How Fairmont State Calculates Grade-Point Average
The value of a student's work is indicated by quality points. Quality points for grades A, B, C, and D are computed at four, three, two, and one quality point(s) per semester hour of credit, respectively. Grade averages are determined by dividing the number of quality points by the number of GPA hours. No quality points are attached to grades of F, but the GPA hours for courses in which an F is received are still used in computing the grade average.
Source: FSU 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Grading and Academic Progress — Grading System / Quality Points
Course Repeat Policy
Fairmont State enforces Series 22 of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission: if a student earns a "D" or "F" on a course taken prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree and repeats that course before receiving the degree, the original grade is disregarded and the repeat grade is used in the GPA (the original grade is not deleted from the transcript).
In upper-division courses, a student may formally repeat up to eight credit hours of a "C"; the "D"/"F" repeat privilege is capped at 21 credit hours total, including any upper-division "C" repeats. Written permission from the dean/department chair of the student's major is required.
Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension
A student is in Satisfactory Academic Standing when their cumulative Fairmont State GPA is 2.0 or higher, and Unsatisfactory Academic Standing when it falls below 2.0. A student whose term GPA falls below 2.0 is placed on Academic Warning (non-punitive; referral to academic support). Academic Probation is automatically applied when the cumulative Fairmont State GPA falls below 2.0, and removed once it returns to 2.0 or higher; a student on probation is limited to 15 semester hours.
Academic Suspension occurs when a student on probation's cumulative GPA falls below a minimum tied to attempted hours (16-29 hours: 1.45; 30-59 hours: 1.75; 60+ hours: 2.00). First suspension lasts one full semester plus summer terms; second suspension lasts one full year; third and subsequent suspensions last four full years.
Source: FSU 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Grading and Academic Progress — Academic Progress, Probation, and Suspension
Minimum GPA for Graduation
Candidates for degrees must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better in all college courses and in all credit earned at Fairmont State, with a 2.0 average also required in the major and minor fields of study. Students in the teacher education program must attain a 2.75 GPA overall, in each teaching field, and in professional education.
Source: FSU 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Grading and Academic Progress — Quality Points
Graduation with Honors
Candidates who achieve special distinction graduate with honors, determined by cumulative quality point average. For bachelor's degrees: cum laude (3.40-3.69), magna cum laude (3.70-3.84), summa cum laude (3.85 or better). For associate degrees: Honors (3.40-3.69), High Honors (3.70-3.84), Highest Honors (3.85 or better). Diploma honors are based on the entire academic record; Commencement-program honors are based on the record at the end of the semester prior to Commencement.
Source: FSU 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Undergraduate Degree Regulations — Graduation with Honors
Transfer Admission GPA Requirement
Applicants who have attended another collegiate institution are classified as transfer students and must provide evidence of good standing at the institution last attended, maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA. Under Series 17 (Policy Regarding the Transferability of Credits and Grades at the Undergraduate Level), students transferring between West Virginia state colleges/universities may transfer up to 35 credit hours of core coursework toward general studies requirements.
