Maintaining Eligibility
Make Sure You Don't Lose Your Aid!
Maintaining your financial aid eligibility requires you to meet the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is evaluated at the end of each semester. These standards include maintaining a minimum GPA, successfully completing a sufficient percentage of your courses, and staying within the maximum unit limit for your program. If these requirements are not met, it could lead to warnings, loss of aid, or repayment obligations. Follow these guidelines to stay on track and retain your aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements
To continue receiving financial aid, you must meet the following SAP standards each semester:
- Cumulative GPA
You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to remain in good standing. - Completion Rate
You are required to complete at least 67% of all units attempted. This includes courses from the past and those currently enrolled in. - Maximum Time Frame
You must complete your program within 150% of the published length of your educational program. For example, if your program requires 60 units, you must finish before attempting 90 units.
Check Your SAP Status:
Students can check their most recent SAP status in myFinAid via WebAdvisor by clicking on the SAP status banner displayed at the top. The SAP status screen will display the student's most recent SAP status, a description of their status, SAP history details, and detailed information on their unit cap, cumulative GPA, and cumulative completion rate/pace.
Understanding Your SAP Status
Your SAP status determines your financial aid eligibility:
- Satisfactory
You are meeting all SAP requirements and remain fully eligible for financial aid. - Warning
If your GPA or completion rate drops below the required standards, you are placed on warning for one semester but can still receive aid. You must improve your academic progress to avoid losing aid. - Unsatisfactory/Max Time Frame Exceeded
If you fail to meet the requirements by the end of the warning period or exceed the maximum unit limit, you will lose eligibility for financial aid. - Probation
After a successful appeal, you may be placed on probation for one semester, allowing you to continue receiving aid. During this period, you must meet the SAP standards to maintain aid eligibility.
SAP Appeal Process
If you experience extenuating circumstances affecting your academic progress, you can submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office before the term ends.
- Approved Appeal: You’ll be placed on probation and eligible for aid for one term.
- If you meet the probation plan requirements but not the cumulative SAP, your plan may roll over to the next semester.
- If you fail the plan or SAP, aid will be suspended.
- Denied Appeal: You can request a second review only with new information or documentation.
Withdrawing From One or More Classes
Withdrawing from classes can negatively affect your SAP status. If you withdraw from one or more courses, you may fail to maintain SAP, which could make you ineligible for financial aid for the current semester and/or in the future. Some awards change based on your enrollment status, and you may be required to repay a portion of your financial aid disbursement depending on the timing of your withdrawal and the type of award received.
Contact the CR Counseling and Advising Center and speak to a counselor before dropping a course to gain a better understanding of the academic consequences.
Withdrawing From All Classes
According to federal regulations, you may be expected to repay a portion of your financial aid if you withdraw from all classes or receive any combination of W/EW/NC/F grades in all classes in a particular term. CR will notify you if you are required to return funds. Keep in mind that if you fail to repay grant funds, you may be ineligible for future federal financial aid at any college.
Review this short video on withdrawing from classes:
more information on withdrawals
Eligible Academic Programs, Educational Goals, and Courses
Federal regulations require that all students receiving federal student aid enroll in and make progress toward an eligible educational goal and an eligible program. All AA/AS/AS-T programs are financial aid eligible programs, but only some certificate programs are currently eligible for financial aid. Additionally, some courses are not eligible for financial aid.
View Eligible Academic Programs, Educational Goals & Courses