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Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal law requires students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as a requirement for financial aid.

Students SAP status is measured in areas and all areas must be met.

  1. Overall Degree Progress Standard
  2. Minimum Cumulative GPA Standard
  3. Satisfactory Pace Standard

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) FAQ's

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.

Minimum Cumulative GPA Standard

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

  • 3.0: Graduate (Doctoral, 2nd Masters, and Credential)
  • 2.5: Second Bachelors
  • 2.0: Undergraduate

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 67 percent of 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.

Appeal Decisions

  1. Notification will be sent to student via their CSUS email account.
  2. If the student's SAP Appeal is approved, the student will be placed on a Probation Status. While on Probation the student must make progress each semester to maintain aid eligibility.
  3. If the student's SAP Appeal is not approved, the student may consider the following options to help fund the current semester and/or the remainder of their program:
    • Pay tuition fees in full or sign-up for the Installment Payment Plan
    • Drop to part-time (6 or fewer units) to pay the reduced tuition fees
    • Withdraw before the University deadline to receive a refund of fees paid
    • Enroll at a Community College (the student should discuss this option with an Academic Advisor)
    • Apply for a (credit based) alternative loan.

Appeal Probation Standards

Probation Status

Probation is defined as a status a school assigns to a student who is failing to make satisfactory academic progress and who successfully appeals.

Federal regulations require that the student make SAP progress at the end of their probation semester before they can continue to receive aid. Students on a probation status, must pass the following two grade check reviews from coursework attempted during the Probation semester:

  1. Pass at least 67% (Satisfactory Standard Pace) of the courses attempted during the Probation semester.
  2. Receive grades that meet the minimum GPA specific to the student's academic plan:
    • Undergraduate students must earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.0
    • Second Bachelor must earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.5
    • Graduate or Credential must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.0