Understanding Satisfactory Academic Progress

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, is a federal regulation requiring the U-M Office of Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of each student who is receiving financial aid as they move toward completing their degree. Students who fall behind in their coursework, fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average, or fail to complete classes in a maximum time frame may lose eligibility for all types of federal, university, and state aid administered by our office. 

To maintain SAP, a student must:

1. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) – The minimum for undergraduates is 2.0 and for graduate students is 3.0. These cumulative GPA standards are consistent with academic success requirements across the university. The GPA is reviewed annually after winter semester grades are posted. The overall GPA must be equal to or greater than the required academic level minimum of your program at the end of each winter semester. Note: Professional students participating in the College of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program and the School of Dentistry's Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program have to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
2. Complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours – This is reviewed at the end of each winter semester and the aggregate percentage of coursework attempted and passed must equal 67% (not rounded) or greater at each review. For example, an undergraduate student who enrolls for 12 credit hours and completes 8.5 credit hours has completed an acceptable percentage of attempted credit hours, 67% or greater.
3. Complete a degree program in a maximum time frame of no more than 150% of the program's average length – Example: The average number of credit hours it should take to complete a Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) undergraduate degree program is 120 credits. Using that average, 150% would equal 180 credit hours which would be the maximum number for which an LSA student could receive financial aid (assuming the above requirements are also met). The 150% standard applies to graduate students based on average program length as defined by a student’s academic unit. (Note to Transfer students: The number of transfer hours accepted upon admission is used to calculate the student’s remaining eligibility under the 150% calculation and will be included in the completion rate calculation which includes number of credits attempted and completed. This applies to students transferring into U-M for the first time and students transferring between schools/colleges (for example, transferring from LSA to Kinesiology) into different academic programs on campus.)

At the end of each winter term, our office reviews each student's progress. Students who have not met all three requirements (for all terms enrolled, not just those terms that the student received aid) will be notified in writing that they have lost eligibility for financial aid.

Learn more about Satisfactory Academic Progress.