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Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Office to monitor the progress of all students toward the completion of a degree. This monitoring process is called Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP. The Department of Education requires that a school monitor SAP both quantitatively and qualitatively.  Satisfactory academic progress is essential to remain eligible to receive funds from any Federal Title IV, state, or university aid programs (see note at bottom).  Please note that some scholarships may have a higher renewal GPA requirement.

At the end of each semester the Financial Aid Office will monitor each undergraduate student's academic progress to determine financial aid eligibility.  Graduate students and Optometry students are monitored by their respective schools for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

How to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, undergraduate students must meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Complete with a passing grade at least 75 percent of credit hours attempted.  If a student does not complete any classes or fails all classes, financial aid will be suspended immediately for future semesters.
  2. Have attempted fewer than 181 credit hours.
  3. Must maintain a 2.00 overall GPA.

Probation

Students who fail to complete 75% of credit hours attempted after one semester and/or maintain a 2.00 overall GPA will be placed on SAP probation.  Students are eligible to receive federal financial aid funds while on probation.

Suspension of Aid

A student's financial aid will be suspended for any of the following reasons:

  1. The student fails to make progress toward the minimum required overall GPA during the semester(s) following notification of probation.
  2. Failure to complete 75% of the credit hours for which a student is enrolled during the semester following notification of probation.
  3. Complete withdrawal from the University during a semester for which aid was received.
  4. Dismissal from the University for any reason.
  5. Failure to complete any credit hours attempted during the semester with a passing grade (A,B,C,D).
  6. The student has attempted more than 180 credit hours and has not received a bachelor's degree.

How you can make sure you don't have a Satisfactory Academic Progress problem.

  1. Full-time undergraduate students should successfully complete at least 12 credit hours each Fall or Spring semester with a grade of "C" or better.
  2. Part-time undergraduate students should successfully complete at least 6 credit hours each Fall or Spring semester with a grade of "C" or better.
  3. To remain eligible for financial aid, you must complete your undergraduate degree within 12 full-time equivalent semesters even if you did not receive financial aid in prior periods of enrollment.
  4. Transfer credits are used to determine your class level and progress toward a degree even if you did not receive financial aid at the previous institution(s).

You can appeal if you feel there are extenuating circumstances

Suspension of aid may be appealed to the Office of Financial Aid Appeals Committee.  Students must complete the SAP Appeals Application that can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. Students are notified in writing of the Committee's decision.

NOTE:  Federal Title IV, state, and university programs include:  Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Work Study (FWS), Bright Flight Scholarship, Missouri Access, Marguerite Ross Barnett Scholarship, and University of Missouri-St. Louis scholarships.