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Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

In order to be eligible to receive federal financial aid, you must demonstrate “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP) which is a function of the following three components:


Grade Point Average (GPA):

If you are an undergraduate student receiving financial aid, you must maintain a minimum 2.0 UWSP cumulative GPA (all coursework transferred in is considered into this cumulative GPA), while if you are a graduate student receiving financial aid, you must maintain a UWSP minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.  Note: Standards of satisfactory academic progress for financial aid are different from the University’s probation/suspension requirements listed in the UWSP Catalog. Additionally, academic forgiveness is not counted when calculating SAP.


Pace (67% Rule):

As a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student at UWSP who receives financial aid, you must stay on pace to graduate on time.  Pace is calculated by dividing the total credits you completed by the total number of credits you have attempted.  When this calculation falls below 67%, you are no longer on pace to graduate on time and are ineligible to receive financial aid.  Transfer credits are considered within this pace calculation as credits attempted and credits earned.


Maximum Time Frame (150% Rule):

As an eligible undergraduate, graduate, or second degree-seeking student, you can receive federal financial aid while attempting up to, but not exceeding, 150% of the university’s degree completion length.  Credits transferred to UWSP and any credits attempted at UWSP, with or without the benefit of financial aid, must be taken into consideration.  As an example, if you are a student who is required to earn 120 credits to graduate with a baccalaureate degree, the maximum time frame would be 180 credits (120 x 150% = 180). 


Evaluation Process

The GPA, Pace and Maximum Time Frame requirements are evaluated by the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office after every term (Summer/Fall/Spring), once grades are posted. If you do not meet the GPA, Pace, or Maximum Time Frame requirement(s), you will be ineligible to receive future financial aid. Your options are to:

1. Choose to continue to enroll in classes without financial aid until you earn an academic standing that meets the minimum criteria for financial aid purposes, i.e., bring the cumulative GPA up to at least a 2.0 if you are an undergraduate student or 3.0 if you are a graduate student and/or successfully complete 67% of accumulative attempted credits. Once you have corrected the SAP deficiency of Pace/GPA, it is possible for aid to be reinstated.

2. Provide documentation to Financial Aid and Veteran Services to correct any errors made, and/or

3. Submit an appeal that explains the extenuating circumstances that prevented successful Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and specific steps on how you will reach SAP by the next evaluation period. This appeal requires the development and submission of an academic plan.


Appeal Process

A student who did not meet SAP for financial aid and is currently ineligible to receive financial aid may appeal for reinstatement of eligibility by completing the SAP Appeal Form. This form must include a clear explanation of why the student failed to meet SAP and specifically, what steps the student plans to take to meet SAP by the next evaluation. Additional supporting documentation confirming the appealed situation may also be required.

All appeals must also include an academic plan identifying dates by which the student will meet all aspects of the SAP policy. If the appeal is approved, the student is subsequently placed on Academic Plan Status for one term, after which, the student must be meeting SAP or be following their approved academic plan. If the student is not meeting SAP and/or not following their approved academic plan at the next evaluation, the student will not receive Financial Aid until they are once again in compliance.

• Complete the SAP Appeal Form found on our SAP Forms webpage and

• Meet with your Academic Advisor or Department Chair (or their designee) to develop an academic plan and

• Electronically submit the Appeal Form (and the academic plan) to the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services for review and possible approval.

Students with extenuating circumstances that prevented them from making SAP have the right to appeal their situation to the Financial Aid Office. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, student injury or illness, death of a student’s relative or other reasons resulting in undue hardship to the student. Students must submit the Appeal for Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility form, a copy of their Degree Progress Report (DPR), an Advisor/Chair (or designee)-approved academic plan, and any other related documentation that supports the appeal (see additional information on supporting documentation). Per Federal regulations, an appeal may only be approved if the student shows that they will be able to meet SAP by the next evaluation, or the student’s academic plan ensures meeting SAP by a specific point in time. The authorized Financial Aid officer(s) will serve as the final arbiter of appeals and will inform the student of the decision regarding their appeal and the status of their financial aid eligibility. All decisions are final and are not subject to further appeal.

If denied, the student may attend UWSP, without financial aid, and re-appeal when all components of SAP are met. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation Status for one term, after which, the student must be meeting SAP or be following their approved academic plan. If the student is not meeting SAP or following their academic plan at the next evaluation, they will be ineligible to receive financial aid until they are in compliance.

Academic Plan

All appeals require an academic plan identifying dates by which you will meet all aspects of the SAP policy. You should meet with your Academic Adviser in the Academic and Career Advising Center (ACAC) or your faculty adviser from your major to create an individualized academic plan. In the absence of a faculty adviser, you may meet with your Department Chair (or their designee).