Satisfactory Academic Progress

Qualitative standards establish the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) required based on your total credits attempted. Undergraduate and graduate students have different standards.

Quantitative standards measure your pace of progress. Students are required to complete a percentage of the total credits they attempt. Undergraduate and graduate quantitative standards are different.

Students may not attempt more than 150 percent of the credits required for the degree they are seeking.

Example: If 120 credits are required for an undergraduate degree program, students cannot attempt more than 180 credits and remain eligible for federal student aid.

Example: If 36 credits are required for a graduate degree program, students cannot attempt more than 54 credits and remain eligible for federal student aid.

Remedial Courses

Remedial courses do not carry degree credit and are not included in the total cumulative attempted credits or earned credits for determining pace of progression. However, credit-bearing developmental/compensatory courses would be included in the cumulative earned and/or attempted credit totals for determining pace.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals will be included as cumulative attempted credits and will have an adverse effect on a student’s ability to meet the maximum time frame and quantitative standards. Unofficial withdrawals (WU) count against cumulative GPAs and can adversely effect the qualitative measure.

Incomplete Grades

Courses with incomplete grades are included as cumulative attempted credits. Failure to resolve an incomplete grade within the published time frame may result in a ‘failure to complete’ (FIN) grade, which is counted in your cumulative GPA and may affect the qualitative standard.

Repeated Courses

Repeated courses are counted against the three (3) SAP standards. The College’s amnesty policy (known as 3-repeat) for repeated coursework is separate from SAP standards.

Transfer Credit

Accepted transfer credits are evaluated against the quantitative and maximum time frame SAP standards.

Readmitted Students

There is no amnesty policy for students who had a gap in enrollment. Financial Aid Services evaluates students’ entire academic history.

Second-Degree Students

Credits accepted into the second-degree program will be counted toward the quantitative and maximum time frame standards.

Change of Major

Students who change majors within the same degree must complete the degree within the maximum time frame.

Change of Degree

If a student changes his or her degree objective and pursues a different degree, that student must complete the degree within the maximum time frame.

Students who do not meet the minimum SAP standards are placed on financial aid suspension and lose their eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs. The financial aid suspension will continue until all three (3) SAP standards are met.

Financial Aid Services understands that there may be external struggles that affected your ability to maintain SAP; therefore, there is an appeals process available to you. An appeal must be based upon mitigating circumstances resulting from such events as personal illness or injury, illness or death of a family member, loss of employment, or changes in the academic program. You will be contacted at your Baruch email address with the appeal form and instructions.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement must include the reasons you failed to maintain SAP and what has changed in your situation that will allow you to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation.

Academic Plan

An academic plan is developed with an academic advisor that lays out coursework and anticipated grades you must earn in order to meet SAP standards. You are required to register for the courses and earn the grades established on the academic plan.

Appeal Deadlines

Completed appeals must be submitted at least 45 days before the last day of classes for the given semester. Federal student aid cannot be processed after a semester has ended.

After You Submit Your Appeal

Completed appeals are forwarded to the SAP Committee for review. You will be contacted at your Baruch email when a determination is made. All approved appeals are reviewed at the conclusion of each semester to ensure that academic plans are met/SAP standards are re-established.

To protect the integrity of the SAP committee, we do not publish the names of its members.

Students on financial aid suspension may regain eligibility only by taking action that brings them into compliance with the appropriate progress standard. Financial Aid Services reviews academic records of students on financial aid suspension at the end of every term to see if SAP standards are met. If a student regains eligibility during an award year, their federal student aid is restored in the following manner:

Federal Pell Grant/Campus-based Funds

For Pell Grant and campus-based programs, the student regains eligibility retroactively to the beginning of the most recent payment period during which the student once again met the school’s satisfactory academic progress standards.

Federal Direct & PLUS Loans

The student regains eligibility for Federal Direct & PLUS Loans for the payment period (i.e., term, non-standard term, non-term payment period) during which the student regains SAP eligibility. Baruch Financial Aid Services cannot award or originate a Federal Direct & PLUS Loan for any payment period during which the student was ineligible due to SAP.

Private/Alternative Loans

Contact your lender about re-establishing eligibility.