Overview
Related Federal Policies: 34 CFR 668.16(e), 34 CFR 668.32(f) and 34 CFR 668.34
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the academic standard you must meet to remain eligible for financial aid. A school must have a SAP policy for financial aid students that is the same as or stricter than the standards used for students who are not receiving federal financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the academic standard you must meet to remain eligible for financial aid. A school must have a SAP policy for financial aid students that is the same as or stricter than the standards used for students who are not receiving federal financial aid.
SAP Requirements
- You must maintain a cumulative (financial aid) GPA of at least a 2.0.
- You must complete 67% or more of your attempted coursework (cumulative).
- You must complete your educational program within the maximum time frame (known as the 150% rule).
- Making all F's for any given semester will automatically place you on financial aid suspension.
Completion Percentage Calculator
Disclaimer: The Completion Percentage Calculator is an unofficial estimate. Results are rounded
to the nearest tenth. Please consult your advisor for questions regarding your official
GPA and/or Pace of Progression as well as advice on academic planning.
Failure to Meet Academic Progress Standards
GPA and Percent Completion
- If your Financial Aid GPA falls below 2.0 and/or completion rate falls below 67% you
will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next semester.
- While on warning, you may still receive the financial aid you are otherwise eligible for.
- At the end of the warning semester, you must meet SAP requirements again.
- If SAP is not met after the warning semester, you will be placed on Financial Aid
Suspension.
- While on suspension, you will not be eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid (including grants and loans).
- You will remain on suspension until all SAP requirements are met again.
- If you earn all F grades in a semester, you may only regain eligibility by completing a semester with at least one passing grade, as long as all other SAP requirements are met.
Maximum Hours
- You may attempt up to 150% of the published length of you program. For example, a
certificate program requiring 30 credits hours has a maximum time frame of 45 credit
hours. All attempted hours are counted toward this limit, including:
- Hours taken without Title IV financial aid
- Hours taken under a different major
- Summer session hours
- Remedial coursework
- ESL coursework
- Transfer credits from other institutions
- Reaching the maximum time frame will place you on Financial Aid Suspension (Exceeds Max Hours).
- You will not be eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid (including grants and loans) once this limit is reached.
- There is no warning period for maximum time frame status.
- The Financial Aid Office emails you each semester with updates on your progress toward the maximum time frame.
The Appeal Process
In rare circumstances, you may be allowed to appeal your financial aid suspension.
These circumstances include:
- A serious personal illness documented by a doctor
- The serious illness of an immediate family member where the doctor documents that you are required to give care to the family member
- Other rare, exceptional circumstances that prevent you from attending class.
- Be based on circumstances that occurred during the semester(s) attended
- Include all supporting documentation
- Appeals submitted without documentation will not be reviewed
- Documentation does not guarantee approval
GPA and/or Percent Completion Appeals
If you are appealing a GPA and/or Completion issue, the appeal request will require
the following:
- An explanation of the rare, extenuating circumstances that caused you not to meet
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Include the steps you have taken or will take, personally and academically, to prevent these circumstances from hindering academic performance in the future.
- Documentation that supports your explanation
- Examples may include medical or legal documents or statements from counselors, attorneys, doctors, or other individuals familiar with the circumstances.
- Confirmation page showing completion of SAP Counseling, "The Key Components to the
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Process"
- You will need to create a login to complete this counseling session.
Maximum Hours Appeals
If your are appealing to request an extension of hours, the appeal request will require
the following:
- An explanation of the rare, extenuating circumstances that caused you not to meet
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Include the steps you have taken or will take, personally and academically, to prevent these circumstances from hindering your academic performance in the future.
- Documentation that supports your explanation
- Examples may include medical or legal documents or statements from counselors, attorneys, doctors, or other individuals familiar with your circumstances.
- A meeting with an academic advisor who must:
- Print out your degree audit
- Highlight or indicate the specific courses remaining on your degree program (including currently enrolled classes)
- Indicate the number of hours needed to complete your program (including currently enrolled hours)
- Sign and date the print-out
The Appeals Committee
All financial aid appeals are reviewed by a committee made up of faculty and staff from Collin College. Financial Aid employees are not involved in the review process.
- You will be notified of the committee's decision via your school email account.
- An appeal that does not meet the requirements per the SAP policy will not be approved.
- The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
If your appeal is approved, you will be sent an email outlining the terms of your academic plan. You must respond to the email and state that you accept the terms outlined in the plan. In order to remain eligible for financial aid while on an academic plan:
- You may not withdraw from any coursework
- You must make a grade of at least "C" in every class until you are back in good standing.
If your appeal for an extension on the maximum time frame is approved, then the approved hours will be added on top of the 150% rule.