SAP - Satisfactory Academic Process

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Sacramento State is required by federal law to reasonably measure a students Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in determining eligibility for financial aid.  The SAP policy governs eligibility for all Federal and State aid programs.  When accepting financial aid, the student acknowledges their obligation to maintain SAP according to the standards established by Sacramento State.   Students who do not meet SAP are disqualified from receiving financial aid, unless they are eligible to file an appeal (see SAP Appeal Conditions) and the appeal is approved.

SAP is reviewed on a term (semester) basis for probation students who were conditionally approved by appeal.  SAP is reviewed annually after Spring grades post for all other students.

SAP is measured in three areas and all three standards must be met. 

1.Minimum Cumulative GPA Standard

Students must meet the annual minimum cumulative GPA based on their career program.

2.Overall Degree Progress Standard

Students are required to complete their degree/certificate within 150 percent of their program degree objective.

All graded coursework are counted, including transfer units, repeats, in-progress and withdrawals. SAP review also incorporates all unsuccessful coursework attempted at Sacramento State (i.e. “F”, “I”, “NC”, “W”, “WU”).

Probation Warning
Students who have completed 120 percent of attempted coursework will receive a warning notification.  This early warning enables the student to seek academic advisement for degree completion.

3.Satisfactory Pace Standard

The satisfactory pace standard is an overall ratio of Sacramento State units earned to Sacramento State units attempted.  Students must pass at least 75 percent of all units attempted. 

All graded coursework are counted, including repeats, in-progress and withdrawals. SAP review also incorporates all unsuccessful coursework attempted at Sacramento State (i.e. “F”, “I”, “NC”, “W”, “WU”).  Transfer units are not included in this calculation.

Additional SAP Standards:

Probation Status

Defined as a student not meeting SAP standards, who has appealed and eligibility for aid has been conditionally reinstated and reviewed on a term basis.  Aid will be received for one payment period only; progress will be reviewed after term grades have posted.  To maintain eligibility students must meet the minimum (cumulative) GPA standard for the term and successfully complete 75 percent of attempted units at the end of their probation period.  Failing to comply with these standards will result in the ineligibility of aid for the subsequent term.  Appeals will not be considered.

If you are placed on probation for the fall term, we will review your fall grades after they have posted.  Due to the processing time between terms students must pay spring registration to avoid enrollment cancelation.

Summer Aid Applicants

Spring SAP probation students who have applied for Summer Aid will have their summer aid disbursement delayed to ensure they meet the (cumulative) GPA standard for the term and successfully complete 75 percent of attempted units at the end of their spring probation period.  Failing to comply with these standards will result in the ineligibility of Summer aid.  Appeals will not be considered.

Other SAP Provisions:

• Students who enroll in classes not required for degree completion or exceed the university’s policy related to change of major, will be held to the maximum unit cap without exception.  This includes students who enroll in unnecessary full-time units for the sole purpose of obtaining full-time financial aid.

• Students who exceed the University limit for repeated coursework are subject to review.   Repeated coursework is not eligible for financial aid funding. See Financal Aid Repeat Coursework Policy.

• Students who complete all degree program requirements and are eligible to petition to graduate, but do not, are ineligible for continued funding.  No exceptions.

• Academic progress can be evaluated at any time during the academic year as identified by Financial Aid & Scholarship staff, academic personnel or school administrators.

Regaining Eligibility

Regaining eligibility applies to the following:

• Students whose appeal for not meeting the minimum cumulative GPA and/or satisfactory pace standard was denied

Eligibility for the subsequent term may be regained by:

• Enroll without the benefit of financial aid assistance;
• Complete at least 6 units of coursework applicable to the program degree objective;
• Receive successful grades to improve and meet the minimum (cumulative) GPA standard at the end of the term; and
• Complete the term with passing grades to meet the satisfactory pace standard.

Please note: An undergraduate student that graduates in the fall term (degree has posted) and is now admitted into a Master’s or Credential program must notify the Financial Aid Office of their status change to receive aid for the spring term.