Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Satisfactory academic progress is defined as passing a required number of hours and achieving a required grade point average (GPA) during a reasonable period of time. The academic records of all students are reviewed annually at the end of each spring semester

Annual evaluations include a review of Qualitative (GPA), Quantitative (Pace), and Maximum Timeframe measures.

Loss of Federal Financial Aid

Students who fail to meet federal financial aid SAP standards will become ineligible for all Title IV federal financial aid programs.

SAP status notification

Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be notified after the conclusion of the SAP review process via an email sent to their official Missouri State email address. Students can also review their SAP status through their institutional financial aid portal.

These standards apply only to a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid. Refer to the academic policies section of the MSU Policy Library for academic policies that apply to all students (regardless of whether they are receiving financial aid) and to the undergraduate and graduate catalogs for degree and major requirements.

Qualitative Measure (Overall Grade Point Average)

  • Undergraduate students must have an overall GPA of 2.00.
  • Graduate students must have an overall GPA of 3.00.

Quantitative Measure (Pace)

  • Pace is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours completed by the cumulative number of credit hours attempted.
  • In order to graduate within the maximum timeframe allowed, all students must maintain a pace equal to 67% of their cumulative hours attempted.
  • Only courses for which the student receives credit count toward completed hours.

Maximum Timeframe Measure

Students are no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid at the point at which it becomes mathematically impossible for them to complete their degree program within 150% of the credits required for graduation. For example, if the typical bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours, the limit for maximum attempted hours would be 180. If a student has attempted 140 hours but still needs 50 to complete their program, they are ineligible to receive additional federal aid at that point (not at the point they actually reach the maximum timeframe) because their total hours will exceed 180 before earning their degree.

  • To determine hours required for a specific program of study refer to the graduate and undergraduate catalogs.
  • The maximum timeframe is not increased for changes in major, double majors, second degrees, or adding a minor in another subject area.
  • Students who have completed all the courses required for their degree or certificate but have not yet received the degree or certificate are no longer eligible for federal financial aid for that program.

Withdrawals, Repeats and Incomplete Grades

  • Courses dropped after the change of schedule period will count toward attempted hours.
  • Repeat courses for which the student has previously earned credit will not count toward hours completed. However, they will count toward hours attempted even if credit was not previously earned. The grade from the most recent attempt at the course will be the grade that counts in GPA calculations.
  • Credit hours for courses for which an incomplete or deferred grade is granted will not count as hours completed but will count as hours attempted.

Transfer Hours

Transfer courses accepted by Missouri State University are included when calculating pace, overall grade point average and maximum timeframe.

Remedial Coursework

Remedial courses taken at Missouri State University will be included when calculating the overall grade point average requirement, the pace requirement, and the 150% maximum timeframe requirement. Repeated remedial courses will also be included when calculating the overall grade point average requirement, the pace requirement, and the 150% maximum timeframe requirement. Remedial courses taken under Pass/Not Pass will not be included in the overall grade point average requirement calculations.

Second Degree-Seeking Students

Students who enroll in a second undergraduate or graduate degree program are still held to the 150% maximum timeframe requirement. The maximum timeframe requirement is not increased for changes in major, double majors, second degrees, or adding a minor in another subject area.

Academic Renewal

Any consideration allowed for academic renewal will not be applicable when reviewing academic progress for federal financial aid eligibility. This includes overall GPA requirements and academic pace.

Academic Suspension

Students under academic suspension are not eligible to receive federal financial aid and are not eligible to appeal until they have been reinstated to the university. Reinstatement to the university does not guarantee federal financial aid eligibility or appeal approval.

Re-establishing Aid Eligibility

Students can re-establish eligibility by enrolling for one or more semesters without the assistance of federal financial aid funds to raise their academic standing to the minimum standards required by the SAP policy.

Appeal Process

If academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee (FAAC) in accordance with the following guidelines.

  • Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the death of a family member, illness or injury, severe medical complications, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control. Appropriate documentation of the circumstance must be provided to the FAAC.
  • Appeals must be submitted to the FAAC no later than the tenth week of classes of the semester for which the student would like federal financial aid reinstated. For the summer semester, the deadline is the fourth week of classes. Late submissions may be accepted at the discretion of the FAAC Chair or Director, Financial Aid.
  • Appeals must be accompanied by an academic plan completed by the student and signed by the student’s advisor.
  • The appeal must include a statement as to why the student did not meet SAP and an explanation of what has changed to allow the student to meet SAP standards at the end of the next evaluation period.
  • Students who have reached the maximum timeframe due to switching majors, second majors or additional degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis through the appeal process.
  • Incomplete appeals or appeals submitted past the deadline will not be reviewed.

Financial Aid Probation

Financial aid probation is a status assigned to students whose SAP appeal has been approved by the FAAC. Students placed on financial aid probation must meet the conditions outlined in their approved academic plan each semester until they regain compliance with all SAP standards.

At the conclusion of each probationary semester, the student's academic record will be reviewed to determine whether the requirements of the academic plan have been met. Students who satisfy the conditions of their academic plan but have not yet met all SAP standards may continue on financial aid probation and remain eligible for financial aid. Students who fail to meet the requirements of their academic plan will lose eligibility for financial aid in future semesters.

Students who lose eligibility may continue their enrollment at their own expense or may submit a new SAP appeal if extenuating circumstances prevented them from meeting the requirements of their academic plan.

Students who meet all SAP standards at the end of a semester will be returned to satisfactory standing and will no longer be subject to financial aid probation requirements.