Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Evaluated at the end of each semester and is calculated by the number of completed hours divided by the number of attempted hours. This review is based on a student's entire enrollment history at CState, regardless of financial aid usage. Attempted hours include, but are not limited to, grades of A, B, C, and D, and statuses of W (withdrew), I (incomplete), E, EN (failure), and transfer hours. For a student to maintain SAP, they must meet the minimum completion as follows:

Credit Hours Attempted	Completion Rate
1 – 16	50%
17 – 32	60%
33 – 43	67%
44 – 54	67%
55 hours or more	67%

Qualitative/Grade Point Average (GPA) is evaluated at the end of each semester and is calculated on the total attempted credit hours at the time of evaluation. To maintain SAP, a student must meet the cumulative minimum GPA requirements as follows:

Credit Hours Attempted	GPA Required
1 – 16	1.5
17 – 32	1.6
33 – 43	1.75
44 – 54	1.90
55 hours or more	2.0

 

Financial Aid Warning and Suspension Statuses

The first semester a student does not meet SAP requirements, they will be placed on Warning and will be notified in their Workday Student account. The student then has one semester to raise their grade point average and/or completion rate to maintain financial aid eligibility. If the student is not successful in doing this, they will be placed on a financial aid Suspension at the beginning of their next semester of enrollment. Students on Suspension are not eligible to receive federal student aid, but may complete the SAP Appeal process to regain eligibility.

Students with transfer credits or who already have a degree, please read: 

As required by federal regulations, transfer credits count as attempted credits toward your declared program with CState. SAP status is calculated at the end of each semester. The maximum timeframe element may affect students with transfer credits. This may place the student on a 150% Max Suspension after only one semester, which restricts eligibility for federal funds. However, the student can submit an appeal to see if the college can exclude any of the attempted credits. An academic plan submitted by your academic advisor may be required for this type of appeal. The academic plan outlines how many credits you need to complete your degree or certificate at CState. If your appeal can be approved, your financial aid eligibility will be reinstated.

You are encouraged to contact Student Central on the Columbus Campus, Student Services on the Delaware Campus, call the Telephone Information Center at 614-287-5353, or email a Financial Aid Advisor in Student Central at finaid@cscc.edu to speak to someone to determine how this may affect your financial aid.

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The maximum time frame in which students must complete a degree cannot exceed more than 150% of the published length of the student’s program of study.

To receive federal financial aid, a student must complete the first associate degree or certificate program within 150% of the published length of the program as measured by credit hours attempted. For example, if an associate degree requires 60 credits, a student must complete the degree within 90 attempted credits (60 x 150% = 90).

A student's SAP calculations will be evaluated to determine if the degree or certificate can be completed within the maximum timeframe allowed. When it is determined that a student cannot complete the program within the 150% time frame, the student will be suspended from receiving federal financial aid at CState. Federal Student Aid does not permit the college to approve appeals for students in this situation. Students close to reaching the 150% time frame will receive a Warning notice in their Workday account.

Notes Regarding these Requirements:

The following grades are included in hours attempted and are considered satisfactory completion for federal financial aid purposes: A, B, C, D, S, K, Y and KD.

The following grades are included in hours attempted but are NOT considered satisfactory: E, EN, U, W, I, P, V, Z, and MG

All attempted credits count toward this limit, even if federal financial aid is not received or there are extenuating circumstances preventing completion of credits.

If an I (incomplete) or missing grade is affecting a student’s eligibility to meet the above standards, it is the student’s responsibility to notify Student Central once a final grade has been officially recorded on the transcript. Once the grade is recorded, SAP will be re-evaluated and the new status will be reflected.

Additionally, a student must meet the academic requirements to remain at CState as defined in the official Columbus State Course Catalog.

Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Each element of the SAP policy is evaluated at the end of each semester (Autumn, Spring, Summer). A student who has not met one or more of the requirements outlined above will first be placed on Warning, then Suspension if appropiate. A notice will be sent via the student’s Workday account explaining the steps necessary to regain federal financial aid eligibility, if possible.

Students who do not meet the minimum requirements and are placed on a financial aid Suspension may have their federal financial aid reinstated in one of two ways:

1. The student can successfully complete courses by paying out-of-pocket, until the SAP requirements are met (see tables above). Students must contact the advisors in Student Central to request a review.
2. If documented extenuating circumstances exist, the student may choose to file an appeal.

Appeals

Students placed on Suspension may file an appeal to request their eligibility for federal student aid be reinstated:

• Any student eligible for the appeal process will be notified in their Workday account and should follow the instructions.
• Students will be notified in their Workday account whether the appeal is approved or denied, or if more information is needed.
• Students are limited to three approvals during their enrollment at CState.
• Students with one associate degree from CState and return to pursue an additional associate degree(s) and/or certificate program may be granted additional credit hours of eligibility up to the number of credit hours required to complete the subsequent degree or certificate program. The count of attempted hours will begin with the term following graduation. If a student reaches the additional limit and has not completed a second associate degree or certificate, federal aid eligibility will once again be terminated.
• Students submitting an appeal for the 150% time frame will be evaluated on all three elements of the policy and must meet all parts for the appeal to be approved. The completion rate and GPA for CState graduates seeking a second degree will be determined from the point of graduation forward.

The following are examples of circumstances to be considered for appeal:

Students not meeting the completion rate and/or minimum GPA requirement may appeal for these unforeseen circumstances - illness/injury, death of an immediate family member, unexpected military service, or other unforeseen events outside of the student's control.

Students exceeding the maximum time frame may appeal for these reasons - already completed a degree/certificate at CState, transfer credits that do not apply to current program of study, program is no longer offered at CState, significant prerequisites were required, or other unforeseen events outside of the student's control.

Students receiving federal student aid who completely withdraw - or are reported as not attending by instructors - from ALL classes during a semester may be subject to repayment of federal funds to the U.S. Department of Education. This requirement is called  'Return of Unearned Title IV Funds Policy.' The return of these funds may create a balance owed to the college. The policy states that a student must attend through the 60% point of the semester to earn their federal financial aid. The U. S. Department of Education requires that unearned Title IV calculations be based on the number of calendar days the student actually attended the course, divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester. This equation provides the percentage of earned financial aid.

Here is an example of how the policy works:

Student registers for 13 credit hours and starts attending his classes. Student withdraws from all of his classes on the 16^th day of the semester. The calculation would be as follows:

Aid Disbursed for the semester:

Pell	$ 1100.00
Subsidized Direct Loan	$ 848.00
Total	$ 1948.00

 

Days Attended	16
Days in Semester	109
Percentage earned	14.7%

14.7% X $1,948 = $286.36

Aid earned X Total aid disbursed = Aid Earned

Amount of Aid to be returned:
$1,948 minus $286.36 = $1661.64

Amount to be returned by College:
Tuition/Fees $700.00
$700.00 X 85.3% = $597.10 (College returns $597.10 to Direct Loan)

Initial amount to be returned by Student: $1661.64 minus $597.10 = $1064.54

Final Calculation of what student owes: Student owes $250.90 to Direct Loan - Student owes $263.64 to Pell Program (Pell to be repaid is reduced by 50%)

Student will repay the $250.90 when they enter into repayment on their student loan. The $263.64 in Pell must be repaid immediately in order for the student to regain financial aid eligibility. The student will owe the money to the U.S. Department of Education and will be considered in overpayment status until the amount is repaid. Overpayment status will prohibit the student from receiving financial aid at CState or any other college. Payment arrangements may be made by calling the U.S. Department of Education.

Students will be notified of their calculation of Unearned Title IV by the Financial Aid Office.

 

SAP Policy Printout

A student not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements has the option to appeal their suspension of federal financial aid. It is the student's responsibility to submit the appeal. Appeals are reviewed based on a documentable extenuating circumstance impacting academic performance. Extenuating circumstances are past events that are no longer barriers to academic progress. The appeal must explain how the student is now able to be academically successful. Examples of extenuating circumstances to be considered for appeal:

• Serious illness or injury to student or immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, child) that required extended recovery time
• Death of an immediate family member
• Significant trauma in student's life that impaired the student's emotional and/or physical health
• Withdrawal due to military service
• Other unexpected circumstances outside the student's control

Note: Circumstances related to the typical adjustment to college life, such as working while attending school, financial issues related to paying bills, and car maintenance/travel to campus, are not considered extenuating for the purpose of appealing financial aid suspension.

For Spring 2026/Summer 2026:

SAP appeal forms are available in CougarWeb Self Service or on our main CSCC webpage: click Resources For, then select Students. In the dark blue area on the right side, click Forms, then click on Satifactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Forms and choose the appropriate form.

For Autumn 2026 and later:

All SAP Appeals must be submitted through the student's Workday account.

Before submitting your appeal form, please review this SAP Tip Sheet for detailed help with what should be included.

Students are limited to three approvals during their enrollment at CState. Appeals submitted and approved after a semester has begun will have the effective semester determined on a case-by-case basis.