Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Frequency and Statuses
Satisfactory Academic Progress is generally determined at the end of each payment period (semester). Coursework completed at Pima Community College, as well as outside transcripts applied to the student's record, are included when determining a student's satisfactory academic progress, even if the student did not receive financial aid in the past.
- Students who receive Title IV financial assistance are evaluated for SAP at the end of each semester after the semester grading period, even if their courses ended early or they ceased attending early.
- Transfer students, and those who are returning to the College after a hiatus are evaluated upon entry (or reentry), whether or not that point in time is at the end of a semester. SAP status does not reset after any period of time, therefore, your SAP status after a hiatus will likely be the same as when your hiatus began.
- Financial aid applicants (upon receipt of their FAFSA) and recipients who are not in a satisfactory academic standing will be notified via email to their Pima student email account.
- SAP must be recalculated if a grade change has occurred or the student has changed their program.
- Courses that are transferred in and evaluated for articulation mid-semester will not be evaluated under SAP until the next official SAP evaluation, which will likely occur at the end of the semester.
SAP Statuses
- Financial Aid Good Standing Status
- A student in good standing is a student who has met all of the requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy and will continue to be eligible for federal and state financial aid grants and loans as long as all other financial aid requirements are met.
- Financial Aid Warning Status
- Warning Status means a student did not meet all of the satisfactory academic progress requirements. You will continue to receive financial aid, but you are at great risk of losing eligibility if you do not improve your academic performance to meet cumulative requirements. A warning status only lasts for one semester. To remain eligible, cumulative SAP requirements must be met at the end of your warning semester.
- If you do not meet cumulative requirements by the official SAP evaluation period, your eligibility for further federal student aid will be suspended, and you will have to pay out of pocket for classes. Please see below for SAP appeal information.
- NOTE: Students not meeting Maximum Timeframe rules are not eligible for a Warning status.
- Warning Status means a student did not meet all of the satisfactory academic progress requirements. You will continue to receive financial aid, but you are at great risk of losing eligibility if you do not improve your academic performance to meet cumulative requirements. A warning status only lasts for one semester. To remain eligible, cumulative SAP requirements must be met at the end of your warning semester.
- Financial Aid Suspension Status
- Suspension status means you are not eligible to receive any federal and state financial aid funds. This means you are no longer eligible for federal grants, loans, and Work Study.
- Any funds awarded for the upcoming semester will be canceled, and anticipated aid will be reversed from your student account.
- Registered classes risk being canceled if you do not make other payment arrangements.