Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility - Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
By accepting financial aid, students are expected to complete all attempted credits and maintain a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) within a maximum timeframe, which measures a student's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). As long as a student maintains SAP, they will continue to receive Financial Aid as scheduled. When these expectations are not met, students may either be put on a warning status or lose financial aid eligibility due to not maintaining SAP. Below are guidelines, outlining what will occur for students that were not meeting this expectation along with potential options to resolve the status.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Components
If your quarterly GPA or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 at the end of the term, a Financial Aid Warning will be issued.
Quarterly GPA
A student must maintain a minimum quarterly grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, which is a "C" average in order to maintain SAP.
Cumulative GPA
A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, which is a "C" average in order to maintain SAP.
Pace of Progression
A student must successfully complete at least two-thirds (67%) of the quarterly and overall credits they attempt throughout their academic career at the college. All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in the calculation.
For example, a student who has enrolled in 36 credits throughout his or her academic career at the college must pass at least 24 credits in order to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Note: Grades of “F”, “W” and “I” are all considered unsuccessful attempts.
| Credits Attempted | Satisfactory Academic Progress | Financial Aid Warning | Financial Aid Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (12+) | 12+ Credits | 6-11 Credits | 0-5 Credits |
| 3/4- time (9-11) | 9 Credits | 5-8 Credits | 0-4 Credits |
| Half-time (6-8) | 6 Credits | 3-5 Credits | 0-2 Credits |
| Less than Half-time (1-5) | All Attempted Credits | No Warning Available | Less than Attempted Credits |
Note: If your SAP status is on "Warning", you must complete 100% of the attempted credits in the next term of attendance or your aid will be suspended.
Maximum Timeframe (MTF) is a period no longer than 150% of the published length of the program as measured in credit hours. LCC must evaluate whether it is possible for a student to complete their program within the MTF. Students fail the MTF measure of SAP at the point at which it is determined that it is not possible for them to complete their program within the MTF, not at the point the student actually reaches the MTF.
A student may receive student aid for any attempted credits towards their program of study as long as those credits do not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s program of study.
For example, a student enrolled in a program of study that requires 64 credits to earn the degree may receive student aid for a maximum of 96 credits attempted.
Note: If a student changes programs or graduates and requests a second degree, a degree audit will be completed and evaluated to determine what portion of the requirements for that curriculum has been satisfied. Only credits satisfying the new degree’s requirements will count toward that degree’s MTF.
What happens when SAP is not maintained?
A Financial Aid Warning is issued when any of the following are true:
- A student's cumulative GPA or quarterly GPA is less than 2.0 at the end of the term.
- A student's pace of progression is below 67%.
- The minimum number of credit-hours was not completed.
If your financial aid is on Warning you are still eligible to receive financial aid for one more term of attendance without needing to appeal. If your financial aid is on Warning you must achieve SAP the next term of attendance or your financial aid will be suspended.
Note: Federal regulations do not allow the college to place your financial aid on Warning for more than one quarter in a row. Students who continue to fail to make SAP after being placed on Warning will lose their Financial Aid eligibility unless they successfully appeal Financial Aid Suspension and are placed on probation.
A Financial Aid Suspension occurs when any of the following are true:
- A student's financial aid is already on Warning and their quarterly GPA or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 at the end of the term.
- A student's financial aid is already on Warning and 100% attempted credit-hours were not completed.
- A student fails to complete 50% or more of the attempted credit-hours.
- A student's transcript does not reflect a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of the 6th term of attendance or any terms attended thereafter.
- The Financial Aid office determines that a student cannot mathematically complete their program in the time remaining.
- A student has reached 150% of their program credit requirements also known as the Maximum Timeframe (MTF), or they have completed all credits to graduate from LCC. This applies even if they don’t intend to apply for graduation until a future term.
Please see Financial Aid Appeal below for help if you are on Financial Aid Suspension. If you choose not to appeal, or your appeal is not successful, please consider the Financial Aid Self-Reinstatment below.
Students are eligible to appeal SAP or MTF suspension. If approved, you would be eligible to receive financial aid provided you still meet all other eligibility requirements.
If your financial aid has been suspended and a financial aid appeal is approved, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation until SAP met status is achieved.
Please contact the One-Stop Center for more information about how to fill out a Financial Aid Appeal.
Please contact the One-Stop Center for more information about how to fill out a Financial Aid Appeal. See our Financial Aid Forms page to download the form.
If your Financial Aid is suspended due to failure to maintain the GPA or Pace of Progression and Credit-Hours Completed components of SAP, you may self-reinstate your aid as long as you still meet all other eligibility requirements.
To self-reinstate, complete enough credits (minimum 5) at your own expense and acheive the following:
- Raise your Completion Rate to 67%
- Raise your quarterly GPA to a minimum of 2.0
- Raise your cumulative GPA to a minimum of 2.0
Notify the Financial Aid office to review your transcript once these requirements have been met. You can also appeal again after completing a quarter at your own expense.
Important Note: Self-reinstatement does not negate any repayment owed to Financial Aid programs or to Lower Columbia College.