Graduate students who wish to receive financial assistance through any federal, state or university supported scholarships, grants or loans must comply with the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measures the quality of the academic work and rate of movement towards a graduate degree. It requires all graduate students:
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Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.0 throughout the course of their studies.
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In addition, they must be progressing and earn at least 67% of their attempted credits each semester.
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All courses that student takes are measured, even in cases where a student has changed their program of study or is not receiving financial aid for the specific semester. The only exception is when a student graduates with a degree and begin another degree.
Some graduate programs may require a higher cumulative GPA then what is required to be making SAP (refer to the student handbook or catalog) in addition, some university scholarships may also require a higher GPA requirement (refer to your scholarship letter for details).
Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed each semester to determine a student’s individual progression. The following components are used when measuring SAP:
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GPA: A students cumulative (overall) grade point average is reviewed each semester to verify the minimum 3.0 C.G.P.A. Grades of W (Withdraw) or I (Incomplete) do not have an affect on the GPA.
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Pace: Is the percentage of successfully completed credits vs. attempted credits. To be in good academic standing students must pass 67% of the coursework attempted each semester. Successful completion of credits is defined as receiving a passing grade. A grade of F (failure), W (withdrawal), U (Unsatisfactory) or I (Incomplete) is not considered successful completion. The only exception is an IP (In Progress) grade.
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Maximum time limit: Regardless of a student’s academic standing, financial aid cannot extend beyond 150% of the published program length. Each term you are enrolled in school will count, towards the 150% calculation, even the terms when you do not receive financial aid. For example, a program that requires 30 credit hours x 1.5 = 45 maximum allowable credits hours attempted to qualify for financial aid.
Failed or Repeated Courses
Students who fail or elect to repeat a course must remember it influences all three of the components of SAP.
Transfer Credit
Students who transfer in credits from another school, will only have the credits applied as part of their credits earned (Pace) as their GPA does not transfer. For students in our dual degree and accelerated dual degree programs, graduate coursework (that will be applied to both their undergraduate and graduate degrees) will affect all three of the components for SAP.
Failure to Meet Requirements
If a student does not meet these requirements, they will be notified via email. The first time a student will be placed on a “Financial Aid Warning” for one semester (this allows students to continue receiving financial aid but warns them of what is required to continue receiving aid in future semesters).
If a student does not meet these requirements for two semesters, they will be notified via email. The student will result in a loss of their financial aid eligibility for any future semesters until the minimum standards for SAP are met. Students have an opportunity to appeal for reinstatement due to extenuating circumstances.
Appeal Process
Students wishing to appeal must provide a written letter to the Graduate Financial Aid Office explaining the extenuating circumstances that hindered them from making satisfactory progress. The letter should include documentation of the extenuating circumstance(s) (obituary notice, doctor’s note, etc.), provide an explanation of what has changed, and how they plan to make satisfactory progress in the future.
The Graduate SAP Appeals committee will review the documentation and decide to reinstate or deny eligibility based on the information the student provides in the letter, the supporting documentation, and a review of the academic record. If the appeal includes information falling under Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972, the committee is required to disclose it to the university Title IX coordinator. View the entire Title IX policy.
Approved Appeals
Students will be allowed one semester to regain their eligibility and will be placed on probation.
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Students who cannot meet the requirements within one semester, will need to follow an academic plan and remain on probation. The plan will be reviewed each semester to verify the student is meeting the conditions of the plan.
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A student who fails to meet the conditions required will lose their eligibility for financial aid.
Denied Appeals
Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid
Students who have lost their eligibility to receive financial aid may only regain their eligibility once they meet the required SAP standards. Reinstatement of financial aid is not automatic, and a subsequent review of a student’s progress is done only at the request of the student.
Revised 9/2022
