Continued registration in an AM or PhD program and eligibility for financial aid depends upon the indication by the faculty that the student is making satisfactory academic progress.

Standards for satisfactory academic progress are available from the individual academic department. In addition, a description is also provided in the GSAS Handbook.

All GSAS PhD students are eligible to apply for need-based tuition grants through completion of the Reduced Tuition requirement (generally the first four years of graduate study). Thereafter, financial aid policies vary by department (see department funding limits). Students should determine whether their department has such a policy and aim to complete degree requirements within the specified period. When a student reaches the funding limit or fulfillment of their original agreement of support, a Financial Aid Application from this office will no longer be issued in the fall, and the student will no longer be eligible for departmental support. However, students remain eligible to apply for Title IV funds (Federal Perkins Loans, Ford Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study) and HELP loan funds provided that satisfactory academic progress is confirmed annually by the department.