GPA below 2.00

Academic Standing

The following system of academic progress became effective in fall 2022 and applies to all undergraduate degree and nondegree students at Mason.

Academic standing is based on both the cumulative GPA and the GPA at the end of an academic period. 

Academic Period

Academic period refers to fall semester, spring semester, or summer term when determining academic warning, probation, and suspension.

Academic Standing Categories

Students who plan to apply for financial aid should review the requirements for making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as found on the Financial Aid website, which differ from Academic Standing.

  • Good Academic Standing: Students are in good academic standing unless they are academically dismissed, suspended, or on probation. Students on academic warning are considered to be in good academic standing.
  • Warning: Students are on academic warning if any of the following conditions are met:
    • ​The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for their first academic period of enrollment at Mason.
    • The student has a GPA below 2.00 for the academic period and has a cumulative GPA at 2.00 or above.
    • The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for the academic period, has a cumulative GPA below 2.00 and has never received an academic warning.

​Notice of academic warning does not appear on the student's transcript.

  • Probation: Students are on academic probation if all of the following conditions are met:
    • The student has previously received an academic warning in any previous semester.
    • The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for the academic period.
    • The student has a cumulative GPA below 2.00.

Student will continue on probation and avoid suspension if their current academic period GPA is 2.00 or above, until their cumulative GPA reaches 2.00 or above.

Students returning from suspension are placed on academic probation.

See Section 5.2.4 for further details.

  • First Suspension: Students are on academic first suspension if all of the following conditions are met:
    • The student has not previously been on academic first suspension.
    • The student has been on academic probation in any previous academic period.
    • The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for an academic period.
    • The student has a cumulative GPA below 2.00.

See Section 5.2.5 for further details.

  • Second Suspension: Students are on academic second suspension if all of the following conditions are met:
    • The student has not previously been on academic second suspension.
    • The student has returned from an academic first suspension.
    • The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for the academic period.
    • The student has a cumulative GPA below 2.00.

See Section 5.2.5 for further details.

  • Academic Dismissal: Students are on academic dismissal if all of the following conditions have been met:
    • The student has returned from academic second suspension.
    • The student receives a GPA below 2.00 for the academic period.
    • The student has a cumulative GPA below 2.00.

See Section 5.2.6 for further details.

Academic Warning

Students on academic warning are still considered in good academic standing but they will be limited to a maximum of 13 credits until they achieve a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. Students registered for 14 or more credits under Warning are responsible for seeking academic advisement and adjusting their enrollment to a maximum of 13 credits.  Students on academic warning may participate fully in student activities unless that activity imposes stricter limits.

Academic Probation

Students on academic probation will be limited to a maximum of 13 credits until they achieve a cumulative 2.0 grade point average and earned at least a 2.00 semester GPA in the previous semester. Students registered for 14 or more credits under Probation are responsible for seeking academic advisement and adjusting their enrollment to a maximum of 13 credits. Only students in good academic standing are eligible to hold or run for elective or appointive office in any organization or activity associated with Mason, compete in any athletic or other activity representing Mason on either an intercollegiate or a club level, or serve as a working staff member of any student organization. 

Academic Suspension

Students in degree status who incur a first suspension following a spring semester or summer term serve a period of suspension through the next fall semester. Students who incur a first suspension following a fall semester serve a period of suspension through the next summer term. A second suspension is for one calendar year: two semesters and a summer term. Students returning from suspension are on probation for one academic period. Course credits earned at other colleges during the period of suspension from Mason (for academic or nonacademic reasons) are not accepted for the degree program.

Nondegree undergraduate students placed on suspension have no specified rights of return to the university. Nondegree students who have been suspended and wish to resume their studies after a period of absence must qualify for readmission through the Office of Admissions.

More information on suspension can be found on the left hand navigation bar on this page under "Suspended."

Academic Dismissal

A third suspension results in academic dismissal, a status that is usually permanent. In exceptional cases, students who have been dismissed may apply for readmission after a minimum absence of three calendar years from the university, but only if they meet one or more of the following conditions after having been dismissed:

  • Demonstrate academic success (2.50 GPA or better) in at least 18 credits of classes taken during the period of dismissal at an accredited two- or four-year college or university. Such credits may be considered for transfer back to Mason, but there is no guarantee of acceptance of the credit.
  • Provide other evidence of a renewed ability to achieve academic success.
  • Provide evidence that all degree requirements will be met once an additional 12 or fewer credits are complete.

Meeting the above requirements does not guarantee a return. The Office of Admissions and the appropriate school or college dean will make individual decisions in the best academic interests of the student and the university. For students seeking readmission to a new school or college, the new dean will make the decision in consultation with the former dean and the Office of Admissions.

Policies to Consider

Limits on Registration

The Faculty Senate of George Mason University passed a resolution that limits undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 to a maximum of 13 credit hours. All undergraduate students returning from suspension are also limited to a maximum of 13 credit hours. These limits on registration are strictly enforced.

Academic Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal Repeat Policy

For undergraduate classes not repeatable for credit, undergraduate degree students may repeat courses for which they seek a higher grade. A grade received in a repeated course will replace a grade in prior takings of the same course in the calculation of the cumulative GPA, even if the more recent grade is lower. Duplicate credit is not given. Repeat rules apply to taking the same course and courses designated in the catalog as equivalent. Repeat rules apply throughout a student's academic history. All instances of courses and their grades remain part of the student's transcript. No adjustment to the cumulative GPA will be made when the grade in the repeated course is W. A grade in a Mason course will not be excluded from the cumulative GPA based on a subsequent taking of an equivalent course at a transfer institution. The exclusion of earlier grades of repeated courses will not change the academic standing or dean's list notations for the earlier semester. Note that individual programs may disallow students from retaking certain high-demand courses simply for the purpose of improving their grade. Academic programs may restrict repeats of certain departmental or college courses in the major. Excessive repeats may result in termination from the major by a student's dean. Programs may also require departmental permission for students to repeat certain department, school, or college courses.