Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

What is SAP?

For students to receive financial aid under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act, the U.S. Department of Education requires you to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) towards completing your degree This is separate from campus academic minimum progress requirements.

When is SAP Reviewed?

SAP is reviewed annually for all students prior to the start of the Fall term.  Students not meeting SAP standards, on SAP Probation, and/or now at Maximum Timeframe are reviewed on a quarterly basis. After spring grades post, preliminary SAP notices will be sent to students not meeting SAP standards. Those students may want to consider if summer courses could help them meet the SAP standards at the time of official SAP review prior to the start of the Fall quarter.

What are the SAP Components?

• Grade Point Average
  • Minimum cumulative UC grade point average.
• Pace
  • Cumulative number of courses successfully completed by the cumulative number of courses attempted.
  • NR,NP, I, F, W, IP or missing grades are not successful completion of a course.
• Maximum Timeframe 
  • 150% of the published length of the program.

How does this impact students on Financial Aid?

SAP standards apply to all Title IV programs including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Federal Work-Study, and Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent and Graduate PLUS Loans). SAP standards also apply to the Cal Grant programs, State and University need-based aid.

What are the SAP Requirements?

• Undergraduate 
  
  • Undergraduate SAP Standards
    • GPA
      • 2.0
    • Pace
      • First Year : 1-44 Units: 30%
      • Second Year : 45- 89 Units: 50%
      • Third / Fourth Year : 90+ Units: 66%
      • Readmitted Students : 50% for readmitted year only 
    • Maximum Timeframe
      • 258 attempted units 
• Graduate  
  • Graduate SAP Standards
    • GPA
      • 3.0
    • PACE
      • First Year : 50%
      • Second Year : 66%
    • Maximum Timeframe
      • Varies based on program (see Graduate Standards)

*See Undergraduate and Graduate link for details, exceptions and conditions.

For School of Medicine please visit the Health Sciences Financial Aid Office website