Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal law says you must be making "Satisfactory Academic Progress" (SAP) toward a degree for you to be eligible to receive federal financial aid funds. These standards apply to all students receiving federal financial aid funds, regardless of enrollment intensity or program, and to all periods of attendance, even periods when you did not receive financial aid.

  1. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA). We only look at your LC State grade point average for this standard.
  2. Students must earn passing grades in at least 67% of credits listed on the transcript, including transfer credits. Incompletes, repeated credits, withdrawals, audits, and grades of F, NC, and K do not count as passing grades, but are included in the completion rate calculation. Withdrawals resulting in a grade of W will also be included in the completion rate calculation.
  3. Students may only receive aid for their degrees for up to 150% of the published required credits of the academic program*. Attempted credits include all graded courses, transfer credits, testing credits, pass/fails, repeats, and other grades listed above. If you have extenuating circumstances (such as injury, illness, or death of an immediate family member), you may appeal to the Financial Aid Office for an extension to finish your degree. Please visit with the Financial Aid Office to pick up the appropriate appeal form. You may not appeal for an extension until you have been officially suspended from financial aid.

*Post-Baccalaureate (PB) students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, complete at least 67% of all courses attempted, and complete their second degree within the allowable number of credits. The completion rate is calculated on the courses attempted as a PB student. The number of allowable credits for maximum credit determination is ninety-six (96) after your baccalaureate degree. PB students are not eligible for federal financial aid towards certificate or associates degree programs.

Attempted credits do not include classes you drop before the end of the add/drop period each semester. If you drop some of your classes before the end of the add/drop period, they will not count against your academic progress. However, you may be required to repay some or all of your financial aid immediately. Dropping or withdrawing from classes after the end of the add/drop period will affect your academic progress, and you will receive a W grade on your transcript.

Students who receive all failing grades for a semester will be automatically suspended from further federal financial aid. Students in this situation may appeal if extenuating circumstances exist. Additionally, if you receive all failing grades you may be required to return a percentage of your federal financial aid.

Withdrawing from all of your classes after the end of the add/drop period will affect your academic progress, and you will receive W grades on your transcript. Students who withdraw from all classes will be automatically suspended from further federal financial aid. Additionally, if you completely withdraw from LC State during the course of a semester, you may be required to return a percentage of your federal financial aid.

Incomplete courses will be counted in attempted credits and as non-satisfactory when determining SAP. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office when an incomplete is finished. Refer to the LC State catalog for academic treatment of incomplete courses and grading.

Repeat courses will be counted in attempted and completed credits. Financial aid will pay for repeat courses when initial grade is an "F". Financial aid will only pay twice for a repeat course if the course has been passed with a "D-" or higher at any time.

Remedial coursework will be counted in determining financial aid eligibility, enrollment status, and satisfactory academic progress. These courses will initially be included in maximum timeframe calculations. Exclusions may be considered in some cases. Remedial courses do not count toward the total number of credits needed for graduation. Students will be limited to no more than thirty (30) remedial credits for financial aid eligibility.

Your academic record will be reviewed when your FAFSA is received and at the end of each semester to determine whether you are in compliance with the SAP policy. If the student is not in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy at the time of review, the student will be sent an email notification.

The first time you do not meet the completion rate (67%) or your cumulative GPA drops below the required minimum (2.0) you will be placed on Financial Aid Warning if you can mathematically regain compliance the next semester. If you are placed on Financial Aid Warning at the end of a semester, you will still be eligible for financial aid for the following semester. Financial Aid Warning is not the same as Academic Probation as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

Your academic record will be reviewed when your annual FAFSA form is received, and at the end of each semester, to determine whether you are in compliance with the SAP policy, including maximum credits. If you do not meet all SAP requirements during the review, you will be suspended. Financial Aid Suspension is not the same as Academic Suspension as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, you can request reinstatement of your eligibility for financial aid if you attend using other resources than Title IV funds, and improve your academic record before you make this request. You must meet all SAP requirements (67% completion rate, 2.0 GPA and within maximum allowable credits). You will need to submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office requesting a review of your financial aid eligibility. If you successfully appeal, see Financial Aid Probation or Satisfactory Academic Progress Plans below.

In the case of extenuating circumstances (such as injury, illness, or death of an immediate family member); you may appeal your suspension to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal forms must be signed by you and your advisor and submitted with a letter of explanation and supporting documentation detailing the circumstances preventing you from making Satisfactory Academic Progress or completing within allowable credit limits, how the issues have been resolved, and how the issues will not affect future performance. Appeal forms may be picked up from the Financial Aid Office, or obtained online from the LC State Financial Aid Forms webpage. If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation or on a Satisfactory Academic Progress Plan. Satisfactory Academic Progress Plans specify the conditions you must meet in order to continue receiving federal financial aid. You may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs or see Regain Financial Aid Eligibility above if your appeal is denied.

If you are placed on Financial Aid Probation after a successful appeal, you will have one semester to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress. If at the end of one semester, you are not in good standing, you will not be eligible for further financial aid until you are able to regain eligibility as stated above. Financial Aid Probation is not the same as Academic Probation as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

If you are placed on a Satisfactory Academic Progress Plan after a successful appeal, you will have the number of semesters specified on the approved plan to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Each semester you will need to pass ALL the listed courses with a 2.0 GPA or higher. If at any time you do not meet the terms of the plan or if at the end of the plan, you are not in good standing, you will not be eligible for further financial aid until you are able to regain eligibility.

Revised March 15, 2024