Satisfactory Academic Progress
Undergraduate Students
Federal regulations require that The Ohio State University establish policies to monitor the academic progress of students who apply for and/or receive federal financial aid. To remain eligible for financial aid at Ohio State, recipients are required to show satisfactory progress toward a degree according to the guidelines listed below.
The following students are affected by this policy:
- Students enrolled in an undergraduate program, including
- baccalaureate professional students (in AMP, NUR, PHR, DHY)
- CEd students
- new freshmen
- transfer students
- Continuing students applying for financial aid who have never previously received aid monitored under this policy.
Criteria
Undergraduate students' progress will be evaluated each term on the basis of the following criteria:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 as of the quarter they have 90 earned credit hours and every quarter thereafter.
- Successful completion of 70% of their total cumulative hours attempted,
- Successful completion of an academic degree/program within a specified maximum time frame expressed as hours attempted, not to exceed:
- 150% of the average program length for a first undergraduate degree
- 113% of the required program hours in a second undergraduate degree program
Included in the definition of hours attempted are:
- All hours included in cumulative hours completed;
- Credit hours for which students are enrolled AND/OR hours added during the "no refund period" for the term;
- Credit hours that include marks E, EN, I, NP, U, W, blank, or * ;
- Credit hours with mark EM, for calculation of maximum time frame (these hours ARE NOT counted in the calculation of percentage of completion);
- Credit hours transferred to The Ohio State University with marks K, KD, KM for calculation of maximum time frame (these hours ARE NOT counted in the calculation of percentage completion);
- Credit hours attempted prior to receiving a Fresh Start, including all hours which are forgiven under the Fresh Start rule;
- Credit hours forgiven under the Freshman Forgiveness rule.
Excluded from the definition of hours attempted are:
- Credit hours dropped on or before the end of the refund period;
- Credit hours that include marks P or R;
- Credit hours with mark EM, for calculation of percentage of completion (these hours ARE counted toward maximum time frame determination);
- Credit hours transferred to The Ohio State University with marks K, KD, KM for calculation of percentage of completion (these hours ARE counted toward maximum time frame determination).
Included in the definition of successful completion are:
- Credit hours for which there is a letter grade/notation (including plus and minus) of A, B, C, D, S, PA, including hours that have been forgiven under the Freshman Forgiveness rule or that remain on the academic record as part of an approval of the Fresh Start rule.
Excluded from the definition of successful completion are:
- Credit hours for which there is no letter grade/notation indicating successful completion of coursework, including marks E, EN, I, P, NP, R, U, W or *;
- Examination credit hours with mark EM, for calculation of percentage of completion (these hours ARE counted toward maximum time frame determination);
- Credit hours transferred to The Ohio State University with marks K, KD, or KM, for calculation of percentage of completion (these hours ARE counted toward maximum time frame determination);
- Any credit hours that have been forgiven under Freshman Forgiveness or Fresh Start for which there is no letter grade/notation indicating successful completion of coursework.
Special note for terms of withdrawal:
| Withdrawal Occurs |
What's Included |
|---|
| Before 1st day of classes |
Hours not included |
| 1st day through the end of the refund period |
Credit hours for which you are enrolled as of the date of withdrawal |
| During the "no refund" period |
Credit hours for which you are enrolled as of the beginning of the "no refund" period |
Consequences Of Not Meeting SAP
If students do not meet the minimum standards of SAP for any one quarter or if they are within 36 credit hours of reaching their maximum time frame, they will be placed on Conditional Status. These students will be eligible to receive aid for their next quarter of enrollment, but must meet SAP during that quarter to remain eligible. Please note that students must meet all SAP criteria (GPA, percentage completion, maximum time frame) to retain eligibility for aid.
Cancellation Status is assigned to students who have not met the minimum standards of SAP for two consecutive quarters or who have reached their maximum time frame. Students on Cancellation Status are not eligible for any federal financial aid or most institutional financial aid. Please note that students must meet all SAP criteria (GPA, percentage completion, maximum time frame) to regain eligibility for aid once they are on Cancellation Status.
Example: Joe does not meet SAP at the end of autumn term and is placed on Conditional Status effective winter term and Cancellation Status for spring term. At the end of winter term, his financial aid for spring term is not disbursed until his winter term performance can be evaluated. If he has met all conditions of SAP during winter term, Cancellation Status will be removed and his aid will be disbursed to him for spring term. If his winter term performance does not meet the SAP requirements, no further aid will be disbursed to him for spring or subsequent terms until he takes enough additional hours at his own expense to bring his performance up so he is meeting SAP standards. If Joe has experienced extenuating circumstances that have caused his academic performance to suffer, he may be able to appeal to have his eligibility reinstated.
The federal government requires that Ohio State monitor the academic progress of non-recipients, also. It is important to note that academic progress during any term in which students do not have financial aid will be a factor in determining eligibility for aid in subsequent terms. Progress will be monitored and students will be notified if the minimum standards have not been met.
Questions?
Before calling, read the most frequently asked SAP questions. If you still have questions about the SAP policy, please contact Student Consolidated Service Center at 320 Lincoln Tower. Appeal forms for the year in question are available on this web site at sfa.osu.edu/Forms.
Graduate Students
Federal regulations require that The Ohio State University establish policies to monitor the academic progress of students who apply for and/or receive federal financial aid. To remain eligible for financial aid, graduate students are required to show satisfactory progress toward a degree, according to the following guidelines.
Criteria
Graduate students' progress will be evaluated each term on the basis of the following criteria:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the end of each term of enrollment in a graduate program.
- Successful completion of at least 70% of their total hours attempted.
- Successful completion of an academic program within a reasonable maximum time frame, not to exceed 135 credit hours for a master's degree, and 260 credit hours for a doctoral degree.
- See above for complete definitions of "hours attempted" and "successful completion."
Consequences Of Not Meeting SAP
If students do not meet the minimum standards of SAP for any one quarter or if they are within 36 credit hours of reaching their maximum time frame, they will be placed on Conditional Status. These students will be eligible to receive aid for their next quarter of enrollment, but must meet SAP during that quarter to remain eligible. Please note that students must meet all SAP criteria (GPA, percentage completion, maximum time frame) to retain eligibility for aid.
Cancellation Status is assigned to students who have not met the minimum standards of SAP for two consecutive quarters or who have reached their maximum time frame. Students on Cancellation Status are not eligible for any federal financial aid or most institutional financial aid. Please note that students must meet all SAP criteria (GPA, percentage completion, maximum time frame) to regain eligibility for aid once they are on Cancellation Status.
Questions?
Before calling, read the most frequently asked SAP questions. If you still have questions about the SAP policy, please contact Student Consolidated Service Center at 320 Lincoln Tower. Appeal forms for the year in question are available on this web site at sfa.osu.edu/Forms.
Definitions:
Eligible – You are currently meeting SAP requirements.
Conditional - You are assigned this status because you have not met the minimum standards for one term. You are eligible to receive aid for the current term, but if you do not meet the required completion rate during this term, you will be ineligible for future aid. If you are within 36 credit hours of reaching your maximum time frame, you will also be assigned Conditional status until you reach your maximum time frame. At that time, you will no longer be eligible for financial aid. Back
Cancellation - You are assigned this status because you have not met the minimum standards for two consecutive terms. You are not eligible to receive aid. If you have reached your maximum time frame, you will also be assigned Cancellation status. You are not eligible to receive further financial aid. Back
Appeal – You are assigned this status because you have had a prior quarter Cancellation status appeal approved and we are monitoring your performance to determine whether you have met your appeal conditions.
Pending – You are assigned this status for future quarters for which your aid eligibility cannot currently be determined. No action is required from you, except to complete your current coursework successfully. Your Pending status will be updated at the end of the term when we have had the opportunity to review your performance.
Under Review – You are assigned this status because we are reviewing your academic progress to determine whether you are eligible to receive financial aid. While your status is under review, no aid will be disbursed to you.
Undetermined - You are assigned this status because we are currently in the process of determining your status under our SAP policy. Your status will be updated when we have fully evaluated your performance during all prior periods of enrollment.
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