Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To stay eligible for financial aid, you must meet all three components of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Each plays a key role in tracking your academic progress toward graduation.

Example 1: Still Building GPA

• Undergraduate Program
• 2 Semesters Completed
• 1.2 Cumulative GPA

✔️ So long as they've met the other two standards, Student A is still eligible because they haven't reached four completed semesters of enrollment at Millersville, so the GPA requirement doesn't apply yet. 

⚠️They may remain eligible for now, but they only have 2 more semesters before hitting the checkpoint. Raising a cumulative GPA takes time, so early academic recovery is important.

Example 2: Below Required GPA After 4 Semesters

• Undergraduate Program
• 4 Semesters Completed
• 1.99 Cumulative GPA

❌ Student B does not meet the minimum GPA requirement after 4 semesters, and they've lost federal aid eligibility.

⚠️To regain eligibility, they must:

• Raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0 or higher, or
• Submit a successful SAP appeal due to extenuating circumstances.

Completion Rate/Pace:

You must complete at least 67% of all the credits you attempt—including transfer credits—to keep your federal aid. Falling below this rate can make you ineligible; however, you may appeal if you had extenuating circumstances or are working to raise your pace back above 67%.

Example 1: Meeting the Requirement

• Total Credits Attempted = 30
• Total Credits Earned = 21
• Pace Calculation: 21 ÷ 30 = 70% Completion Rate

✔️ Student A is meeting SAP completion rate of 67%. If they also meet the GPA and timeframe standards, they remain eligible for aid.

Example 2: Below the Requirement

• Total Credits Attempted = 30
• Total Credits Earned = 18
• Pace Calculation: 18 ÷ 30 = 60% Completion Rate

❌ Student B is not meeting SAP requirement of 67%. They’ve lost federal aid eligibility. To regain eligibility, they must:

• Successfully complete more credits to raise their completion rate above 67%, or
• Submit a successful SAP appeal if extenuating circumstances contributed to the delay in their pace.

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Maximum timeframe:

Federal aid can only be used up to 150% of the credits needed to complete your degree. For a bachelor’s degree (120 credits), that means a maximum of 180 attempted credits. This limit cannot be appealed once reached.

💡 Pro Tip: Any student who changes majors is responsible for completing their degree within the maximum timeframe outlined by SAP standards. Once you're near the 150% limit, every credit counts. Work closely with your advisor to carefully plan your final semesters.

• All attempted credits—including those from a previous major—will be included in the SAP calculation.
• Second-degree students must also complete their program within the same 150% maximum timeframe.
• There is no appeal process for the Maximum Timeframe component of SAP.

Example 1: Nowhere Near the Limit

Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Requirement: 120 earned credits

• Total Credits Attempted: 90
• Total Credits Earned: 78
• Credits Still Needed to Graduate: (120 - 78) = 42
• If they earn all 42 Credits: 90 + 42 = 132 attempted
• Calculation: 180 - 132 = 48 remaining credits 

✔️ Student A still has plenty of room before hitting 180 credits. They should be mindful of how any future unearned credits will affect their remaining eligibility. 

They remain fully eligible for federal aid, provided they meet all other standards and eligibility requirements.

Example 2: Getting Close

Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Requirement: 120 earned credits

• Total Credits Attempted: 145
• Total Credits Earned (passed): 105
• Credits Still Needed to Graduate: (120 - 105) = 15 earned credits
• If they earn all 15 Credits: 145 + 15 = 160 new total attempted credits
• Calculation: 180 - 160 = 20 remaining credits 

⚠️ Student B is under the 180-credit maximum, but the margin is tight, and they need to stay on track. They only have a 5-credit cushion for any failed, withdrawn, or non-passing courses.

They will remain fully eligible for federal aid at this time, provided they meet all other standards and eligibility requirements.

Example 3: Reached the Limit

Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Requirement: 120 earned credits

• Total Credits Attempted: 170
• Total Credits Earned (passed): 90
• Credits Still Needed to Graduate: (120 - 90) = 30 earned credits
• If they earn all 30 Credits: 170 + 30 = 200 new total attempted credits
• Calculation: 180 - 200 = 20 credits over the maxium; 180 - 170 already attempted = 10 credits of remaining eligibility

❌ Student C will exceed 180 credits before finishing their degree. They can only receive aid for an additional 10 credits, after which, federal aid will cease permanently. 

They'll need to find alternative ways to cover the remaining 20 credits of coursework.

SAP is evaluated annually in May after spring grades are processed. This review determines whether you've made sufficient academic progress and if you’re eligible for financial aid in the upcoming year.

If you don’t meet SAP requirements:

• You’ll receive an email notification sent to your Millersville University email account.
• A notification will also appear under the Finances tab in your myVILLE Student Portal.
• You can also view your SAP status by logging into your MAX account and clicking on the SAP tab in your Financial Aid Overview.

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💡 Pro Tip: Check your SAP status every year—even if you're confident you're meeting the requirements.

Your grades, repeated coursework, and remedial classes all factor into how your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is calculated. These elements can impact your GPA, your Completion Rate, and how close you are to reaching the Maximum Timeframe allowed for financial aid. Understanding how each is counted can help you avoid surprises and make informed academic decisions.

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RECEIVING STANDARD GRADES:

This chart shows how standard letter grades (A–F) affect both your GPA and whether you earn credit for a course. These grades directly impact two components of SAP: your cumulative GPA and your Completion Rate.

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RECEIVING SPECIAL GRADES:

This chart explains how non-traditional or administrative grades—like Incomplete (I), Withdrawal (W), and Audit (AU)—are counted in your SAP evaluation. While they may not affect your GPA, many still count as attempted credits and can influence your Completion Rate and Maximum Timeframe.

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Repeating Courses

Repeating a course can impact your GPA and Completion Rate in different ways—it may raise your GPA, lower it, or even reduce both your GPA and Completion Rate, depending on the grades you earn.

Example 1 – GPA Improves, Completion Rate Improves

• 1st Attempt: Grade = F (0.0 GPA), no credit earned

• 2nd Attempt: Grade = B (3.0 GPA), credit earned

✅ GPA goes up, and Completion Rate improves because credit was earned on the second try.

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Example 2 – GPA Drops, Completion Rate Still Meets Standard

• 1st Attempt: Grade = C–

• 2nd Attempt: Grade = D–

❌ GPA drops because the D– replaces the higher grade of C–
✅ Completion Rate stays stable (credit was earned both times, no credit removed)

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Example 3 – GPA Drops, Completion Rate Decreases

• 1st Attempt: Grade = C (credit earned)

• 2nd Attempt: Grade = F (no credit earned)

❌ GPA drops because the F replaces the C
❌ Completion Rate decreases because previously earned credit is now lost

💡 Pro Tip:  Only your most recent grade counts toward your GPA—but every attempt counts as an attempted credit in your Completion Rate. Think carefully before repeating a course, especially since federal aid only covers repeat attempts a limited number of times. Your eligibility depends on how many times you've already taken the course.

Click here for more information on repeating courses and how it may affect your financial aid.

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Taking Remedial Courses

Remedial courses—like MATH 090, COMM 010, and ENGL 010—do count in your SAP review, but they come with a few important notes:

• They do not count toward the total number of credits required for graduation.

• They do count toward your Maximum Timeframe, which limits how many credits you can attempt while still receiving aid.

💡 Pro Tip: If you're taking remedial classes, be sure to schedule a meeting with your academic advisor. You’ll want to stay on track with credits that do count toward your degree and avoid running out of aid eligibility too soon.

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If you've fallen short of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, there are ways to regain your financial aid eligibility. Whether the issue is GPA, Completion Rate, or Maximum Timeframe, understanding your next steps is key. Use the guidance below to explore your options, review examples, and take action toward restoring your eligibility for aid.

Your Next Steps Depend on Which SAP Standard You Didn't Meet:

Maximum Timeframe: 

If you’ve reached the maximum timeframe for your program, you cannot regain eligibility for federal aid.

• Need help figuring out your options? Contact the Office of Financial Aid.

GPA and Completion Rate: 

If you are not meeting the GPA or Completion Rate standards, you can regain eligibility once you meet the following requirements:

• Cumulative GPA: Must meet the required minimum
• Completion Rate: Must reach at least 67% of attempted credits

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Ways to Regain Eligibility

1. Earning New Credits at Millersville:
Taking and earning new credits can help you improve both GPA and Completion Rate.

Example A – Completion Rate:
Student A is not making SAP due to a low Completion Rate. They take a 3-credit summer course, earn a B+, and raise their rate above 67%. SAP is restored, and they regain eligibility for fall aid.

Example B – GPA:
Student B has a 1.99 GPA and is not meeting the GPA requirement. They take four fall courses (12 credits), earn all A+ grades, and raise their GPA above 2.0. They regain eligibility for spring aid.

2. Transferring Credits from Another Institution:
Transfer credits may help improve your Completion Rate, but they will not affect your GPA.

Important Steps:

• Submit the Authorization to Transfer Credits Form to the Registrar’s Office
• Confirm your credits will transfer back to MU and eventually appear on your degree audit.
• Note processsing timeframes—and submit your official transcript to the Registrar as soon as possible so your account can be updated.
• Notify the Office of Financial Aid once the credits are visible in your MU record. It is your responsibility to request your SAP to be re-reviewed mid year. 

⚠️ If you're not meeting SAP due to GPA, taking outside coursework will not help.

3. Repeating a Course
Repeating a course may help improve your GPA, but it won't increase your Completion Rate—and in some cases, it can actually lower it.

Important Disclaimer: 

• If you're not meeting SAP due to a low GPA, you can retake a course you didn’t pass (grades of F, W, or Z) or one you passed with a low grade (D– through C+) to try to raise your GPA.
• Be careful, though—if your new grade is lower, it will replace the original and could lower your GPA instead.

Example Scenarios:

A:

	Grade Received	Does it count as attempted credit(s)?	Does it count as earned credit(s)?	Will it affect the student’s Completion Rate?	Will it affect the student’s GPA?
1st attempt taking course (credits)	F: Failed Course	YES	NO	YES (negative impact)	YES (negative impact)
2nd attempt taking course (credits)	B: Passed Course	YES	YES	YES (positive impact)	YES (positive impact)

B:

	Grade Received	Does it count as attempted credit(s)?	Does it count as earned credit(s)?	Will it affect the student’s Completion Rate?	Will it affect the student’s GPA?
1st attempt taking course (credits)	W: Withdrew from Course	YES	NO	YES (negative impact)	NO
2nd attempt taking course (credits)	B: Passed Course	YES	NO	YES (positive impact)	YES (positive impact)

 C:

	Grade Received	Does it count as attempted credit(s)?	Does it count as earned credit(s)?	Will it affect the student’s Completion Rate?
1st attempt taking course (credits)	W: Withdrew from Course	YES	NO	YES (negative impact)
2nd attempt taking course (credits)	F: Failed Course	YES	NO	YES (negative impact)

💡 Pro Tip: Only your most recent grade counts toward your GPA, but every attempt counts toward your total attempted credits. Plus, federal aid only covers repeat courses a limited number of times.

Click here for more information on repeating courses and how it may affect your financial aid.

If you do regain eligibility:

• Financial aid will resume starting with the academic semester after you re-establish Satisfactory Academic Progress—it is not retroactive.
• It’s your responsibility to contact the MU Office of Financial Aid once your updated grades or transfer credits are posted so your SAP status can be re-reviewed.

67% Completion Rate (Quantitative SAP Component):

• If you need help figuring out how many new credits you must earn to raise your Completion Rate above 67%, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
• They can help you review your current progress and guide you in determining your path forward.

Cumulative GPA (Qualitative SAP Component):

• If you're working to improve your GPA, your Academic Advisor can help you estimate what grades you'll need in future courses.
• You can also use the GPA Calculator in your Degree Audit.

Need to improve both?

• If you're falling short in both Completion Rate and GPA, you’ll need to earn credits and improve your grades in upcoming semesters.
• Reach out to both the Office of Financial Aid and your Academic Advisor to create a realistic plan for regaining eligibility.

Yes. If your financial aid has been suspended because you didn’t meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), you may be eligible to submit an appeal—but only if you’ve experienced serious, documented extenuating circumstances that affected your ability to meet SAP standards.

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What Qualifies as an Extenuating Circumstance?

Extenuating circumstances are unexpected, significant events that were beyond your control. These may include:

• A serious illness or injury (physical or mental health)
• The death of a relative or close friend
• A personal or family crisis
• Challenges with disability accommodations
• Domestic violence or unsafe living situations
• Other major life disruptions that interfered with your coursework

💡 Pro Tip: Simply struggling academically or not being aware of SAP rules does not qualify as an extenuating circumstance for appeal.

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What Happens If My Appeal Is Approved?

If your appeal is approved, your federal aid will be reinstated for the next semester. You’ll be expected to follow the academic plan outlined in your appeal to work toward meeting SAP standards.

SAP is reviewed again at the end of the spring semester each year. If you're still not meeting the requirements at that time, and your progress was significantly below the minimums, you may need to submit another appeal to continue receiving aid—even if you did well the past semester(s).

💡 Pro Tip: Stay on track with your academic plan and meet regularly with your advisor to avoid needing to re-appeal.

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What Happens If My Appeal Is Denied?

If your appeal is denied, you will remain ineligible for federal aid until you meet the SAP standards independently again.

Access the Appeal Form and Get Tips on Appealing

Academic progress requirements for Pennsylvania State Grant programs differ from federal SAP standards.

• Full-time students must earn at least 12 new credits per semester
• Part-time students must earn at least 6 new credits per semester
• Maximum timeframe rules state students may receive up to the equivalent of 8 full-time State Grant awards

Progress requirements are communicated directly to students by PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) with their grant notifications.

📞 Questions about your PA State Grant status or appealing eligibility must be directed to PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392 or visit www.pheaa.org.

For more information on the PA State Grant and the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, click the link below. 

PA State Grant | Millersville University

Check out the different resources available to students at Millersville that can help them be academically successful and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

student support resources available