Satisfactory Academic Progress and Student Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To be eligible and continue to receive Federal Student Aid (FSA), students must make satisfactory academic progress toward achieving and completing their program of study through measurement of qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (completed credits) standards.

Qualitative Standard:

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA established by their program

3.0 - Required by all on-campus programs, online library science, Nursing@Simmons, SocialWork@Simmons, and BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons
2.67 - Required by MPH@Simmons

How courses count when determining GPA:

Count Toward GPA	Do Not Count Toward GPA
Completed courses	Withdrawals
Failed courses	Incompletes
Repeated courses	Transfer credits

Quantitative Standard:

All graduate students must complete at least 50% of all credits attempted. This is calculated by dividing the total credits earned by the total credits attempted.

How courses count when measuring pace

Count as Completed	Do Not Count as Completed
Completed courses	Withdrawals (after add/drop)
Transfer credit	Incompletes
One repeat after a failed course	Failed courses

Additionally, all graduate students are required to complete their degree within a reasonable timeframe. As the number of credits required to complete Simmons degree varies, students should consult with their program to determine the maximum allowed for their degree. All credits attempted will count toward this timeframe.

Frequency of Review:

Academic progress will be determined by Student Financial Services based upon the information contained on the student's academic record as of the date of the review. Students must meet both the qualitative and quantitative standards in order to be eligible and continue to receive financial aid. Reviews will include all terms of the student’s attendance (including summer terms).

SAP is reviewed at the end of each term for graduate students

**Please note: Financial aid may not be disbursed to your student account until SAP has been evaluated.**

The office of Student Financial Services will complete the SAP evaluation after the prior semester grades have been officially posted by the Office of the Registrar. If grades are not made official before the beginning of the next term, an otherwise eligible student may have their financial aid disbursement delayed.

No exceptions can be made to this process.

Review Results:

Satisfactory academic progress reviews result in a status for Title IV and Institutional eligibility. One of the following results will occur upon review for satisfactory academic progress:

Satisfactory: Students are placed in this status when the SAP review determines the student is achieving the qualitative and quantitative standards required for satisfactory academic progress and can continue to receive both federal and institutional aid.
Financial Aid Warning: Graduate students who fail to meet the qualitative and/or quantitative standards for satisfactory academic progress are placed on financial aid warning for the subsequent term of enrollment. Notification is provided when the student is placed in this status and the student's eligibility for aid is considered to be reinstated for the subsequent term of enrollment only. Students must meet SAP standards by the end of the next term.
Financial Aid Suspension: Graduate students who fail to meet either the qualitative or quantitative standards for satisfactory academic progress will be placed in an unsatisfactory status that suspends financial aid eligibility until the next evaluation period. Notification is provided when placed on this status and the student is not allowed to continue to receive financial aid unless they complete an appeal, as described below, and it is approved.
SAP Appeal:

Students who are on financial aid suspension and have extenuating circumstances that may warrant an exception can:
Continue to enroll in coursework toward their degree without using financial aid to assist with the cost. Students will have their Title IV eligibility reinstated upon successful achievement of the SAP standards. OR
Appeal the SAP suspension by submitting a completed "SAP Appeal Form".

SAP Appeal Decisions

Students will be notified of the appeal decision via email from Student Financial Services. Students who have an appeal approved will have their status updated to financial aid probation.

Financial Aid Probation: Students who have their financial aid suspension appeal approved are placed on financial aid probation and will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for the following semester.
- Graduate students on probation must meet with their academic advisor to determine their Academic Plan
- Progress toward SAP will be evaluated at the end of each probationary semester and may require submission of additional documentation to show the student has adhered to the terms of their plan