This page provides detailed examples of each component of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy as well as the evaluation process. It is intended to demonstrate the relationship between a student’s academic performance, his or her satisfactory academic progress status, and financial aid eligibility. We encourage you to become familiar with the satisfactory academic progress policy in order to best understand the examples provided below.
Examples of the following components of the SAP policy are:
- Maximum Timeframe
- Credit Hour Completion Rate
- Grade Point Average
- Evaluation process
Maximum Timeframe: Andrew
Andrew is an approved full-time undergraduate student who started his degree program in fall 2018. He declared a double major and a minor in spring 2020 and he expects to graduate in spring 2023. For the purposes of this example, Andrew is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.
Andrew Approved full-time undergraduate |
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Term of Enrollment |
Credits Attempted |
Credits earned |
Cumulative credits attempted |
Cumulative credits earned |
Completion |
Number of semesters |
SAP |
Fall 2018 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
100% |
1 |
Meeting |
Spring 2019 |
15 |
12 |
27 |
24 |
89% |
2 |
Meeting |
Summer 2019 |
8 |
8 |
35 |
32 |
91% |
3 |
Meeting |
Fall 2019 |
18 |
18 |
53 |
50 |
94% |
4 |
Meeting |
Spring 2020 |
16 |
16 |
69 |
66 |
96% |
5 |
Meeting |
Summer 2020 |
6 |
6 |
75 |
72 |
96% |
6 |
Meeting |
Fall 2020 |
15 |
15 |
90 |
87 |
97% |
7 |
Meeting |
Spring 2021 |
18 |
12 |
108 |
99 |
92% |
8 |
Meeting |
Fall 2021 |
15 |
15 |
123 |
114 |
93% |
9 |
Meeting |
Spring 2022 |
12 |
12 |
135 |
126 |
93% |
10 |
Meeting |
Fall 2022 |
12 |
12 |
147 |
138 |
94% |
11 |
Meeting |
Spring 2023 |
15 |
15 |
162 |
153 |
94% |
12 |
Not Meeting |
At the end of spring 2023, Andrew is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because a student is allowed a maximum of 12 semesters. So even though Andrew has above a 67% completion rate, he is not meeting satisfactory academic progress after the spring 2023 semester because he has exceeded the maximum allowed number of semesters.
Grade Point Average: Mia
Mia is an undergraduate student who started her degree program in fall 2022. She is expected to have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted.
Mia Approved full-time undergraduate student |
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Term of Enrollment |
Credits Attempted |
Credits |
Cumulative |
Cumulative |
Completion |
Cumulative |
SAP |
Fall 2022 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
100% |
2.0 |
Meeting |
Spring 2023 |
15 |
12 |
27 |
24 |
89% |
1.90 |
Not Meeting |
At the end of spring 2023, although Mia has above a 67% credit hour completion rate, she is not meeting satisfactory academic progress because she did not meet the minimum GPA requirement. Since she was meeting SAP in the previous term, Mia is placed on Financial Aid Warning for her next term of enrollment.
Evaluation of Academic Progress: Liang
Liang begins his undergraduate program in fall 2021. At the end of fall 2021, he is meeting satisfactory academic progress and is eligible for financial aid for spring 2022. At the end of the spring term, Liang fails to meet SAP. Since he was meeting SAP in the previous term, he is placed on Financial Aid Warning for his next term of enrollment.
Liang decides to enroll in summer session. At the end of summer 2022, he meets SAP and is eligible for financial aid for the fall 2022 term. At the end of fall 2022, Liang fails to meet SAP. Since he was meeting SAP in the previous term, Liang is placed on Financial Aid Warning for his next term of enrollment.
At the end of spring 2023, Liang fails to meet satisfactory academic progress. Because he was not meeting SAP during the previous term, Liang’s financial aid eligibility is suspended. Liang can either pay out of pocket until he is able to meet SAP or submit an appeal. Liang submits an appeal which is approved by the Student Financial Services Appeals Committee. Liang is placed on financial aid probation for fall 2023 and is eligible for financial aid.
Liang EVALUATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS |
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TERM OF ENROLLMENT |
EVALUATION OF SAP |
SAP STATUS FOR NEXT TERM OF ENROLLMENT |
FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY FOR NEXT TERM OF ENROLLMENT |
STUDENT ACTION WITH SFS FOR SAP |
Fall 2021 |
Meets SAP |
Meeting |
Eligible for Spring 2022 |
None required |
Spring 2022 |
Fails to meet SAP |
Financial Aid Warning |
Eligible for Summer 2022 |
None required |
Summer 2022 |
Meets SAP |
Meeting |
Eligible for Fall 2022 |
None required |
Fall 2022 |
Fails to meet SAP |
Financial Aid Warning |
Eligible for Spring 2023 |
None required |
Spring 2023 |
Fails to meet SAP |
Financial Aid Suspension |
Not eligible for Fall 2023 unless appeal approved |
Pay out of pocket or submit appeal |
Liang submits appeal. SFS Appeals Committee approves appeal. Liang is on Financial Aid Probation for Fall 2023. |