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Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

Mandatory Requirements for Continued Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Overview (Effective Fall 2025)

Federal regulations require that all federal financial aid recipients:

• be enrolled in a degree-seeking program,
• be taking courses required for that program 
• and maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward their degree to maintain eligibility.

Federal regulations require institutions to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of awarding financial assistance under the Title IV programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (34 CFR 668.34). Federal Title IV Programs include the Pell Grant, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), TEACH Grant, Work-Study, and Direct Loans.

Tennessee State University complies with this requirement by monitoring each student's academic progress against three standards: cumulative grade point average (GPA), completion rate (MAXHRS) and maximum time frame (MAXTIME) for completion of a degree, consistent with the provisions of this policy. All federal and state financial aid programs administered by Tennessee State University are governed by this policy.

This policy is used to determine satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility to participate in Federal Title IV programs, State programs (e.g., Tennessee Student Assistance Award, the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship, etc.), and various TSU scholarship programs. References to financial aid within this policy apply to these programs.

This policy is not used to determine academic standing. Students should reference the TSU undergraduate and graduate online catalogs for academic regulations used to determine acceptable academic standing, regardless of if the student is receiving financial aid.

Students must meet the criteria addressed in Sections III – V to maintain eligibility for financial aid.   

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO COVID-19 and SAP:  Circumstances related to an outbreak of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, the illness of a student or family member, compliance with a quarantine period, or a general disruption from such an outbreak may form the basis of a student’s SAP appeal. In other words, if your ability to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress is affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, such circumstances will be taken into consideration when evaluating an Appeal for Reinstatement of Financial Aid Eligibility in accordance with Federal Law. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard Measurements

CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

Undergraduate students must earn a 2.00 Overall combined (cumulative) GPA to successfully meet requirements for graduation. However, students are afforded the opportunity to maintain financial aid eligibility through the following tiered GPA structure:

• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 1.5 for 0-15 attempted hours
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 1.7 for 16-30 attempted hours
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 1.8 for 31-45 attempted hours
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 1.9 for 46-59 attempted hours
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 2.0 for 60 or more attempted hours
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 2.0 if pursuing a second bachelor’s degree (including all undergraduate courses as recorded by the Records Office)
• has a cumulative GPA equal to or greater than 3.0 if pursuing a graduate degree

Grades (including posted transfer credit) of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “F”, “FA”, and “WF” including “+” or “-” options are calculated in the GPA. Withdrawals are not calculated in the GPA. Incomplete grades (I) are calculated in the GPA as an “F” grade until the course is graded. Test-based credits are not included in the GPA. Audited courses are not included in GPA.

A. Warning. The Office of Financial Aid will place a student on a Warning status at the end of the semester the above GPA is not met. During the semester that students are in a Warning status, they remain eligible for financial aid, if otherwise eligible.

B. Suspension. Students who have not achieved the required GPA by the end of the Warning semester will be suspended from financial aid for subsequent semesters. See Section IX Financial Aid Appeals.

Completion Rate (MAXHRS)

Completion rate is the pace at which a student is moving toward completion of their program of study. Federal law requires that students must progress toward completion of the eligible program of study at a percentage rate that will allow the student to complete the program of study within the maximum timeframe allowed for the program of study. (See Section V. Time Limitation standard). At TSU, this limitation is also applied toward State aid programs.

A student’s pace is determined by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours earned by the cumulative number of hours attempted.
Undergraduate students must minimally earn 66.7% of their overall combined credits attempted (inclusive of all college level coursework, excluding remedial/developmental coursework) to remain in good standing for financial aid.

Graduate students must minimally earn 66.7% of their overall credits attempted (inclusive of all graduate level coursework) to remain in good standing for financial aid.

Grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “P”, or “S”, including any “+” or “-” options, count as credit hours earned. All courses for credit will be counted as hours attempted including credits applicable to a previous major, posted transfer coursework, test-based credit, withdrawals, incompletes, repeated coursework, and coursework graded as “N”, “U”, “WD”, “WF”, “WP”, “F”, and “FA”.

A. Warning. The Office of Financial Aid will place a student on a Warning status at the end of the semester the student drops below the required 66.7% completion rate. During the semester that students are in a Warning status, they may receive financial aid, if otherwise eligible.

B. Suspension. Students who have not achieved a 66.7% completion rate by the end of the semester that a Warning status is assigned will be suspended from financial aid for subsequent semesters. See Section IX Financial Aid Appeals.

Time Limitations (MAXTIME)

Federal law allows students to receive Federal Title IV assistance up to 150% of the program’s published length. Students are placed on suspension and become ineligible for financial aid once it is mathematically impossible to graduate within the maximum timeframe. This limitation is also applied toward State aid programs. Additionally, once a student has completed all requirements for a program of study, the student can no longer receive financial aid for that program, even if the student has not officially graduated.

For all degrees, students are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the number of hours required for that degree (college level course hours, excludes remedial hours). For example, if the bachelor’s program requires 120 credit hours, 150% of the program is 180 attempted credit hours. Students pursuing degrees with differing required credit hours to graduate will only be allowed a maximum of 150% of their program length.

For all degrees, students are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the number of hours required for that degree as published in the applicable TSU Catalog until it is mathematically impossible for them to graduate within 150% of their program of study.

All terms a student attends are calculated into the Maximum Time Frame regardless of whether or not aid was received.

Repeats

Students should refer to the academic regulations within the undergraduate and graduate online catalogs as related to how course repeats are counted in the GPA calculation.

When measuring Completion Rate and Maximum Time Frame standards, all attempted credits associated with repeated coursework are included, but only credits associated with the last completed repeated course will be included as earned credits if credits were earned.
When determining a student’s enrollment status for the disbursement of federal and state aid, TSU cannot pay for more than one (1) completed repetition of a previously passed course. The Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program has additional rules related to repeated coursework used for the GPA calculation for determining continuing eligibility.

Frequency of Review

The Office of Financial Aid measures the GPA, Completion, and Maximum Time Frame standards at the end of each term (Fall, Spring, Summer). The student’s SAP status will not automatically adjust when grades are changed unless requested by the student. Otherwise, the grade changes will be accounted for in the next scheduled SAP evaluation.

Notification to Students

A. GPA and Completion Rate Standards

1. Warning. Undergraduate and graduate students placed in a warning status due to not meeting GPA and/or Completion Rate standards will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid of their status and the requirements necessary to return to good standing. During a Warning status, students will be required to meet the required standards by the end of the Warning semester or will have their financial aid eligibility suspended effective with the next term of enrollment.

2. Suspension. Undergraduate and graduate students suspended from financial aid will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid providing the GPA required and the number of credit hours they must pass to regain eligibility for financial aid as applicable. The notification will include guidance regarding the appeal process. See Section IX Financial Aid Appeals.

3. Probation. Undergraduate and graduate students for whom an appeal has been approved will be notified by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee regarding the resulting status of probation and will be placed on an Academic Plan. Students can maintain eligibility for financial aid by meeting the requirements of their academic plan or meeting the established GPA and Completion Rate standards.

B. Maximum Time Frame Standard

1. Reminder Notification. Once students have attempted the minimum hours required to complete their program of study but have not yet graduated will be notified of the Maximum Time Frame standard and that financial aid will be suspended once it is determined to be mathematically impossible to graduate within the 150% limitation.

2. Suspension of Aid Notification. Students are notified once it is mathematically impossible to complete their program of study within the maximum timeframe. The notification will include guidance regarding the appeal process. See Section IX Financial Aid Appeals.

Please Note: Notifications are sent to all students to review their SAP status after SAP is reviewed each term.

Financial Aid Appeals

Students who fail to meet one or more of the GPA, Completion Rate, or Maximum Time Frame standards have the option to appeal. Students who fail to meet the conditions of an Academic Plan that was established due to a previously approved appeal are not eligible to appeal again except in extreme circumstances as determined by the Director of Financial Aid. Refer to the TSU website regarding procedures for submitting an SAP Appeal for GPA and Completion Rate standards. GPA, Completion Rate, and Maximum Time Frame appeals must include a letter explaining the circumstances surrounding the violation along supporting documentation.

Maximum Time Frame appeals must include a program of study review prepared and signed by the student’s academic advisor.
Those who are in violation of the Maximum Time Frame standard may appeal to the Director of Financial Aid. Time limitation appeals must include a graduation plan signed by the student's academic advisor or major department representative.

All decisions made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee are final. Appeals will only be considered based on extenuating circumstances that were not anticipated and have been resolved to the extent that they should not create an ongoing barrier to meeting all SAP requirements. Such circumstances might include the death of a relative, an injury to or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. Students will be required to submit appropriate documentation of the circumstance(s) which caused the student to fail to meet SAP standards and what has changed that will allow the student to be academically successful.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on financial aid probation and can receive financial aid during the probationary period if other financial aid eligibility requirements are met. During the probationary period, the student will be placed on an Academic Plan.

Academic Plans

TSU has instituted an academic plan program to allow students who violate the SAP standards to continue their aid eligibility if they meet certain requirements. Students who can complete their program of study within the 150% timeframe may be allowed to participate. Academic plans allow financial aid recipients to have their academic progress measured on a semester-by-semester basis rather than cumulatively. Academic plan requirements are more stringent than the published standard. The conditions for students who are granted aid continuation based on academic plans are:

A. Academic Plan for Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students who violate the SAP standard due to cumulative GPA agree to maintain a 3.0 semester for each semester they are on the academic plan until such a time that the student’s cumulative GPA meets the published standard.

B. Academic Plan for Completion Rate

Students who violate the SAP standard due to not successfully completing 66.7% of all attempted hours agree to complete 100% of all attempted hours for each semester they are on the academic plan until such a time the overall completion rate meets or exceeds the 66.7% benchmark.

C. Academic Plan for GPA and Completion Rate

Students who violate the SAP standard due to not maintaining the required cumulative GPA AND not successfully completing 66.7% of all attempted hours agree to maintain a 3.0 GPA AND complete 100% of all attempted hours for each semester they are on the academic plan until such a time that the student’s cumulative GPA meets the published standard and overall completion rate meets or exceeds the 66.7% benchmark.

D. Academic Plan for Failed Maximum Timeframe

Students who violate the satisfactory academic progress guideline due to exceeding the maximum timeframe for their declared program of study agree to successfully complete 100% of all attempted hours AND maintain a 3.0 GPA (Undergraduate or Graduate students) for each semester they are on the academic plan.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

A student who has lost eligibility for financial aid due to suspension will be reinstated once the student has met both the GPA and Completion Rate standards (regaining eligibility while on suspension) or an appeal has been approved, assuming the student is otherwise eligible.