ASK A QUESTION OR SUBMIT FEEDBACK ON THIS POLICY
Effective Date: Fall 2026
Last Reviewed: Spring 2026
Last Revised: Fall 2019
Next Review: Spring 2031
Policy Statement
Students may repeat courses in accordance with university regulations; however, all attempts remain part of the academic record and may carry academic and financial implications. All course attempts and grades appear on the student academic transcript, including grades not calculated in the GPA through a course repeat. A student’s Kent State GPA will not be affected by repeating courses at another institution.
Students must register and pay tuition and any applicable fees when repeating a class. The university is not obligated to offer courses so that students can repeat them.
Students planning to repeat a course should consult with their advisor to identify appropriate academic support resources. Repeating courses may affect financial aid, scholarships or other assistance; students should consult the appropriate office prior to registration.
Courses taken at Kent State University may be repeated subject to the following provisions:
Undergraduate Courses
Students may repeat undergraduate courses (00000-40000 levels) no more than two times (a maximum of three attempts per course). The university will use only the highest grade and the credit hours associated with that highest grade in all attempts of the same course in the calculation of the overall undergraduate GPA, program GPA, credit hour totals and requirements for students’ program.
Additional conditions for the repeating of undergraduate courses:
- After the third attempt (second repeat), the student is restricted from registering for the course again.
- Withdrawal from a course is counted as an attempt.
- Courses designated as “repeatable for credit” (see section below) are exempt from the three-attempt limit.
- Recalculation of the student’s GPA occurs automatically at the end of the semester in which the student completes the repeated course.
- All grades for all attempts at a course are used in the GPA calculation for determining Latin honors (e.g., summa cum laude). These GPA calculations are independent of the overall GPA as it appears on the student transcript.
- All grades for all attempts may be counted for admission to or progression in specific programs, for admission to graduate programs or for admission to other institutions.
This policy is in effect for all undergraduate courses repeated in or after the fall 2019 semester.
Graduate Courses
Students may repeat graduate courses (50000-80000 levels) no more than one time (a maximum of two attempts per course). The university will use only the highest grade and the credit hours associated with that highest grade in all attempts of the same course in the calculation of the overall graduate GPA, credit hour totals and requirements for students’ program. Earned credit for a course applies only once toward meeting program requirements and credit hour totals.
Additional conditions for the repeating of graduate courses:
- After the second attempt (first repeat), the student is restricted from registering for the course again.
- Withdrawal from a course is counted as an attempt.
- Recalculation of the student’s GPA occurs automatically at the end of the semester in which the student completes the repeated course.
- All grades for all attempts may be counted for admission to or progression in specific programs, for admission to graduate programs or for admission to other institutions.
- Courses designated as “repeatable for credit” (see section below) are exempt from the two-attempt limit.
- Dismissal takes precedent over the repeat of a course.
This policy is in effect for all graduate courses repeated in or after the fall 2026 semester.
Repeatable-for-Credit Courses
Some undergraduate and graduate courses are identified as “repeatable for credit” in the course description. Typically, a repeatable-for-credit course offers a different instructional experience and learning outcomes each time students take the course (e.g., internship, special topics, applied music). For those courses, students earn credit for each successful attempt, and the university uses all grades (passed and failed) for all attempts in the calculation of the GPA.
Students repeating a repeatable-for-credit course should consult the University Catalog and their advisor because some academic programs have a limit on the total number of credit hours that may be applied for these types of courses.
Reason for Policy
Students may repeat courses to meet degree or certificate requirements or to improve academic performance. This policy establishes the conditions under which courses may be repeated and explains the academic, transcript and financial implications associated with repeating a course.
Procedures
There are no procedures associated with this policy.
Forms/Instructions
There are no forms associated with this policy.
Additional Resources
- Student Financial Aid: Aid Recalculation Due to Enrollment Activities
- Student Financial Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center
Frequently Asked Questions
- The policy indicates that I can only repeat the same course one or two times (depending on level of course). What counts as an attempt?
A course attempt is any Kent State course for which a grade (A-F, S/U) or mark is given and displayed on your transcript and GPS degree audit. Marks include withdrawal (W), credit/no credit (Y/Z), audit (AU), never attended–F (NF) and stopped attending–F (SF). Courses that you dropped before the 14th day of the semester (or earlier for short-term courses) — i.e., you did not receive a W mark — are not counted as an attempt. - Where can I find what is counted or not counted in my GPA for repeated courses?
All attempts of the same (or equivalent) Kent State course will have either the letter “I” (include) or “E” (exclude) next to the grade on your transcript and your GPS degree audit (both found in FlashLine). The “I” counts in your GPA; the “E” does not count in your GPA. In addition, courses with an “E” next to the grade are listed with 0 credit hours. - Do I have to fill out any paperwork to repeat a course?
No. If the course is eligible to be repeated, simply register for the course again. At the end of the term in which you are repeating the course, the course repeat will automatically occur once all grades are submitted in FlashFAST.
Definitions
GPA (Grade Point Average): An indication of a student's academic achievement at Kent State University, determined by the number of credit hours attempted at Kent State University and the grades received. The Kent State GPA is calculated to three places past the decimal point and not rounded.
Related Information
- Academic Standing – Graduate Student
- Academic Standing – Undergraduate Student
- Course Numbering System
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Grading Policies and Procedures
- Honors at Graduation
Revision History
Amended Fall 2026: Revised policy allows all repeated graduate courses (excluding repeatable-for-credit) to be eligible for GPA recalculation to exclude the lower grade from the GPA.
Amended Fall 2019: Revised policy allows all repeated undergraduate courses (excluding repeatable-for-credit) to be eligible for GPA recalculation to exclude the lower grade from the GPA.
Amended Fall 2015: Revised policy limits the number, to three, of overall attempts to an undergraduate course before a student can no longer register for that course. The student must then meet with meet with an advisor to decide next steps.
Amended Fall 2010: Revised policy clarifies that any student who has already received a bachelor’s degree from any college or university is ineligible to use a course repeat to remove a grade from the GPA.
Amended Fall 2008: Revised policy allows lower-division courses taken for an earned associate degree to be repeated for a GPA recalculation; but prohibits course repeats for GPA recalculation after conferral of the bachelor’s degree.
Amended Spring 2008: Revised policy counts only the highest grade earned in a repeated lower-division course in the GPA, subject to specific provisions.
Amended Fall 1987: Revised policy allows the grade in the second attempt of a passed undergraduate course (with approval) to count toward graduation.
Amended Fall 1980: Revised policy allows the grade in the second attempt of a passed undergraduate course (with approval) to count in the GPA, although the grade does not count toward graduation.
Amended Fall 1971: Revised policy limits the credit hours and grade in the second attempt of a passed undergraduate course (with approval) from counting toward graduation and in the GPA. Students may repeat courses that are identified as repeatable for credit.
Amended Fall 1970: Revised policy requires dean approval for students to repeat an undergraduate course in which the student already received a passing grade, and the credit hours and grade in the second attempt do not count toward graduation. All grades count in the GPA.
Effective Fall 1952: Establishes a formal course repeat policy that specifies that students are not eligible automatically to repeat an undergraduate course. However, under certain conditions and with dean and department head approval, only the grade in the second attempt may be used for the student’s scholastic standing.
Supersedes:
Rule for Recalculation of First-Year Grade Point Average (2008)
Freshman Rule for Recalculation of Grade Point Average (2004)