Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal and state regulations require that students be making progress toward the successful completion of a degree program to receive funding. Students applying for aid and those receiving financial aid, must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.  Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of every semester.  Note that Financial Aid is only designated for courses that count towards the student's degree. Failure to abide by this standard can result in financial aid disqualification. 

Please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

  • Grades F, NC, IC, W, and WU are not considered as passing grades (successfully completed credits).   
  • Transfer credits count towards your Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Pre-requisites (or preparatory courses) do not count toward the student’s degree requirements; however, they are counted as attempted and earned hours and are used to determine a student’s academic grade level or classification. Pre-requisite courses are classified as undergraduate. Thus, for SAP purposes credit hours earned and attempted and grades are evaluated in accordance with the Financial Aid SAP Policy for Undergraduate Students.

How do I remain eligible for financial aid?

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  • Minimum GPA Requirement

    You must successfully meet the minimum cumulative GPA as shown below:
    Grade Level Term and Cumulative GPA Required
    Undergraduate  2.0
    Graduate/Credential 3.0

    Important: 

    • Undergraduate students must have a 2.0 Cumulative GPA at the end of their 2 year (5th Term).
    • Completed courses, failed courses, developmental/remedial courses, and repeated courses are counted within the SAP GPA calculation. Transfer credits are not included in the GPA calculation. 

  • Pace of Progression

    You must continue to make progress toward graduation by successfully completing 67% of the units attempted.  You will be evaluated based on your overall pace and your semester pace of progression.  Failure to maintain both a cumulative and semester pace above 67% may result in a loss of aid eligibility.  

    Pace of progression = Total units that you received a passing grade (D or better) for the semester / Total units enrolled for the semester

    Below are examples of how a student would meet or not meet the Pace of Progression standards for SAP

    Student A: Enrolls in 15 units for the semester and receives a passing grade in 12 units.  To calculate the Pace of Progression, divide 12 units / 15 units = 80% Pace of Progression.  Since the Pace of Progression is greater than 67%, the student meets the requirement. 

    Student B: Enrolls in 15 units for the semester and receives a "W" grade from 10 units.  To calculate the Pace of Progression, divide 5 units / 15 units = 33% Pace of Progression.  Since the Pace of Progression is less than 67%, the student does not meet the requirement. 

    Click Here to use the Pace of Progression Calculator

  • To meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, Cal State Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ sets a maximum timeframe in which you are expected to finish your academic program.  Accumulation of excess units results in not meeting timeframe standards.

    Maximums per program:
    Academic Program Maximum Number of Units
    Baccalaureate Degree 180
    Credential 150% of required units
    TED/SPED 150% of required units
    Master's Degree 150% of required units
    Doctorate 150% of required units

    Important:

    • In the event it is determined that a student will mathematically not be able to complete their academic program within the maximum time frame, the student will be automatically suspended from financial aid. 
    • Transfer credits are included in the calculation of the maximum unit timeframe.

Appealing for Financial Aid Reconsideration

If you lose financial aid eligibility because you did not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, you may regain eligibility for aid through the following:

To start your appeal, submit a  online with supporting documentation.  Login using your NetID and password. You must meet with an academic official to discuss your current situation. Your appeal must include supporting documentation from an academic official that indicates your plan towards meeting SAP if you are approved for probation. To help with this, please bring this form along with your disqualification letter to your adviser.  Note that the courses that you include with the help of your adviser must count towards your academic degree program and you must meet SAP standards for the term. Please also note that if it is mathematically impossible for you to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress by the time that you graduate, we will not be able to reinstate your Financial Aid. Students who have reached the Maximum Time Frame may also submit a SAP Appeal for consideration. 

 

 

Submitting an Appeal does not guarantee that you will be approved and is independent of your bill and the payment deadline. 



Steps to Submitting Appeal:

A. Log on to
B. Sign in using your NetID and password. (if this is your first time, create an account)
C. Select [+ - Request] (upper right hand corner, red box)
D. Select the SAP Appeal form

 

SAP Appeal Deadlines: 

The Deadline to submit a SAP Appeal is three weeks before the last day of Finals for the semester. 

*Students are encouraged to submit their appeals by the term census to ensure timely processing of their appeal.   

 

What happens after my appeal is approved?

If your appeal is approved, we will reinstate your financial aid for the term of the appeal.  You will receive a formal notice of the conditions of your reinstatement and will be placed on a Probation Status.  In order to remain eligible for aid, you will need to meet SAP standards for the next term you enroll in at Cal State Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ or meet the conditions of your reinstatement during your probation.  Failure to do so will result in a loss of aid eligibility for future terms.     

What happens if my appeal is denied?

All decisions by the Appeals Committee are final.  If your appeal is denied, your aid will stay in a Suspended Status.  After you have demonstrated Satisfactory Academic Progress, you can re-appeal to have your aid reinstated.  

SAP Terms

Warning Status

You will be eligible to receive financial aid while on Warning Status.  You will be placed on Warning Status the first time you fail to meet SAP requirements.  If you continue to not meet SAP standards while on a Warning Status, you will be placed on Suspension Status and will not be eligible to receive aid.  

Suspension Status 

If you do not meet SAP requirements or if you exceed the maximum timeframe of 150% of the published degree length, you will be placed on financial aid suspension.  

While on suspension you are not eligible for most financial aid programs.  Exceptions include some private loan programs.  You must check with your private loan lender to determine if they offer loans to students not meeting SAP requirements.  

Probation Status

If your Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal is approved, you will be placed on Probation Status.  You are eligible for financial aid while on Probation Status.  If you fail to meet SAP requirements while on Probation Status, you will not be eligible to re-appeal until you have met SAP requirements.   

Academic Plan

If your appeal is approved and it is determined that you will not be able to achieve SAP requirements within the subsequent semester, you may be placed on an academic plan until you are able to meet SAP requirements.