To receive and keep your financial aid, the federal government requires students to meet a set of standards referred to as Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The following information helps you determine, track, maintain, and re-establish your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
To receive and keep your financial aid, the federal government requires students to meet a set of standards referred to as Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The following information helps you determine, track, maintain, and re-establish your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status is determined when you apply for financial aid. It is based on all previous academic history. Once you receive aid, your academic progress is evaluated at the end of every semester.
Three Standards to Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Status | |
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Grade Point Average | Maintain a cumulative 2.0 or higher GPA for ACC classes. |
Course Completion | Successfully complete 67% of attempted credits. For example: If you enrolled in 12 credits but you withdrew (W) from 6 credits, you have only completed 50% of your attempted credits. |
Degree Progress | Demonstrate progress toward finishing your program of study within a 150% maximum time frame. For example: if you seek an associate degree requiring 60 credits, complete the degree within 90 attempted credits. |
It is your responsibility to monitor your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Meet with an AoS Advisor or Completion Counselor before you encounter difficulties that threaten your financial aid eligibility.
You can review your SAP status on Self-Service Financial Aid or be proactive and use the online GPA calculator and course completion calculator to plan your academic progress.
You can re-establish your financial aid eligibility by raising your GPA and completion rate to the minimum standards or, if appropriate, completing a Financial Aid SAP Appeal. Here are some examples of circumstances in which we encourage a Financial Aid SAP Appeal: illness, injury, death of a relative or close friend, divorce, loss of employment, childcare issues, transportation issues, or other unforeseen events.
The Financial Aid SAP Appeal allows the ACC Financial Aid Office to consider granting you aid while you work to get back to the minimum SAP requirements. You will gain access to the SAP Appeal Form after you pass the “Key Components to SAP FA Appeal Process” video series and quiz on GetSAP. Follow all instructions on the SAP Appeal Form, and submit the completed appeal to appeals@austincc.edu. or by fax to 512-223-7963.
Start Financial Aid SAP Appeal
After logging in, select the “Key Components to SAP FA Appeal Process” session.
IMPORTANT:
Satisfactory Academic Progress | ||
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Status | Description | Consequence |
Good Standing | Student is meeting academic standards or has no academic history. | Fully eligible for financial aid. |
Financial Aid Warning | Student did not meet standards for cumulative GPA and/or 67% completion rate. | Eligible for financial aid but must reach all standards by the end of the next semester to maintain eligibility. |
Financial Aid Suspension | Student is not meeting cumulative GPA and/or 67% completion rate and is not eligible for the Warning status. | Ineligible for financial aid. |
Warning Maximum Timeframe | Students is approaching the maximum timeframe for their declared degree program. | Eligible for financial aid but, if a student does not complete their degree within the established maximum timeframe for their program, they will eventually be placed on Maximum Timeframe Suspension (see below.) |
Maximum TimeFrame Suspension | According to the major on file, the student has attempted too many credit hours to be eligible for aid. | Ineligible for financial aid |
Include classes of the following types that were taken at ACC (not transfer classes):
DO NOT include:
Include classes of the following types that were taken at ACC (not transfer classes):
DO NOT include:
Include:
DO NOT include:
What Happens If ... | Then Your Financial Aid Status is ... | What You Need to Do Is .. |
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My overall ACC GPA drops below a 2.0 for the first time? | Warning - You are still eligible for financial aid for your next semester. | Raise your overall ACC GPA to a 2.0 by the end of your next semester. |
My overall ACC GPA remains below a 2.0 after the Warning semester? | Suspension - You are not eligible for financial aid. | Raise your overall ACC GPA to a 2.0 by taking ACC classes without financial aid or appeal to our office. |
My overall ACC class completion rate drops below 67% for the first time? | Warning - You are still eligible for financial aid for your next semester. | Raise your overall ACC class completion rate to 67% by the end of your next semester. |
My overall ACC class completion rate remains below 67% after the Warning semester? | Suspension - You are not eligible for financial aid. | Raise your overall ACC class completion rate to 67% by taking ACC classes without financial aid, or appeal to our office. |
I raise my GPA to 2.0 after the Warning semester, but my class completion rate drops below 67% (or vice versa)? | Suspension - You are not eligible for financial aid. | Raise your overall ACC GPA to a 2.0 and your overall ACC class completion rate to 67% by taking ACC classes without financial aid, or appeal to our office. |
I attempt over 150% of the credit hours required to get my ACC degree? | Maximum Time Frame Suspension - You are not eligible for financial aid. | Appeal to our office. |
Please review Austin Community College's official policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) (PDF); Progreso Académico Satisfactorio (SAP) en Español (PDF).