Grade Forgiveness, Course Repeats, and Amnesty
Students may not repeat a course in which a grade of C or better (including a transferred-in C or better) was earned. A course may be repeated for grade forgiveness up to twice (three attempts total); the highest grade stands and cannot be forgiven on the third attempt. All grades from a third or later attempt count toward GPA. A fourth attempt requires an approved appeal and is charged full cost of instruction; a fifth attempt is never permitted.
Under the Academic Second Chance ('amnesty') policy, a qualifying prior F is recoded as AMN and excluded from GPA calculation on an approved petition — available to returning students after a 3-year break, to current students changing programs (up to three F grades), and automatically to new transfer students (Daytona State does not transfer in grades of F or W). This is a one-time, per-lifetime benefit and does not apply once a certificate or degree has already been earned.
Source: Course Repeats; Academic Second Chance Policy, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
Academic Standards of Progress
Graduation requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.0 Daytona State College GPA. Students who fall below 2.0 move through a sequence of standings: Academic Alert (first time cumulative GPA drops below 2.0) → Academic Warning (term and cumulative GPA both below 2.0 after an Alert semester) → Probation (still below 2.0 after a Warning semester; a registration hold is placed and the student must meet with an academic advisor) → Academic Suspension (still below 2.0 after a Probation semester; the student must sit out one full academic year, Fall and Spring, before appealing for reinstatement).
Students on Alert, Warning, Probation, or Suspension who earn a D, F, or W1 in an online course must complete a one-time Online Success Seminar before continuing fully online coursework.
Source: Academic Standards of Progress, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
GPA Requirements for Graduation
All degree and certificate seekers must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 Daytona State College GPA (some programs set a higher minimum, noted on the program guide). A grade of C or better is required in all General Education courses and program-specific prerequisites for an A.A. degree; program-specific courses require a C or better for A.S. and Bachelor's degrees, while elective courses may be completed with a D or better. Vocational certificate students must earn a 2.0 GPA in their program-specific classes.
Source: Graduation Requirements and Procedures, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
Academic Honors
President's List: 3.8-4.0 semester GPA on at least 6 semester hours. Dean's List: 3.5-3.79 semester GPA on at least 6 semester hours (college prep/developmental courses excluded from both).
Graduation honors by combined cumulative GPA — non-baccalaureate: Honors 3.5-3.79, High Honors 3.8-4.0. Baccalaureate: Cum Laude 3.5-3.74, Magna Cum Laude 3.75-3.89, Summa Cum Laude 3.9-4.0.
Source: Recognition of Academic Excellence, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
Transfer Credit and Prior Degrees
An Associate of Arts degree from a Florida-recognized accreditor, or a Bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S.-recognized accreditor, satisfies Daytona State's General Education requirements for degree programs and exempts the student from college placement tests (specific major prerequisites may still apply). Associate of Arts-seeking students must declare an intended Bachelor's transfer major and institution by 30 earned credit hours; an advising hold is placed at 15 credit hours if not yet declared. Students who transfer out of DSC with more than 30 AA-program credit hours may opt into Reverse Transfer to have missing requirements completed at a Florida State University System institution and the AA degree awarded by DSC.
Source: Graduation Requirements and Procedures; Transfer Information, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grading scheme does Daytona State College use?
Where does this Daytona State College grade scale come from?
What are Daytona State College's GPA rules?
Source: Course Repeats; Academic Second Chance Policy, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
What are Daytona State College's academic standing rules?
Source: Academic Standards of Progress, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
What does Daytona State College require to graduate?
Source: Graduation Requirements and Procedures, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
How are honors and awards decided at Daytona State College?
Source: Recognition of Academic Excellence, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026
How does Daytona State College treat transfer credit?
Source: Graduation Requirements and Procedures; Transfer Information, 2026-2027 College Catalog — verified Aug 2026