Students must make measurable progress toward completion of their course of study in order to receive federal financial aid. Tri-C students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, successfully complete at least 67% of courses attempted and meet all degree requirements within 150% of the published credits required for the program.
All credits attempted since the first semester of enrollment and transfer hours will be included in this calculation, whether or not federal aid was received. Repeated courses are added into credits attempted and are used in the calculation of attempted credits versus completed credits. Failure to meet the rate of completion requirement and/or the grade point average requirement will result in the following:
- If, after one semester, a student is not making satisfactory academic progress, they will be placed on financial aid warning for the next semester.
- If, after two semesters, a student is not making satisfactory academic progress, they will become disqualified for any additional federal aid until they re-establish eligibility. To regain eligibility, a student must fall within the satisfactory academic progress policy or submit a successful appeal.
Additionally, if a student receives all F grades or a combination of F, and W grades within one semester, whether or not on financial aid warning status, their financial aid is automatically disqualified. The student will need to appeal the disqualification.
Students receiving at least one I grade during a semester will be placed in a terminated SAP status until the grade is updated. Once the grade has been updated SAP can officially be calculated for the incomplete semester.
While on financial aid warning, a student is eligible for financial aid; however, they must be within the SAP policy guidelines by the end of the second semester. Failure to do so will result in financial aid disqualification. In addition, if a student attempts the maximum allowable credits for the program and has not been awarded a degree, financial aid is automatically disqualified.
Students who become ineligible due to SAP disqualification may submit an appeal through the student portal. The appeal should include a statement documenting the circumstances that prevented the student from being academically successful, including a plan for success along with the student's DegreeWorks audit, their academic plan and any supporting documentation. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships considers the student’s written appeal, other supporting documentation and federal regulations when making a final determination. Students with questions about their SAP Appeal outcome may contact the office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships. The decision of the SAP Appeals Committee is final.