Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
If you receive financial aid, then you must meet and maintain the minimum standard of “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP), as established by the Higher Education Act of 1965.
UTSA makes its standard applicable to all federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs for the purpose of maintaining a consistent policy for all students who receive financial aid.
Review Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed for every student who enrolls during the summer, fall and spring terms. Failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress during the review period may impact future financial aid eligibility for the upcoming academic year, starting in the summer. If you were previously enrolled but did not attend UTSA during a term, then One Stop will re-evaluate your SAP status when you take classes again.
To make SAP, you must meet the following standards:
Academic Standards
You must maintain a minimum overall cumulative grade point average requirement as determined at the end of each spring semester for all credit hours attempted and transferred to UTSA.
- Undergraduate students must have a 2.0 overall cumulative grade point average.
- Graduate students must have a 3.0 overall cumulative grade point average.
Completion Rate
You must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all attempted coursework. Your academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each spring semester. If your number of earned hours drops below 67% of your attempted hours, then you will no longer be eligible for financial aid.
Overall Earned Hours ÷ Overall Attempted Hours = Percentage of Earned Coursework
The following counts as attempted and earned in the SAP calculation:
- Successfully completed courses with grades “A+” through “D-“
- “CR” or courses passed for credit
All transfer hours used towards your degree
The following counts as attempted and not earned in the SAP calculation:
- “F” grades
- “W” or withdrawn courses
- “IN” or incomplete courses
- “NC” or no credit
- “RP” or Research in Progress
Example:
If you attempted or registered for 62 semester credit hours overall, including all previous semesters and transfer hours, you must have completed a minimum of 42 semester credit hours overall (42 ÷ 62 = 67%) in order to meet the SAP completion rate requirement. Note: Percentages are not rounded. For example, if you determine that your completion rate is 66.9%, you did not meet the minimum requirement of 67%.
Maximum Time Frames
The number of semester credit hours you may attempt cannot exceed 150% of the number of semester credit hours required for graduation in your program of study, as published in the university catalogs. All periods of enrollment must be considered—even those you did not receive financial aid for as well as hours transferred from another school. If the number of attempted hours reaches 150 percent of the hours required for graduation, then you will no longer be eligible for financial aid.
UTSA standard timeframes:
- Undergraduate – 180 hours (120 hours X 150%)
- Graduate – 54 hours (36 hours X 150%)
- Doctoral – 90 hours (60 hours X 150%)
Financial Aid Termination
After the review process, if you are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), then you will be terminated from financial aid eligibility. Financial aid eligibility includes but is not limited to grants, loans, work-study, scholarships and some tuition and fee exemptions. Eligibility will be terminated for all future semesters after the review.
If your financial aid eligibility has been terminated, you may appeal the decision, in writing, to the One Stop Enrollment Center if you believe that you had extenuating circumstances that led to your unsatisfactory progress. One Stop will notify you of the appeal outcome via your UTSA email address.
For questions about your Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal please email onestop@utsa.edu