SATISFACTORY
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
In compliance with federal student financial aid regulations, the academic performance of students enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh will be reviewed annually to determine whether or not they are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
This review will occur during the month following the end of the spring term each year. All students who might be eligible to apply for federal financial aid will be reviewed and evaluated. This requirement applies to all continuing graduate and undergraduate degree-seeking University of Pittsburgh students. Components of the SAP requirement include a measure of Cumulative GPA, Maximum Time Frame, and Pace of Completion. For more information about SAP, please refer to our FAQ.
Undergraduate: Students with less than 30 credits earned (including accepted transfer/advance standing credits) must achieve a 1.50 minimum cumulative GPA at the end of their first academic year meet SAP standards. Undergraduate students who have earned more than 30 credits (including accepted transfer/advance standing credits) must achieve a 2.00 cumulative GPA at the end of their second and subsequent academic years meet SAP standards.
Graduate/Professional: Students must achieve the minimum cumulative GPA consistent with their program requirements for graduation meet SAP standards. See graduate catalog for current GPA requirements in each program.
Credits attempted by a student cannot exceed 150% of the credits required as defined by the University’s published length of the specific program. All courses with a passing or failing grade will be counted as credits attempted. All courses with a grade designated as G, I, R or W will be counted as credits attempted. Credits on all repeated courses will be counted as credits attempted. Transfer credits from another school will be counted both in terms of hours attempted and hours completed in SAP evaluation. Reinstated students do not have prior attempted credits excluded from the determination for student aid eligibility, as required by federal regulations. For doctoral students only, the maximum timeframe will be
equal to the established statute of limitations, which may vary by program.
Pace of completion will be based on cumulative credits attempted and cumulative credits completed. The pace of completion will be measured annually, at the end of the evaluation period. Cumulative student course completion rate cannot be less than 67%. All courses with a passing or failing grade will be counted as credits attempted. All courses with a grade designated as G, I, R or W will be counted as credits attempted. Credits on all repeated courses will be counted as credits attempted. Transfer credits from another school will be counted both in terms of hours attempted and hours completed in SAP evaluation.
All students who meet the GPA, pace of completion and maximum program length requirements will be assigned a Satisfactory Academic Progress indicator for the upcoming school year. The Financial Aid Office will assign a No Progress status to students who do not meet these standards. Students are not eligible for Title IV financial aid and other financial aid sources if their SAP status is equal to No Progress.
In addition to the general Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines, undergraduate students receiving a PA State Grant are subject to separate satisfactory academic progress review. Full-time students are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits for each full-time PA grant received or a minimum of 6 credits for each part-time PA grant received in the most recent completed academic year.
Appeal Process
The University of Pittsburgh provides an appeals process for students who are determined to be No Progress. Appeals will be limited to students who experienced personal illness or personal accident, death of a member of the student’s immediate family and/or other extraordinary circumstances that prevented the student from attending classes and successfully completing the coursework. When it has been determined that a student has made No Progress, the student will be notified by the Financial Aid Office. The student should complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal and meet with an Academic Advisor. The appeal form can be found under our Forms page.
Students must be able to demonstrate that they will be able to meet established SAP standards, as noted in their SAP appeal approval letter at the end of the next payment period. In cases where it is not possible for a student to meet the minimum requirements for pace of progression and GPA, financial aid eligibility will not be reinstated and the appeal will be denied. Students not meeting SAP may enroll without the benefit of federal or institutional financial aid. Students not meeting SAP may wish to consider the PittPAY Payment PLAN or certain alternative loans that do not require SAP.
Students may regain eligibility by meeting the minimum standards of progress as described above.