Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students receiving federal or state financial aid, regardless of whether they received financial aid in the past, must meet three Satisfactory Academic Progress
(SAP) standards toward degree completion at the end of every semester to maintain their financial aid eligibility.
SAP Standards
Pace of Progress (Credit Completion) - Successfully complete at least 75% of credit hours attempted.
Grade Point Average (GPA) - Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA in accordance with University Academic Standards.
Maximum Timeframe - Complete a degree within 150% of the published length of the degree.
All SAP standards are based on "cumulative" measures, including the number of credit hours accepted for transfer (for pace of progress and maximum timeframe) - NOT just one academic year.
A student is in "Good" Financial Aid standing if all three of these SAP standards are met at the end of the semester. SAP policy does not apply to scholarships or tuition waivers. See each standard below for specific requirements, and necessary steps a student must take if they do not meet a SAP standard.
Pace of Progress (Credit Completion) Standard
Students must successfully complete 75% of their cumulative total attempted credit hours in their current degree level at NAU.
Pace of Progress = Cumulative (total) number of successfully completed credit hours divided by Cumulative (total) number of attempted credit hours.
Successfully completed credit hours include: Credit hours successfully completed include those with grades of A, B, C and D.
Successfully completed credit hours do not include: Audited courses, grades of Incomplete (I), grades of Withdrawn (W), grades of Failed (F), Non-credit Remedial, College level Exam Program (CLEP) or any other credit by exam.
Total attempted credit hours include: Transfer credits entered on student's NAU transcript, Completed credits (with a grade of A, B, C, D), Audit, Incomplete, Withdrawn, Failed and Repeated courses.
Students who do not meet the minimum percentage for the Pace of Progress Standard at the end of a semester will be put on Financial Aid Warning for one semester. No appeal is necessary to retain federal and state financial aid for the Warning semester, but the student must meet all SAP standards by the end of the Warning semester to retain aid eligibility.
If the student does not meet all SAP standards by the end of the Warning semester, they will be put on Financial Aid Suspension. For the student to avoid loss of federal or state financial aid they must submit an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Aid. If this appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for at least one semester with conditions the student must meet in order to continue to receive federal and state financial aid. See "How to Retain Financial Aid Eligibility - SAP Appeal" below.
Grade Point Average Standard
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative NAU GPA in accordance with the University Academic Standards (Academic Continuation and Renewal Policy) set forth in the NAU Academic Course Catalog in effect for the student's course of study.
Currently, the GPA standards for undergraduates are:
| Credit Units Earned | Required GPA |
| 0-14 | 1.8 or better |
| 15-29 | 1.9 or better |
| 30 or more | 2.0 or better |
Graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA.
The GPA calculation does not include: Transfer credits entered on the student's NAU transcript, Audit, Incomplete, Withdrawn, Non-credit Remedial, College Level Exam Program (CLEP), or any other credit by exam.
If a student does not meet the minimum cumulative GPA required in the NAU Academic Course Catalog in effect for the student's course of study, they do not meet the GPA Standard (whether or not put on Academic Probation by the University), and will be put on Financial Aid Warning for one semester. No appeal is necessary to retain federal and state financial aid for the Warning Semester, but the student must meet all SAP standards by the end of the Warning Semester to retain aid eligibility.
If the student does not meet all SAP standards at the end of the Warning Semester, they will be put on Financial Aid Suspension. For the student to avoid loss of federal or state financial aid they must submit an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Aid. If this appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation with conditions the student must meet in order to continue to receive federal and state financial aid. See "How to Retain Financial Aid Eligibility - SAP Appeal" below.
Maximum Time Frame Standard
Students must be making progress towards their degree. The maximum time frame of a degree is set at 150% of the published length of the program, as set forth in the NAU Academic Course Catalog in effect for the student's cours of study.
The Maximum Timeframe calculation includes: Transfer credits entered on the student's NAU transcript, Completed credits (with grades of A, B, C or D), Audit, Incomplete, Withdrawn, Repeated, and Failed courses.
There is no Warning Semester for a Maximum Timeframe Standard violation. Students who reach or exceed their maximum timeframe for their program will immediately be put on Financial Aid Suspension. For the student to avoid loss of federal or state financial aid they must submit an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Aid. If this appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation with conditions the student must meet to continue to receive federal and state financial aid. See "How to Retain Financial Aid Eligibility - SAP Appeal" below.
SAP Status Definitions *
Good Standing
- Status assigned to a student who is in good standing under all three SAP standards.
- Student may receive federal and state financial aid.
Warning
- Status assigned to a student who fails to meet one or more SAP standards at the end of a semester.
- Student may continue to receive aid for a subsequent semester (Warning semester).
- If the student fails SAP at the end of his/her Warning semester, he/she will be on Financial Aid Suspension.
Suspension
- Status assigned to a student who fails to meet one ore more SAP standards at the end of the Warning semester, or who exceeds the Maximum Timeframe SAP Standard.
- Student is not eligible for federal and financial aid for the current and subsequent semesters. For the student to avoid loss of federal or state financial aid they must submit a "SAP Appeal Form". If this appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one semester, and will continue to receive federal and state financial aid.
Probation
- Status assigned to a student who fails to meet SAP and who has appealed and has had eligibility reinstated.
- As a condition of approving the appeal, and to retain financial aid eligibility, NAU may require that the student follow a specific Academic Plan. An Academic Plan is a specific plan for a student to come into compliance with SAP standards.
*SAP Status does not determine your eligibility to register for classes.
How to Regain Eligibility - SAP Appeal
If a student fails to meet SAP Standards, he/she may submit a SAP Appeal form, which provides a checklist to follow to ensure the student provides the office with a complete appeal package. The following must be submitted with the appeal form:
- Typed personal statement explaining:
- extenuating circumstances that led to not meeting the standards, and what actions the student is taking to ensure future academic progress
- Documentation to support extenuating circumstance(s):
- Examples of extenuating circumstances include (but are not limited to):
- a period of illness or injury
- death of a family member
- family difficulties (illness or divorce)
- military service
Students who are suspended due to Maximum Timeframe must also meet with his/her academic advisor to complete the academic plan section of the SAP appeal form. Go to
Our Forms Page to access the SAP Appeal form and instructions. Submission of this appeal form is not a guarantee of an approval and/or reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.
Students whose appeals are approved will be placed on Financial Aid Probation, will be given an Academic Plan which they must follow, and will be allowed to receive aid for that semester. The student's record will be evaluated at the end of the semester to determine his/her status for the following semester. Students must meet the requirements of their Academic Plan, or meet SAP standards before receiving financial aid the next semester at NAU.
Contact the Financial Aid office if you have any questions regarding SAP Policy or SAP Appeal procedures.