Personal Financial Planning

Undergraduate GPA Policy

The Texas Tech University School of Financial Planning upholds high academic expectations and is committed to supporting all students in fulfilling those expectations.  

Students studying personal financial planning (PFP) must earn and maintain a 2.80 or better cumulative GPA (on a 4.00 scale) at Texas Tech University to enroll in 3000-level and/or 4000-level personal financial planning (PFP) courses. This GPA requirement includes grade replacements.  

The purpose of this policy is to maintain the academic quality of the PFP program, ensure key student learning objectives have been met for progressive required courses, and as a signal of having achieved the appropriate level of content knowledge necessary for professional success in financial planning. The GPA policy of the School of Financial Planning is actively and strictly enforced. 

GPA Enforcement Process

Students under this GPA requirement as described above at the time of registration may not register for PFP 3000-level and/or 4000-level (upper level) courses for the following semester during the period of open registration. Simply being able to complete the enrollment process though the Texas Tech University registration system does not imply that a student is following this GPA Policy. 

Any student who has registered for an upper-level PFP course and is not in compliance with this GPA policy at the start of the term will be administratively unenrolled from the PFP course(s). This may occur immediately before the start of the term or after the start of the term and the student may not be directly notified when the action occurs. All students are expected to actively monitor their own enrollment status with the University and reach out to the Personal Financial Planning Undergraduate Program Director immediately with questions or concerns.  

The School of Financial Planning is not responsible for any financial, personal, professional, credentialling, or academic consequences of the unenrollment action and the student must make all appropriate arrangements to comply with this policy.

GPA Waiver Request Process

The School of Financial Planning recognizes that there are many reasons and situations which may have resulted in a student not meeting this GPA requirement. Documented extreme and unavoidable circumstances which have created an academic barrier might justify consideration of a one-semester waiver of this GPA policy.  

Students requesting a GPA waiver must submit the online GPA Waiver Request form (with required essay) with documentation supporting extenuating circumstances leading to unavoidable academic barriers prior to the start of the following term for review by the School of Financial Planning. This may be completed after end-of-semester grades have been posted by the TTU Registrar or prior if the student proactively recognizes a GPA issue will likely exist at that time. 

GPA Waiver Essay Requirements

“An original essay that explains any extenuating circumstances that contributed to your current academics and what steps you have taken, or will take, to ensure your future success.”

Students may also submit all required information and documents directly to the PFP Undergraduate Program Director. Students will be notified of the result of the waiver request through their official TTU email address. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the waiver review process which may also be lengthened by the University Academic Calendar schedule for academic breaks and campus closures.  

If a GPA waiver request is granted, the student will then be permitted to register for one semester of upper-level 3000 and 4000 level PFP classes. Course enrollment is not guaranteed and is dependent on course enrollment capacity and availability at that time.  

If at the completion of the one-semester GPA waiver the student is still not in compliance with this GPA policy, the student will not be eligible to register for additional PFP 3000 and 4000 upper-level courses. It is suggested that the student meet with their Academic Advisor at that point to discuss alternative academic programs. Additional information on the School of Financial Planning B.S. in Applied Personal Finance may be found at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/pfp/undergraduate/apf.php.  

In rare situations, a second semester GPA waiver may be requested and granted in extreme conditions where the student’s TTU cumulative GPA has not risen to the required threshold, yet notable academic achievement has been recently demonstrated by the student. Examples of displaying notable academic achievement may include earning a 3.00 or better GPA in the subsequent enrolled term, completing at least 12-credits (at least 9-credits in the summer term), and earning a grade of “B” or better in all School of Financial Planning courses.  

Only the Personal Financial Planning Undergraduate Program Director, Associate School Director, or School Director can approve GPA Waiver Requests. Academic Advisors are not permitted to approve GPA Waiver Requests or permit PFP course enrollment for students not meeting this GPA policy.

GPA Registration Request Form