Colleges That Accept Academically Dismissed Students [2024 Guide]

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If you’ve continually struggled with your grades in college, then you might be on the search for colleges that accept academically dismissed students.

Colleges That Accept Academically Dismissed Students

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This probably wasn’t the vision you had in mind when you began your college career, but academic dismissal does not have to be the end of your college journey.

By enrolling in a college that accepts students with low grades, you may begin pursuing your degree again.

What Is Academic Dismissal?

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Colleges want students to succeed in their studies. If you’re struggling to achieve passing grades, you may end up on the road to academic dismissal.

Academic dismissal is when the school tells you that you will not be able to continue your studies there. Your standing as a student will be revoked, and you won’t be allowed to enroll in any more courses.

Getting dismissed from college doesn’t usually happen after failing just one course or having one rough semester. It’s typically the result of a repeated pattern of poor grades for one semester after another.

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Before reaching academic dismissal, you may go through a series of disciplinary stages meant to help you turn things around. These may include:

  • Academic Warning. When your GPA falls below a set level for a single semester, the school may issue an academic warning to alert you that changes are necessary. With assistance from your academic advisor, you may be able to get tutoring services through the school.
  • Academic Probation. When your overall GPA is below acceptable standards, the college may move you to probationary status. In that case, you might be given 1 to 3 semesters to either bring your grades up or risk suspension or dismissal.
  • Academic Suspension. If low grades have become a pattern for you, the college may decide that you need to take one or more semesters off to reevaluate your place at the school. After your suspension period is up, you can reapply and, if accepted, return for a probationary period.
  • Academic Dismissal. As a last resort, the school might dismiss you entirely. This is typically a final move, so you may not be able to return to this college again.

Each college sets its own process for academic discipline, so yours may not follow these steps exactly. The GPA thresholds for each step also vary among schools and may depend on how long you’ve been enrolled.

For specifics on your school’s academic policies, you may consult your student handbook or ask your academic advisor.

What to Do If You’ve Been Academically Dismissed

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Being told that you can’t return to college might feel like an overwhelming blow. You might find yourself questioning, “how long does academic dismissal last?” You might wonder how you can come back from that, but don’t give up hope! You do have options after being academically dismissed.

Your options include:

  • Appealing the decision. If you believe extenuating circumstances contributed to your low academic performance, you may want to file an appeal. The school might reverse its decision if you can demonstrate that those circumstances are no longer an issue.
  • Reapplying after the time prescribed. Your college may allow you an opportunity to reapply for admission at some point. Most will ask you to sit out for at least one full semester before pursuing readmittance. During that time, you may decide to take a break from school or pick up some classes at a community college.
  • Choosing a new college. At a new school, you may benefit from changes like smaller class sizes or a more flexible schedule, or you might simply appreciate the opportunity for a clean slate.

Whichever option you choose to pursue, you may want to consider this situation as a personal learning and growing experience. It may help to evaluate what went wrong with your college experience so you can come up with some new plans of action for next time.

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Having some time off or getting a fresh start may be just what you need to turn your college journey around.

Is It Possible to Appeal an Academic Dismissal?

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Yes, you may be able to present a case to the school about why you should be allowed to stay enrolled. There are usually specific criteria that must be met as well as a set process that you’ll need to follow.

Understand the appeals criteria.

Your school may only allow appeals from students who have experienced an extenuating circumstance during their time in college. Examples include the death of a close loved one, a sudden health emergency, or a serious mental health crisis.

Formulate your defense.

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In addition to explaining the circumstances that have led to your academic struggles, you may also need to tell the decision committee why or how you’ll be able to improve your academic performance from here on out. Choosing a humble, honest, and respectful approach often makes the best impression.

State your case.

For some colleges, writing an academic dismissal appeal letter is the preferred process. Other schools may let you make your appeal in-person, and an eloquent presentation might help to persuade the committee members.

Wait for the school’s decision.

Finally, you’ll need to wait for the decision committee to respond to you in writing. You may want to keep in mind that getting the decision reversed is far from a sure thing. Even if you feel you’ve made a strong case for yourself, the college may have a different perspective.

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Before deciding to go the appeals route, you may want to ensure that you’re mentally prepared to accept the school’s response, whatever it may be. The committee’s decision will be final.

Applying to College After Academic Dismissal

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When applying to college after academic dismissal, you may find that some schools are more accepting of students with academic troubles than others.

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Here’s how to apply to college after academic dismissal:

  1. Determine whether to take some time off first.
  2. Select the right school.
  3. Be honest about your academic history.
  4. Be willing to explain how you plan to improve this time.
  5. Speak to the financial aid office about your eligibility for assistance.

Going to community college after dropping out of college may be a good option for restarting your college career. Community colleges often have more lenient acceptance policies than other universities. At a community college, you might also benefit from smaller classes, hands-on experiences, and tutoring programs.

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Most colleges will want to view transcripts for any classes that you’ve taken in the past. Since they will end up with a record of your poor performance, there’s no sense trying to hide it.

It may be best to own up to the issue and talk about how you plan to improve at this new school. You may be admitted on a probationary basis until you start producing better grades. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of tutoring and other support services.

Finding success at your new college may be only the beginning. No matter what age you are, like going back to school at 25, once you have a better track record in place, you might be ready to transfer back to your original school or apply to a different 4 year program.

What’s the Difference Between Academic Suspension vs. Academic Dismissal?

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Academic suspension means that you’ve been asked to leave the college for a period of time. This is usually a minimum of one full semester, but some colleges require a year or longer.

After the end of your suspension period, you will have the opportunity to reapply to your college. The school may choose to readmit you, but it will probably be on a probationary basis. Academic dismissal is often a more final decision. You may not be allowed to reapply.

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It’s worth noting that different schools use different terms. Some colleges use the term “academic dismissal” for both suspension periods and the final dismissal.

What Happens If You Are Academically Dismissed from College?

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Academic dismissal is a disciplinary action made in response to a repeated history of poor academic performance. You’ll be asked not to return to school, and you’ll lose your financial aid.

After being academically dismissed, you may have a few different options. You could take some time off from studies to work or regroup. You could apply to a different school, such as a community college, and strive to bring your grades up. You may also decide to appeal the academic dismissal decision with your college.

Depending on your school’s criteria and procedures, you might be allowed to reapply after a set period of time.

Can You Go to Another College If You Are on Academic Suspension?

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You can attend another college while you’re on academic suspension, but admissions requirements vary depending on the school. Colleges have different policies about admitting students with a poor academic history.

A community college may be the most likely to enroll academically suspended students. Keep in mind that you might be on academic probation for a while, and your previous coursework could factor into your overall GPA.

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At a new school with a fresh start, you might have the chance to build your confidence and bring up your grades. This may work in your favor if you decide to reapply to your first university.

Can You Get Financial Aid After Being Academically Dismissed?

Get Financial Aid After Being Academically Dismissed

If your school determines that you aren’t making satisfactory academic process, you may become ineligible for student assistance. Once you are academically dismissed, you will no longer retain your financial aid.

There may be hope for your financial aid to be reinstated in the future. For example, if you successfully appeal an academic dismissal, you may get your funding back.

Enrolling elsewhere could be another way to access funding. You may need to speak to the financial aid department at your new school to learn about your eligibility. Your past grades may factor into the decision.

How Do I Get Back into College After Being Academically Dismissed?

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Reapplying to college after academic dismissal may allow you to start working toward a degree once again. One option is to try attending a different school. You may consider applying to a community college since those schools often have liberal admissions policies.

During the application process, it’s beneficial to be upfront about your academic history, to provide transcripts, and to work with the new school to make a plan for moving forward. You may be allowed to reapply to your first school. If so, there is often a waiting period of one or more semesters before you’re allowed to apply for readmittance.

Next Steps

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Academic dismissal doesn’t mean the end of your college career. You still have options moving forward.

Depending on the circumstances that led to your dismissal, you may appeal the decision and explain your case to your school. If you’re given the option, you may also wait and reapply to your school after a designated time. There are also colleges that accept academically dismissed students.

Since you’ve already begun your higher educational journey, you may now have a better idea of what you want from a school. Different factors may include smaller class sizes or a more flexible schedule.

If the idea of a new school and a fresh start sounds appealing to you, you may consider applying to a college or community college that better fits your individual needs and helps you get back on track to your degree.

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Jordan Meeks
WRITTEN BY
Jordan is pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and earned her Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management and her Bachelor's in Business Administration. Jordan's research focuses on adults returning to college and online degree programs.