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Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Undergraduate Financial Aid

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UG SAP Policy

View the complete Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy here.

To receive federal or institutional financial aid, students must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards required by federal law at all schools. These standards ensure that students who receive Title IV federal financial aid are making reasonable progress toward their degree. SAP is reviewed at the end of each semester for all students, regardless of whether they received financial aid that term. To remain eligible for federal, state, and institutional need-based aid, you must meet all SAP requirements. SAP is not required for the university’s merit-based scholarships.

The key points below provide a quick snapshot of the complete policy. Please be sure to review the entire policy to understand the different components of SAP, what is needed if you fail to meet SAP, and how they impact your aid eligibility.

Key Points to remember: 

Components of SAP that must all be met:

  • Maximum Timeframe for degree completion: 150% of the program length. At CWRU, that’s 180 credits or 12 semesters.
  • GPA Requirement: 2.00 for both per-semester and cumulative averages.
  • Pace of Credit Completion Requirement: At least a 67% pass rate AND 9 credits for the 1st semester and 12 credits for each subsequent semester.

SAP Statuses

  • Good standing: Meeting all requirements.
  • Financial Aid Warning: A "grace period" semester. You still get aid. No appeal needed.
  • Financial Aid Suspension: Aid is stopped. You must appeal or attend with no aid.
  • Financial Aid Probation: Your appeal was approved. You get aid for 1 semester to reach SAP standards.
  • Academic Plan: Your appeal was approved. You have up to 4 semesters (as specified in the plan) to meet SAP standards.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal Requirements and Outcomes

  • Complete the Appeal Form and submit it to financialaid@case.edu no later than 2 weeks beforethe end of classes.
  • Must answer both questions
    • What happened?
    • What changed to allow you to succeed?
  • If denied
    • Aid eligibility is not reinstated.
  • If approved
    • If only 1 semester is needed to regain SAP, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.
    • If more than 1 semester is needed to regain SAP, the student must complete an Academic Plan.
  • Only 2 SAP appeals are allowed for financial aid during a career at CWRU.

Download the UG SAP Appeal and Academic Plan (PDF).