Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid

Policy Details

When is SAP Determined?

  • Initial Review –
    • New freshmen are considered to be meeting SAP during the first USF term.
    • New transfer students will have SAP status determined prior to the start of the first USF term.
    • Readmitted students will have SAP status determined prior to the start of the term readmitted, which may result in an ineligible status.
    • New graduate students will have SAP status determined prior to the start of the first USF term.
  • End of Semester Review – SAP status is calculated at the end of each semester, after grades are posted to academic history by the Registrar, which is normally 3 business days after the end of final exams. The SAP calculation is normally the 4th business day after the end of final exams.

What does my SAP Status mean?

  • Eligible – You meet all SAP requirements and are eligible to receive financial aid.
  • Warning – You are eligible to receive financial aid for one semester in warning status. This status is granted once after your status changes from eligible to ineligible for GPA and/or Pace only. There is no warning status for maximum time.
  • Ineligible – You are not eligible for financial aid or for a tuition deferment when your status is ineligible.
  • Probation – Probation status can be granted by petition only, if you have an approved SAP petition. You are eligible to receive financial aid for one semester in probation status. Subsequent semester(s) in probation status can be granted only after a review at the end of each semester to confirm your compliance with your SAP academic plan. All academic plans require you to earn/pass all attempted credits each semester.  Other requirements may apply based on the type of SAP probation.

How do you regain eligibility?

Petition – If extenuating circumstances during specific terms of enrollment caused you to not meet the SAP requirements, you may submit a SAP petition using the petition form that applies to your circumstances, and providing all required information.  SAP petition forms are available on the web or at your campus financial aid office.

Petition Requirements for GPA and/or Pace –  A petition for GPA and/or pace requires the SAPPG petition form with the following attached:

1. A typewritten personal statement (not written by someone else on your behalf), that explains:

    • Extenuating circumstances for specific terms of study with unearned (dropped, failed, incomplete, missing grades) credits that caused you to not meet the SAP requirements, AND
    • What has changed that will allow you to either meet the SAP requirements at the next calculation, or meet the requirements of the academic plan.

Note: Extenuating circumstances include: personal injury or illness; family emergency; death of a close relative; or other exceptional circumstances.

2. Documentation must be attached that confirms your extenuating circumstance and the dates during which it occurred.

3. If your petition for GPA and/or pace is approved, an academic plan will be posted as a requirement in Student Self-Service, which you must accept before your eligibility for financial aid will be finalized.

Petition Requirements for Maximum Time –  A petition for maximum time requires the SAPPET petition form with the following attached:

1. A typewritten personal statement (not written by someone else on your behalf), that explains:

    • extenuating circumstances for specific terms of study with unearned (dropped, failed, incomplete, missing grades, repeated) credits that caused you to not meet the SAP requirements, AND
    • what has changed that will allow you to either meet the SAP requirements at the next calculation, or meet the requirements of an approved academic plan.

Note: Extenuating circumstances include: personal injury or illness; family emergency; death of a close relative; or other exceptional circumstances.

2. Documentation must be attached to confirm each extenuating circumstance and the dates during which it occurred.

3. The completed academic plan, which is part of the petition form, must be signed by your USF academic advisor with the college/department stamp.

Petitions should be submitted within the first 2 weeks of classes. Although petitions received late are reviewed, your eligibility for some aid programs may be negatively impacted by a late petition.