Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

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Federal regulations require that all students who receive financial assistance demonstrate that they are moving through their academic program at a reasonable rate and are making progress toward their degree.

If you don’t meet all three of the following requirements each term (not just the previous term or academic year), you will not be eligible for financial aid:

  1. Minimum Cumulative Financial Aid Grade Point Average 
  2. Completion Ratio 
  3. Maximum Time Frame 

At the end of each term, an evaluation will occur to determine if you are meeting SAP to receive financial assistance at SPC, regardless of program length. All financial aid applicants in approved degree/certificate programs are evaluated whether they received financial assistance in prior terms or not.

If you attended SPC in the past, your re-enrollment will be reviewed for SAP for financial aid purposes on all previously attempted courses and transfer credits regardless of how long ago you attended SPC or whether or not you received aid.

You may modify your initial course schedule up to the last day to drop with a refund. Classes that are dropped during this time period are not counted as part of the SAP evaluation process. If a student withdraws after the Withdraw with a ‘W’ date, it will negatively affect the Completion Ratio (Pace) and Maximum Time Frame requirements.

Financial aid does not pay for credit hours that are audited. Non-credit continuing education and non-credit Corporate Training classes are not eligible for financial aid funding and are not included in any SAP calculation.

SAP Credit Hours

Remedial and English as a Second Language (ESL) credit hours

Remedial and ESL credit hours attempted are included in the Financial Aid GPA.

Remedial and most ESL credit hours attempted are NOT part of the Completion Ratio (Pace) or Maximum Time Frame calculations. There are two exceptions: EAP 1500 (Advanced Listening/Speaking) and EAP 1695 (Advanced English as a Second Language II) are included in the Completion Ratio (Pace) and Maximum Time Frame calculations.

Please remember financial aid will only pay up to 30 remedial credit hours. Example:  Student previously attempted 31 remedial credit hours in prior terms.  Student is currently enrolled in 12 credits, of which 6 are remedial and 6 are college-level. The student's financial aid will be awarded based on the six college-level credit hours.

Transfer credit hours

The Registrar evaluates and posts transcripts from prior institutions. All posted transfer credit hours on official transcripts are considered attempted and earned. Transfer credit hours and grades are included in the Minimum Cumulative Financial Aid GPA, Completion Ratio (Pace), and Maximum Time Frame calculations.

If a transcript is provided after financial aid is awarded, SAP will be reviewed at the end of the currently enrolled term.

Repeated credit hours

If a college-level course is taken more than once, only the grade on the last attempt will be included in the Financial Aid GPA. If a college-level course is repeated more than once, each attempt is included in the Completion Ratio (Pace) and Maximum Time Frame calculations.

What does SAP stand for?



Repeated credit hours

Related Resources

SAP Appeals
SAP Policy