GPA Calculation and Repeats
Chattanooga State reports two GPAs: an institutional GPA (college-level courses only, used to determine graduation eligibility and honors) and a combined GPA (college-level plus learning-support courses, used to determine probation, suspension, financial aid, and athletic eligibility).
When a course is repeated, only the last grade counts toward the cumulative GPA — unless the course is repeated more than twice, in which case the third and all later attempts are all included in the GPA.
Transfer credits are not used to compute a student's GPA at Chattanooga State, though they are counted toward earned hours.
Academic Fresh Start is a one-time, irrevocable academic-forgiveness option that recalculates the GPA and credit hours toward graduation based only on courses completed after the student returns to the college.
Source: Academic Regulations – Calculation of GPA, Repeating a Course, Academic Fresh Start sections — verified Aug 2026
Academic Standing
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 is required to remain in good standing. A student who fails to attain a 2.0 GPA for the credit hours attempted in a semester is placed on academic probation for the following semester.
A student on academic probation who fails to reach a 2.0 GPA for that semester is suspended for a minimum of one semester (the summer semester does not count toward the suspension period). Suspended students may appeal for readmission under the college's readmission policies, and re-enrolling students are placed on post-suspension probation.
Grades of W, S, N, and AU are not used when calculating GPA for probation or suspension purposes.
Source: Academic Regulations – Academic Retention Standards, Academic Probation, Academic Suspension sections — verified Aug 2026
Graduation GPA Requirement
A minimum institutional cumulative GPA of 2.000 (all college-level work) is required for an associate degree or a Technical Certificate of Credit; the Associate of Science in Teaching degree requires 2.750. A double major requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher across all college-level work.
Students must submit an Intent to Graduate form for the term in which they will complete all requirements, and incomplete grades in required courses must be resolved before a degree or certificate is posted.
Source: Academic Regulations – Graduation Requirements, Double Majors sections — verified Aug 2026
Commencement Honors and Dean's List
Chattanooga State grants honors at commencement based on institutional GPA:
- Summa Cum Laude: 3.900–4.000 GPA (gold cord)
- Magna Cum Laude: 3.700–3.899 GPA (blue cord)
- Cum Laude: 3.500–3.699 GPA (orange cord)
Students completing 12 or more hours of college-level work with a GPA of 3.50 or higher make the Dean's List for that semester.
Source: Academic Regulations – Commencement Honors, Dean's List sections — verified Aug 2026
Transfer Credit and GPA
The college accepts transfer credit from other institutions; official transcripts are evaluated course-by-course. All grades transfer in, but a grade of "D" may or may not satisfy degree requirements or prerequisites depending on the program — a grade of "C" or better is required in all prerequisite courses and in program-directed/technical electives, Allied Health programs, the Associate of Science in Teaching, and Technical Certificates.
Transfer credits are not used in computing a student's Chattanooga State GPA, but they are counted toward earned hours. Credit from non-regionally-accredited institutions must be appealed individually by department or validated by departmental examination.
Source: Academic Regulations – Transcript Evaluations section — verified Aug 2026
