How the SAP Policy Works

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:

1. Maximum Timeframe
2. Credit Hour Completion Rate
3. Grade Point Average
4. Evaluation process

Maximum Timeframe: Andrew

Andrew is an approved full-time undergraduate student who started his degree program in fall 2020. He declared a double major and a minor in spring 2022 and he expects to graduate in spring 2025.  For the purposes of this example, Andrew is meeting the minimum GPA requirement for satisfactory academic progress purposes.

At the end of spring 2025, 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 2025 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 2024. She is expected to have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted.

At the end of spring 2025, 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 2023. At the end of fall 2023, he is meeting satisfactory academic progress and is eligible for financial aid for spring 2024. 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 2024, he meets SAP and is eligible for financial aid for the fall 2024 term. At the end of fall 2024, 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 2025, 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 2025 and is eligible for financial aid.