Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal Regulations: Effective July 1, 2011

The federal government requires students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of their degrees within the government’s designated reasonable period of time in order to be eligible for Title IV financial aid. These federal aid programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Stafford Loans (all types), and the Federal Direct Plus Loan.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards are defined as:

• Earning (passing) a required number of hours (67% or 2/3 of all credit hours attempted) and
• Achieving and maintaining a required grade point average (GPA). See GPA chart in the college catalog. (Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.)
• Total attempted hours must not exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s degree program. Refer to the college catalog for program requirements.

Annual Review Process

Manhattan College conducts an annual review of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for each student enrolled to determine student eligibility for federal aid. Students are evaluated at the close of the Spring term.

SAP Review

SAP is reviewed in three measures (1) Qualitative, (2) Quantitative (also known as Pace), and (3) Maximum Time Frame

Qualitative Measure (GPA):

The qualitative standard is the cumulative grade point average. This measure requires that as the number of attempted credit hours increases with class standing, the GPA increases.

All grades attempted will be considered. These include courses passed, courses failed, courses from which student withdrew officially or unofficially, repeated courses*.

Quantitative Measure (Pace)

There will be a measure of “pace” at which the student is progressing. This is calculated by dividing the cumulative credit hours earned by the cumulative credit hours attempted. SAP is maintained if the student is achieving the appropriate GPA and the “pace” measure is equal to 67% or higher and the student has not reached the 150% maximum time frame allowed for their degree program.

Maximum Time Frame

Students are eligible for federal financial aid if they have attempted below 150% of the hours required to complete their degree program. Determine the total credit hours required for your degree and multiply that figure by 1.50. (Example: If 120 hours are required to complete the degree, then multiply 120 hours x 1.50 = 180. The maximum allowable attempted hours for the degree program is 180.)

Other factors pertaining to SAP:

• An incomplete grade of “I” will be considered an “F” until a letter grade is assigned in its place. It is the student’s responsibility to notify SFS of any grade change after the review period.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations do not recognize any provision for academic amnesty or renewal. All academic coursework must be included in determining Satisfactory Academic Progress taken anytime a student is enrolled at Manhattan College.
• Transfer students are required to meet the minimum academic standards set by Manhattan College. Transfer students must provide official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to the Admissions Office. Courses transferred to Manhattan are counted as both earned and attempted hours when measuring pace, or the quantitative measure.
• Students who are declared ineligible for Title IV aid may use summer sessions offered by MC as a grace period to receive any unused Title IV aid unless they have exceed the maximum time frame for receiving aid. The summer terms can be used as additional terms to improve a student’s quantitative or qualitative measures. It is the student’s responsibility to notify SFS of any academic record updates after the review period.
• Should the student choose or be asked to “sit out” or attend another institution for a period of time, the student is still subject to meeting the SAP requirements for the semester in which s/he re-enrolls. A leave of absence or suspension.
• In addition to Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, students may have their federal financial aid adjusted if they repeat a class. The criteria for federal aid eligibility for courses that are taken more than once are:

  • Unlimited repeated courses can be funded with federal aid if the student has not passed the course previously while at Manhattan.

  • Only one repeated course can be funded with federal aid if the student has previously completed the course with a passing grade.

• Students can appeal no more than three times while attending Manhattan.

Detailed SAP Review Process

Students are notified at the conclusion of the Spring semester of any failure to meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. At the time of the review, students will be placed in an initial category of ‘Good Standing’ or ‘Revoke.’ Good standing designates the student has met progress standards and is eligible for aid for the following academic year. Revoke designates the student has not met SAP standards and is no longer eligible to receive aid for the upcoming aid year. If a student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress at that time, the institution cannot award and disburse future financial aid to the student.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who do not meet SAP have two options – (a) attend at their own expense without the use of Title IV funding and work towards regaining eligibility or (b) make a SAP appeal to Student Financial Services.

SAP Appeals Process

Students denied federal financial aid for failing to make satisfactory academic progress may appeal by submitting the following forms (and any requested, additional documentation) to Student Financial Services:

• SAP Appeal Form
• SAP Academic Plan

If the appeal is approved, the student will be re-categorized as ‘Probation’ which means aid eligibility will be extended for one semester only. Students on probation status will have their eligibility reviewed again after that initial term, in accordance with the terms of their approved Academic Plan. If after the probationary term a student fails to meet the terms of the plan they will be ineligible for student aid. Students in this situation cannot have federal financial aid reinstated and have already submitted an appeal during the prior term, thus, exhausting their right to appeal. Resolution of all deficiencies is the only mechanism through which a student may again be considered eligible for federal financial aid.

If the appeal is denied, students are not eligible to receive federal aid and can choose to attend at their own expense.

The appeal decision of SFS if final and cannot be overridden.

SAP Appeal Instructions

Students must submit a SAP Appeal Form with documentation to the SFS Office and attach the SAP Academic Plan form after is completed and signed by the student and academic advisor. Students will be contacted if more information is requested. The appeal decision will be emailed to the student’s email address

The SAP Appeal Form will request supportive documentation to help support the following claimed circumstances: family illness or death, personal illness or serious injury, or other unusual mitigating circumstances. The SAP Academic Plan must include: specific outcomes of how SAP can be established and maintained, a list of courses needed, and certification by the student and advisor.