is required. However along with the official transcript, all application materials are considered including three professional letters of recommendation, personal statement and resume. Typically applicants will be notified within a couple of weeks after application completion (including the submission of all materials).

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