Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal and state regulations require that students receiving financial aid have a responsibility to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or credential objective in order to remain eligible for financial assistance. The following requirements in this section apply for all periods of enrollment, including Summer, at SSU regardless of whether or not the student received financial aid. Summer financial aid cannot disburse unless satisfactory academic progress for the previous semester has been demonstrated. Satisfactory academic progress for all students is conducted at the end of each semester. Appeals of disqualification must be approved within the term of enrollment to receive funding. You can also download or print the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress to Maintain Financial Aid Eligibility (pdf).
- General Requirements
- Undergraduate Requirements
- Post-baccalaureate Requirements
- SAP Results for Undergraduates Based on Current Status
- Maximum Timeframe and Excessive Units SAP Status
- Financial Aid Warning and Financial Aid Probation (FAP)
- Financial Aid Disqualification
- Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
General Requirements
- Students must be in good standing according to the Academic Regulations listed in the University Catalog.
- Students are expected to complete the number of units for which they are enrolled and funded. Units are considered completed with the following grades: A, B, C, D, CR (Credit), or RP (Report in Progress).
- Grades of I (Incomplete), F, NC (No Credit), W (Withdrawal), WU (Withdrawal Unauthorized), and RD (Report Delayed) do not count as units completed. Note: It is your responsibility to drop unwanted courses from your record. Do not leave it up to other individuals, such as professors.
- If you enroll in the same course beyond catalog limitations, repeat a course for which you received a passing grade, or repeat a course for which you already replaced the grade with a prior repeat attempt, those units will not count toward graduation and may not count as units completed for the purpose of satisfactory academic progress.
- Non-baccalaureate (remedial) courses in English and Math can be counted as part of the satisfactory academic progress requirement. Maximum number of non-baccalaureate units allowed is 24.
- Full-time or part-time status is determined as of the last day of the add/drop period.
Undergraduate Requirements
- Students are expected to complete their degree objective within the allowable maximum timeframe of 186 attempted units or 150 completed units, whichever occurs first. These unit maximums include all previously attempted college work, including transferable work completed elsewhere, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students with minors, double majors, or who change majors are expected to complete their degree objectives within the 186 attempted or 150 completed unit maximums. Students who exceed these maximums are not eligible for state or federal financial aid.
- Full-time students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 units each semester and part-time students are expected to complete all units attempted. If you are a full-time student and complete at least 12 units each semester or you are a part-time student and complete all units attempted each semester, you will be making the standard expected progress towards your degree objective.
Post-baccalaureate Requirements
- Post-baccalaureate students who have completed more than 45 post-baccalaureate units (exception: 72 unit maximum for MA Counseling and 96 unit maximum for MS Nursing) are not eligible for state or federal financial aid.
- All full-time post-baccalaureate students except Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates are expected to complete a minimum of 12 units each semester and part-time students are expected to complete all units attempted. If you are a full-time student and complete at least 12 units each semester or you are a part-time student and complete all units attempted each semester, you will be making the standard expected progress towards your degree/credential objective. See the following Program-Specific Considerations section for unit requirements for Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates.
- Program-Specific Considerations:
- Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates: Full-time students are expected to complete a minimum of 8 units (unweighted) each semester and part-time students are expected to complete all units attempted. If you are a full-time student and complete at least 8 units each semester or you are a part-time student and complete all units attempted each semester, you will be making the standard expected progress towards your degree objective.
- Unclassified Graduates: Unclassified Graduates can only receive financial aid for one 12-month period. The 12-month period begins on the first day of classes for which the student first receives financial aid with this status at any school. Students who have already received financial aid with this status for one 12-month period are not eligible for further financial aid.
SAP Results for Undergraduates Based on Current Status
- Determine your present satisfactory academic progress (SAP) status. If no previous financial aid warning or disqualification, then your SAP status is Clear. Use the Present SAP Status is Clear table below to determine your status. If you received email notification from the Financial Aid Office of being placed on Warning or had an appeal approved, then use the Present SAP Status is Probation table below to determine your status.
- Read across the Present SAP Status is Clear table or Present SAP Status is Probation table below to find:
- The number of units you are required to complete to remain in a Clear status or to restore your status back to Clear from Probation.
- The resultant SAP status should you fall short of the minimum unit completion requirement.
Maximum Timeframe and Excessive Units (EU) SAP Status
Federal regulations related to satisfactory academic progress require institutions to establish a maximum timeframe within which students receiving financial aid are expected to complete their degree or credential objective. The maximum timeframe is expressed in terms of units attempted and completed for undergraduates, and in terms of units completed for all post-baccalaureates.
| Academic Level | Excessive Units Condition | Resultant SAP Status |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | more than 186 units attempted or more than 150 units completed, whichever occurs first | Financial Aid Disqualification for Excessive Units |
| MA Counseling | more than 72 units completed | Financial Aid Disqualification for Excessive Units |
| MS Nursing | more than 96 units completed | Financial Aid Disqualification for Excessive Units |
| Other Post-baccalaureates and Graduates | more than 45 units completed | Financial Aid Disqualification for Excessive Units |
Financial Aid Warning and Financial Aid Probation (FAP)
Successful completion of the requirements of Warning or FAP generally results in restoration of Clear status for satisfactory academic progress.
Warning
Warning is a probationary status. Students will automatically be placed on Warning in the following circumstances:
- All students except Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates with Clear satisfactory academic progress:
- Full-time students who complete 6-11 units will be placed on Warning.
- Part-time students who do not complete all units attempted, but do complete at least half (50%) of their units attempted will be placed on Warning.
- Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates
with Clear satisfactory academic progress status:
- Full-time students who complete 4-7 units (unweighted) will be placed on Warning.
- Part-time students who do not complete all units attempted, but do complete at least half (50%) of their units attempted will be placed on Warning.
FAP Resulting From Successful Appeal of Financial Aid Disqualification
Students may be restored to FAP status as the result of a successful appeal of Financial Aid Disqualification.
Requirements of Warning and FAP
Students placed on Warning or FAP will be notified of the requirements to satisfy the terms of probation by an email notification to their Seawolf Email account. See the Present SAP Status is Probation table for the basic unit requirements for undergraduates.
Eligibility for Funds While on Warning and FAP
Students on Warning or FAP may receive financial aid for the next semester of enrollment. However, students must meet the following basic unit requirements during the probationary semester or become disqualified for aid thereafter:
- Full-time students must complete a minimum of 12 units (8 unweighted units for Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates) to clear their probationary status.
- Part-time students must attempt at least 6 units (4 unweighted units for Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates) and must complete all units attempted to clear their probationary status.
Students who do not clear their status during the probationary semester will be ineligible for further aid. Part-time students who do not attempt the minimum required units will have their Warning or FAP continue in the next semester of enrollment if all units were successfully completed.
Financial Aid Disqualification
The following circumstances result in Financial Aid Disqualification. See Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility section of this page for an explanation of how financial aid eligibility may be regained.
Lack of Progress (LOP)
- Full-time students who complete less than 6 units in any semester (4 units for Classified Graduates and Conditionally Classified Graduates) are ineligible for further aid.
- Part-time students who complete less than 50% of the units attempted in any semester are ineligible for further aid.
- Students who do not clear their Warning or Financial Aid Probation (FAP) status during the probationary semester are ineligible for further aid. Exception: Part-time students who do not attempt the minimum required units will have their Warning or FAP continue in the next semester of enrollment if all units were successfully completed.
Excessive Units
Students who exceed the maximum allowable attempted or completed units are ineligible for further aid.
Total Withdrawal
Students who have withdrawn from all courses in two consecutive semesters are ineligible for further aid.
Academic Disqualification
Students who are academically disqualified are ineligible for further aid. See the Academic Regulations in the University Catalog for further information.
Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility
- Undergraduate students who have lost financial aid eligibility through LOP or total withdrawal in two consecutive semesters may generally reestablish eligibility by successfully completing a minimum of 12 units as a full-time student. Students may request that their eligibility for aid be reinstated once coursework from a successfully completed semester or quarter can be verified. Reinstatement based on part-time attendance in a term will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Financial Aid.
- Students who have lost financial aid eligibility through LOP or total withdrawal in no more than two consecutive semesters may appeal their disqualification using the SAP Lack of Progress Appeal, which is available on our Satisfactory Academic Progress Forms page.
- Students who have exceeded the maximum allowable attempted or completed units may appeal their disqualification using the SAP Bachelors's Excessive Units Appeal or the SAP Credential or Master's Excessive Units Appeal. These forms are available on our Satisfactory Academic Progress Forms page.
- Appeals of disqualification must be approved within the term of enrollment to receive funding.
- Students whose appeals are denied may appeal the denial to the Director of Financial Aid.
Eligibility for specific financial aid awards and available funding are determined at the time of reinstatement.