Satisfactory academic progress

At the end of each evaluation period the institution calculates the student’s cumulative GPA and the ratio of completed to attempted credits. It also checks whether the student can still finish within the maximum timeframe. Students who fail are notified and given the chance to appeal on the basis of mitigating circumstances.

Example: an institution requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA and completion of at least 67 percent of attempted credits. A student who has attempted 30 credits and completed 18 has a 60 percent pace and is not making satisfactory progress, even if the GPA is above 2.0. Aid is suspended unless an appeal is approved.

Academic probation or suspension is an institutional academic-status decision that may or may not align exactly with SAP rules for aid. Enrollment intensity affects how many credits are attempted in a term but is not itself the SAP calculation. Graduation rate is an institutional outcome measure; SAP is an individual eligibility requirement.

Assuming a passing GPA alone satisfies SAP. Excluding withdrawn or incomplete courses from the attempted-credit denominator. Applying different standards to online and on-campus students when federal rules require consistent treatment.