Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) - Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid

Each institution that receives federal Title IV funds is required by the U.S. Department of Education, Section 132 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1976, to define and enforce standards for satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress measures a student’s performance in the following three areas/criteria: completion rate, grade point average (GPA), and maximum timeframe.

The Financial Aid Office is responsible for establishing and monitoring a standard of “satisfactory academic progress” for continuation of financial aid eligibility. In order to be eligible to receive financial aid (federal and/or state), the student must be making satisfactory progress towards a certificate or degree as identified in the quantitative (the completion rate of credit hours attempted), and qualitative (the GPA) standards of the policy. Academic progress is reviewed at the time an application is processed and at the end of each term.

The maximum timeframe allowed for a student to complete his/her certificate and/or degree program is 150% of the number of credit hours required for the specific program. The standard of satisfactory academic progress must include a student’s total academic history at Northeastern, regardless of whether he/she has previously received financial assistance. A complete copy of the satisfactory academic progress policy is available on the financial aid site: Satisfactory Academic Policy.

In order to meet SAP requirements, students must meet the measurements outlined below:

Cumulative GPA Requirement

• Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above for all credits attempted at Northeastern.

Cumulative Completion Rate

• Complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credit hours: Total Credits Completed ÷ Total Credits Attempted × 100 = Completion Rate.
• Transfer credit hours on the student’s record are included when computing the student’s completion rate.
• Remedial credit hours are included in the calculation of the cumulative completion rate.
• Withdrawn courses are calculated in a student’s attempted credit hours.

Maximum Time Frame

• Complete the eligible degree/certificate program within 150% of scheduled program length.
• Once students have attempted 110% of the number of credits hours required for their degree or eligible certificate program, they will be sent an Alert letter. This letter will explain to the student that they will no longer be eligible for financial aid once the total attempted credits are 150% of their total program credits.
• Up to 30 remedial credit hours may be excluded from the maximum time frame calculation, but the student must request this review.
• Transfer credit hours are included in the calculation of allowable maximum timeframe.
• Attempted credit hours under all courses of study are included in the calculation of attempted and earned credit hours. This includes previously accumulated hours from prior certificates or degrees.
• If it is at any point in time determined a student cannot complete their program of study within 150% of the program length, students may lose their financial aid eligibility.
• All courses a student has ever taken are considered in the Max Time Frame Calculation. A student may choose to retake a course to improve their GPA, but this may cause a problem in their completion rate as well as their overall number of credit hours attempted.

Second Degrees or Certificates 

Under some circumstances students may receive funding for an additional degree or certificate beyond their first one.  Students may be required to submit an appeal along with a Degree Evaluation to determine whether or not additional funding can be approved.

Review of Satisfactory Academic Progress will be done shortly after the stated due date for grades at the end of each academic term. Should a student fail to meet one or more of the above indicated standards, they will be placed on financial aid warning, alert, ineligible for aid, or probation. A written notification will be sent to the student after the review if the student has been placed on warning, alert, ineligible for aid, or probation.

Financial Aid SAP Appeals

Students may appeal if placed on financial aid ineligibility. The financial aid ineligible status means students cannot utilize their federal and/or state financial aid to help pay for the cost of school at NJC, and must pay for the costs out of pocket. This appeal must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office prior to the start of the semester, with a completed appeal form (located on the website here) and supporting documentation. The appeal will be reviewed by a committee which will determine if federal/state aid can be used to assist with college expenses, or if the student will be required to pay out of pocket until the student begins to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards set by the U.S. Department of Education. Appeals submitted after the semester begins may be accepted and reviewed, only per the committee's discretion.    

Students are responsible for presenting sufficient information and documentation to substantiate the existence of extenuating circumstances. No action will be taken on incomplete appeals. The appeal will only be reconsidered once all supporting documentation has been received. Please note this appeal process is separate from the Academic Appeal process. Please check with the academic department to determine if an academic appeal is also required.   

Examples of extenuating circumstances:

Medical problems (family illness)

• Family emergency (death of a family member)
• Other documented extenuating circumstances beyond your control

Students may also appeal on the basis of:

• Maximum allowable credit hours for currently enrolled program, or
• Funding for an additional degree and/or certificate.

Appeals for maximum allowable timeframe and funding for an additional degree and/or certificate will require meeting with an Academic Advisor or Counselor to discuss the number of attempted credit hours beyond the requirements and/or the educational purpose of a subsequent degree and/or certificate. A Degree Completion Evaluation Form signed by an Academic Advisor or Counselor must be submitted with the completed Appeal Form.

Students are notified of appeal decisions. If an appeal is approved, students will be placed on probation. If granted a successful appeal, financial aid awarding is based upon the availability of funds at the time of reinstatement. Students may, or may not, receive all funds awarded prior to the loss of eligibility.

Grade Changes

Students are responsible for notifying the Financial Aid Office of all grade changes that might affect current or future financial aid eligibility. A re-evaluation of the students’ status will be performed by the Financial Aid Office once the grade change has been communicated to the Financial Aid Office.

Reinstatement

Students who lose financial aid eligibility because they are not meeting the school’s satisfactory academic progress standards will regain eligibility when they are again meeting the qualitative and quantitative standards as set previously in this policy.  They may also regain eligibility by successfully appealing a determination that they were not making satisfactory progress.  Upon successful reestablishment of eligibility, the student will be awarded financial aid based on the availability of funds at the time of reestablishment. Students may, or may not, receive all funds awarded prior to the loss of eligibility.