Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid
Financial aid is a powerful tool to help you reach your academic goals. But to keep that aid flowing, it's important to maintain what's called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Think of it as staying on track to graduate while making the most of your financial resources.
Here we will explain what SAP is, how it works, and what to do if you ever encounter any bumps in the road. By understanding these requirements, you can focus on what matters most – crushing your studies and achieving your dreams!
Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards:
NWTC monitors all credits for all students, whether or not the student has received financial aid. The standards below will be applied after the student’s first semester of enrollment and each subsequent semester.
Qualitative Measure of Progress
- Grade Point Average (GPA): Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Quantitative Measure of Progress (PACE)
- Completion Rate: Students are required to maintain an overall completion rate of 67%. The completion rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credits successfully completed by the cumulative number of credits attempted. Attempted credits include all credits taken at NWTC regardless of whether the student received financial aid or not and any transfer credits accepted. Attempted credits include those credits for which the following grades were received, W, I, IP, NS. Learn more about the NWTC grading system here.
Warning
Students who fail to meet the grade point average and/or the completion percentage standards will be placed on one semester of Financial Aid Warning. Students placed on Financial Aid Warning are eligible to receive financial aid during their warning semester. The warning semester is considered to be the next attended semester following when student failed to meet the academic progress standards, regardless if the student is receiving aid or completed the FAFSA. At the end of the one warning semester, students must be meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards to remain eligible, or aid will be immediately suspended.
- Any student with less than a 10% completion rate or less than a .50 GPA will be immediately suspended and will not receive a Warning semester. These students may be manually reviewed by staff if it is determined that they are enrolled in enough credits to meet the minimums after one semester.
Suspension
Students who do not meet the cumulative SAP standards at the end of a warning semester are placed on suspension. Suspended students are not eligible to receive financial aid until an appeal is approved or satisfactory academic progress standards are met.
Maximum Time Frame
Students are expected to complete their degree/diploma program within a maximum time frame for financial aid purposes. Federal regulations stipulate that the maximum time frame is 150% of the published credit requirement of each eligible program.
Students are only eligible to receive financial aid until their cumulative attempted credits plus any transfer credits accepted equals 150% of the required credits for their degree/diploma. This includes all prior credits (including previous programs at NWTC), transfer credits, and current program credits at NWTC.
Once a student has reached the maximum time frame, they are no longer eligible to receive financial aid. Credits are counted starting with the semester the student first enrolled at NWTC, even those semesters for which financial aid was not received.
Students who reach the maximum time frame are immediately suspended from financial aid eligibility. If at any point in time the Financial Aid Office determines that the student cannot complete their program within the 150% time frame, the student will be immediately suspended from future financial aid for the remainder of their program, even if currently meeting the SAP standards.
Maximum Time Frame Examples
| Program | Credits Required for Graduation | Max Credits (including transfer credits) |
| Accounting Associate Degree | 68 | 102 |
| Medical Assistant Technical Diploma | 32 | 48 |
SAP Appeals
Students have the right to appeal their suspension status based on non-academic, mitigating circumstances (i.e., death of an immediate family member including father, mother, sibling, spouse, or child, an extended illness, hospitalization, or injury of the student). All appeals submitted due to not meeting minimum GPA and/or completion requirements, must submit third party documentation or in limited circumstances, a Student Success Plan. Students may appeal Financial Aid Suspension only once in their lifetime with the college. Students who wish to appeal must first have completed the FAFSA for the upcoming semester that they are appealing for and then speak with a financial aid advisor to discuss their appeal and obtain the appeal form. Financial aid appeals are reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee every 2-3 weeks. It is the student's responsibility to submit an appeal in a timely manner. Students are always responsible for all charges on their student bill regardless of financial aid.
- Suspension due to not meeting GPA or Completion standards: To appeal a financial aid suspension, students must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. Required documentation for a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal includes a letter from the student that explains the specific circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and third-party documentation. An Academic plan from their academic advisor is also required. The student and academic advisor are required to sign the Academic plan as a mutual agreement to follow the plan through graduation. Academic plans are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office on a weekly basis. If at any time the student fails to comply with the Academic Plan Agreement, the student is immediately ineligible for financial aid.
- Suspension due to reaching maximum time frame: To appeal a maximum time frame suspension, students must complete the Time Frame Appeal Form. Required documentation for a time frame appeal includes a letter from the student that explains the specific circumstances that prevented the student from completing their program within the maximum time frame (i.e. change of program, 2nd degree) and an approved Academic plan from the student’s academic advisor. The student and academic advisor are required to sign the Academic plan as a mutual agreement to follow the plan through graduation. Academic plans are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office on a weekly basis. If at any time the student fails to comply with the Academic Plan Agreement, the student is immediately ineligible for financial aid.
If a student believes the Satisfactory Academic Progress status is incorrect due to a grade change, late grade, or completion of an incomplete, it is the student's responsibility to contact the Financial Aid Office. Grade changes that occur after the next semester begins will not be reevaluated.
Academic Plan
Students who have an appeal granted are placed on an Academic Plan. While on an Academic Plan, students must review and understand the following information that pertains to continued eligibility for financial aid:
- Follow the academic plan submitted with your appeal to complete only the classes outlined in your academic plan.
- Successfully complete 100% of the credits you attempt each semester; maintain a GPA of 2.0 or greater each semester. If your program requires you complete certain program courses with a specific grade (A or B) and you fail to meet this requirement, your financial aid will be terminated.
- Failure to follow the academic plan (including failing, withdrawing from, repeating courses, or taking courses not included in the academic plan) will result in immediate termination of financial aid and you will no longer be eligible for financial aid. You will not be allowed to appeal a second time.
- Taking classes not included on your academic plan will result in termination of your future financial aid.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.