What happens if I don't meet the minimum GPA for my scholarship?

From the college's FAQ: you are placed on scholarship probation for one semester while keeping the full award; if your GPA still hasn't reached the minimum after that semester, your scholarship 'will be reduced down to the next level award for the following semester.' You can appeal any adjustment in writing to the Office of Financial Aid.

How long are scholarships renewable?

Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (fall/spring) of full-time undergraduate enrollment; fifth-year students remain eligible only for federal aid they qualify for.

Franklin College· Renewal Rules

Keeping Franklin College’s Merit Aid for Four Years

What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 5 of 5
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 5
Renewal risk profile: low

Renewal risk profile

Franklin College's published renewal rules cluster around a 3.0 floor with no major-GPA gating, which is survivable for the typical freshman with steady study habits. The risk is non-renewal due to enrollment status (dropping below full-time), not GPA.

Academic Scholarships: Full-time enrollment
Ben Franklin Scholars: See notes
The National Pulliam Journalism Scholarship: See notes
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship: See notes
21st Century Scholars — up to full tuition and room and board (Franklin combination award): Full-time enrollment

Renewal terms by tier

Academic Scholarships
Up to $23,000 per year
Entry requirements: Awarded based on the student's GPA; specific GPA-to-amount levels not published GPA · Optional (SAT code 1228) SAT · Optional (ACT code 1194) ACT
To keep it: Renewable for all four years; all Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (fall/spring) of full-time undergraduate enrollment. Reviewed each semester; falling below the minimum GPA triggers one semester of scholarship probation, then reduction to the next level award.
Source: https://franklincollege.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-financial-aid/
Ben Franklin Scholars
Up to full tuition
Entry requirements: 3.9 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) at the time of admission GPA
To keep it: Per the college's Jan. 2026 news release, every Scholars Day attendee left with a renewable award; standard eight-semester maximum applies to all Franklin College scholarships.
Source: https://franklincollege.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-financial-aid/
The National Pulliam Journalism Scholarship
Full tuition
Entry requirements: Minimum 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) GPA
To keep it: Renewal terms not stated on the page; all Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters.
Source: https://franklincollege.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-financial-aid/
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship
Full tuition and fees, plus a book stipend
To keep it: Renewable for all four years.
Source: https://franklincollege.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-financial-aid/
21st Century Scholars — up to full tuition and room and board (Franklin combination award)
Up to full tuition and room and board (via combined aid sources)
Entry requirements: 3.0 cumulative GPA GPA
To keep it: 21st Century Scholars must file the FAFSA by April 15 each year, complete 30 credits per academic year, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, and be full-time (at least 12 credits per semester).
Source: https://franklincollege.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-financial-aid/

How families lose this aid

Missing the November 1 complete-application date and losing the shot at Ben Franklin Scholars Day.
To compete for the college's largest awards (up to full tuition), a 3.9+ GPA student's complete application for admission — including all required documents — must be received by November 1st. The event is invitation-only for admitted students.
Letting your GPA slip below your scholarship's minimum and assuming the award is safe.
Eligibility is reviewed at the end of every semester. If you miss the minimum GPA you get one semester of probation at the full amount; if you still haven't reached the minimum after that semester, 'your scholarship will be reduced down to the next level award for the following semester.' The exact GPA minimums per scholarship level are not published — ask for yours in writing.
Counting on institutional scholarships for a fifth year.
Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (fall/spring), and the FAQ confirms 'All Franklin College scholarships and endowments are restricted to eight semesters.'
21st Century Scholars assuming the 'full tuition and room and board' package is guaranteed all-gift aid.
Franklin offers this to 'a limited number of Pell Grant eligible 21st Century Scholars with a 3.0 cumulative GPA,' and the combination 'may include federal student loans and work-study awards.' Scholars must also re-file the FAFSA by April 15 every year and complete 30 credits per year to keep state eligibility.

Renewal questions families ask

What happens if I don't meet the minimum GPA for my scholarship?: From the college's FAQ: you are placed on scholarship probation for one semester while keeping the full award; if your GPA still hasn't reached the minimum after that semester, your scholarship 'will be reduced down to the next level award for the following semester.' You can appeal any adjustment in writing to the Office of Financial Aid.
How long are scholarships renewable?: Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (fall/spring) of full-time undergraduate enrollment; fifth-year students remain eligible only for federal aid they qualify for.

Rules that bite at Franklin College

The renewal trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook, derived from Franklin College's own tier rules and not generic advice.

renewalAcademic Scholarships: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Renewable for all four years; all Franklin College scholarships and grants are renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (fall/spring) of full-time undergraduate enrollment. Reviewed each semester; falling below the minimum GPA triggers one semester of scholarship probation, then reduction to the next level award. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

How Franklin College compares across our verified dataset

669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Franklin College is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every renewal claim is checked against Franklin College’s own published materials.