There are three parts to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy:
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Cumulative (Overall) Progress
- Academic Program completion:
a. Maximum Timeframe for completion of degree (applies to undergraduate students)
b. Timely Completion of degree or aid-eligible non-degree graduate program (applies to graduate and professional students)
c. Degree Completion Requirement (applies to all students)
You need to comply with all requirements to remain eligible for aid, as explained in the following:
1. Grade Point Average (GPA)
The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy requires that you maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) in order to remain eligible for financial aid.
- Undergraduate Students: The minimum cumulative GPA requirement for undergraduate students is 2.00.
- Graduate/Professional Students: The minimum cumulative GPA requirement for graduate or professional students is 2.00.
If you drop below a cumulative GPA of 2.0, you will be placed in
financial aid warning. Once you are in financial aid warning, you may
continue to receive financial aid, but you will be expected to meet the
minimum standards (2.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum 66.67 percent overall
completion rate) by the end of your warning term in order to continue to receive financial aid. Failure to meet the minimum standards after your warning term will result in financial aid suspension.
2. Quantitative Standards — Cumulative (Overall) Progress
The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy contains a quantitative
component, meaning that you are required to make steady progress toward
your degree or aid-eligible non-degree graduate program by completing at
least two-thirds (66.67 percent) of all your attempted credit hours. For
example, if you attempt 16 hours per term during the academic year (48
cumulative attempted hours), you would be expected to satisfactorily
complete at least 32 of these hours in order comply with the minimum
quantitative standards.
If you do not successfully complete at
least 66.67 percent of all attempted credit hours, you will be placed in
financial aid warning. Once you are in financial aid warning, you may
continue to receive financial aid, but you will be expected to meet the
minimum standards (2.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum 66.67 percent overall
completion rate) by the end of your warning term in order to continue to receive financial aid. Failure to meet the minimum standards after your warning term will result in financial aid suspension.
3. Academic Program Completion
a) Undergraduate Students: Maximum Timeframe
The
Satisfactory Academic Progress policy contains a maximum timeframe
component, which specifies that the number of credit hours for which you
may receive federal financial aid may not exceed 150 percent of the credit
hours required for graduation with an undergraduate degree. For most
undergraduate programs, the maximum is considered to be 288 credit
hours.
If you change majors, you are still expected to complete
your program within the maximum timeframe. In limited circumstances
appeals will be considered.
b) Graduate and Professional Students: Timely Completion of Degree
The
Satisfactory Academic Progress policy includes an expectation that you
complete your graduate/professional degree or aid-eligible non-degree
graduate program in the timeframe stipulated by the
Graduate/Professional School for your particular program of study.
Graduate students whose enrollment appears to exceed the stipulated
timeframe may be required to submit a degree completion plan to the
Office of Financial Aid in order to continue to qualify for federal
financial aid. The degree completion plan must outline the specific
requirements remaining for degree completion. The plan must be signed by
an academic advisor and be submitted to the Academic Progress Committee
for review.
c) All Students: Degree Completion Requirement
Undergraduate Students
Federal
and state financial aid is limited to the pursuit of your declared
degree. Once it has been determined that you have completed the
requirements for your degree and/or have no further enrollment
requirements, you are no longer eligible for federal or state financial
aid, and your options for institutional assistance are limited, based on
the terms and availability of your institutional aid program. This is
true even if you have not applied for graduation and/or your degree has
not been officially conferred.
Undergraduate students who are
pursuing a double major or an additional minor: Once you have completed
the degree requirements for your first undergraduate degree, you are no
longer eligible for federal or state financial aid awards that are
restricted to the first undergraduate degree. For more information, see "Special Situations" below.
Graduate and Professional Students
Federal
financial aid is limited to the pursuit of your declared graduate or
professional degree or eligible non-degree graduate program. Once it has
been determined that you have completed the requirements for your
graduate or professional program and/or have no further enrollment
requirements, you are no longer eligible for federal financial aid. This
is true even if you have not applied for graduation and/or your degree
has not been officially conferred.
What Happens If You Fall Below the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements?
You will be notified by email if you fall below the Satisfactory
Academic Progress requirements. You may also check your satisfactory
academic progress status at any time in Campus Connect > "View My FA
Academic Progress."
Financial Aid Warning
You are considered to be in financial aid warning if you fail to meet
the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for one or more
of the following reasons:
a. You are below the 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement (GPA requirement); and/or
b. You are below the 66.67 percent minimum course completion rate (quantitative requirement).
Once you are in financial aid warning, you may continue to receive
financial aid, but you will be expected to meet the minimum standards
(2.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum 66.67 percent overall completion rate) by the
end of your warning term in order to continue to receive financial aid.
Failure to meet the minimum standards after your warning term will
result in financial aid suspension.
Financial Aid Suspension
Your financial aid is suspended when you fail to meet the minimum
Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for one or more the
following reasons:
a. You have been assigned a
warning status, a probation status, or you are in a monitoring term
after your probation, and you fail
to meet the requirements of your warning status or academic plan.
b. You are a readmitted student or a first-time applicant whose prior
coursework is below the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress
threshold, and because of this you are considered suspended and
ineligible unless you successfully appeal.
c. You have exceeded the maximum time frame limits for your degree.
Special Situations
Readmitted Students
Readmitted students are required to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements. If you are returning to DePaul after an absence, and your former coursework would indicate that you are below the minimum progress requirements, you will need to appeal for reinstatement for your student aid eligibility by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form for Readmitted Students (PDF) explaining:
- You must explain the circumstances that kept you from meeting the satisfactory academic progress standards in the past.
- You must explain your plan for corrective action — that is, tell us what changes you have made that will allow you to be successful in the future.
- You must describe your current educational objective and your plan for successfully achieving this goal at DePaul University. If you are transferring in new academic credit, please explain how the transfer credit relates to your current educational objective at DePaul.
First-Time Financial Aid Applicants
Current students who apply for financial aid are required to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements. If you are a currently enrolled student and you are applying for financial aid for the first time, and your coursework does not meet the minimum academic progress requirements, you will need to complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal, as explained in the appeal process above.
Undergraduate Students Who Exceed the Maximum Timeframe
In general, accepted transfer credit hours are included in SAP measurements regardless of the treatment of courses in the student's current DePaul degree requirements. However, a student approaching the maximum timeframe because of transfer hours that do not apply to his/her DePaul degree program may appeal for a maximum timeframe review: in these situations, a student's cumulative attempted hours may be recomputed based on the transfer hours that apply toward the student’s DePaul degree. If you are an undergraduate student and you wish to submit a maximum timeframe appeal, you should complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal process, as explained in the appeal process above.
Students Who Withdraw or Who Consistently Fail to Demonstrate Progress
The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to suspend students who officially or unofficially withdraw, or fail to earn credit in any coursework -- in consecutive terms of attendance, or in two or more terms within two consecutive academic years. If you fail to demonstrate progress in this manner, your financial aid may be subject to review and/or suspension, and you will then be required to follow the financial aid appeal procedures outlined in this policy.
Undergraduate Students Pursuing a Second Major or Additional Minor
Undergraduate students pursuing a second major or an additional minor are subject to the Program Completion Requirements explained in the Overview of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (above, Requirement 3). A student who has completed the requirements for a first bachelor’s degree (even if the student has not applied for graduation and/or the degree is not officially conferred) is no longer eligible for federal and state financial aid programs that are restricted to one undergraduate degree. These include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP Grant).
For more detailed information, please see our Satisfactory Academic Progress FAQ.
Second Undergraduate Degree
Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree are eligible only for federal student loans at the undergraduate level.
Students seeking a second undergraduate degree are subject to the maximum timeframe component for undergraduate study. In general, this is 288 credit hours. Students who reach this timeframe and wish to appeal should follow the maximum timeframe appeal explained in Section Three. Once it has been determined that a student pursuing a second undergraduate degree has fulfilled the enrollment requirements for the second undergraduate degree, the student is no longer eligible for federal or state financial aid. See Program Completion Requirements, explained in the Overview of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (above, Requirement 3).