Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the federally mandated requirement to fulfill a specified educational objective within a specific time frame to be eligible for federal financial aid. All students are evaluated twice a year to determine if they have met these requirements, even if they have not previously received financial aid.
In accordance with federal regulations, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has established the following SAP standards that must be met annually to maintain eligibility for federal and state financial aid. For more information, view our FAQ.
1. Qualitative Measure (Grade Point Average)
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).
2. Maximum Timeframe Measurement (Total Allowable Credits)
- Students must complete their degree requirements within 150 percent of the published length of their program.
The published length of the program is the number of credits needed to complete degree requirements. For example, a program requiring 120 credits to graduate will be limited to 180 credits of financial aid eligibility.
3. Pace (Overall Credits Completed)
- Students must successfully complete a minimum of two-thirds of all courses attempted overall, which rounds to approximately 66.7 percent.
Pace formula:
Cumulative successfully completed credits
Cumulative attempted credits
Important - All Coursework is Counted in the SAP Calculation
When SAP is evaluated, all coursework is counted as attempted credits including, but not limited to, repeat and incomplete coursework, transfer credits, and coursework completed for a prior degree or major for which a degree or certificate was not conferred. The only time a student may start over is after a degree is conferred.
SAP for State Aid
Students interested in receiving state aid (such as the Effective Access to Student Education [EASE] Grant, Florida Student Assistance Grant, or Florida Bright Futures Scholarship) must also meet the state SAP standards established for each aid program.
Program Requirements by Level
- Qualitative Measure: Min. GPA 2.00
- Maximum Timeframe: 150 percent of the published length of your program. For most undergraduate students, this is 180 credit hours attempted.
- Pace: successful completion of at least two thirds, approximately 66.7 percent of all attempted credits
- Qualitative Measure Min. GPA 3.00 or 80 percent (for programs with a numeric grading system)
Exceptions:
Program Min. Cumulative GPA/Percent Anesthesiologist Assistant 2.00 or 75 percent Occupational Therapy 2.00 or 75 percent Pharmaceutical Affairs 2.00 or 75 percent Physician Assistant
Minimum2.00 or 75 percent Dental Minimum 70 percent or passing grades in all Pass/Fail coursework. Students with a combination of grade types must meet both criteria. - Exception: Programs that grade using a Pass/Fail system, such as the Doctor of Health Science, Dual Health Science-MHS/DHS, and Doctor of Allopathic Medicine programs, require successful completion of 100 percent of all credits attempted annually.
- Maximum Timeframe: financial aid limited to 150 percent of the published length of your program
- Pace: successful completion of at least two-thirds, approximately 66.7 percent of all attempted credits
- Qualitative Measure: Min. GPA 3.00 for most programs. Please check with your program office to determine the GPA graduation requirements for your program.
- Maximum Timeframe: 150 percent of the published length of your program
- Pace: successful completion of at least two-thirds, approximately 66.7 percent of all attempted credits
- Qualitative Measure (GPA)
Program Min. Cumulative GPA/Percent Dental Predoctoral, Optometry, Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy 2.00 or 70 percent Occupational Therapy - Hybrid in Tampa, Physical Therapy—Hybrid Entry Level and Entry Level 2.00 or 75 percent Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing 3.00 or 80 percent Allopathic Medicine, Health Science Passing grade in all coursework Dental Postdoctoral 70 percent or passing grade in all pass/fail coursework Students with a combination of grade types must meet both criteria. - Maximum Timeframe: 150 percent of the published length of your program
- Pace: successful completion of at least two-thirds, approximately 66.7 percent of all attempted credits
- Qualitative Measure: Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25
- Maximum Timeframe: 150 percent of the published length of your program
- Pace: successful completion of at least two-thirds, approximately 66.7 percent of all attempted credits
Additional Important SAP Details
Definitions
- Transfer Credit
NSU will count transfer credits and advanced placement hours accepted toward a student's educational program as both attempted and successfully completed hours. These credits will be included in pace and maximum timeframe calculations, but excluded from the annual qualitative measurement calculation. - Attempted Credits
All credits are included in the calculation, including, but not limited to, repeat and incomplete coursework, transfer credits, and coursework completed for a prior degree, certificate or major for which a degree or certificate was not conferred, regardless of receiving financial aid. - Incompletes and Withdrawals
Courses with incomplete and withdrawal grades at the time of the SAP review count as attempted hours that are not successfully completed. An incomplete grade that is converted after the SAP evaluation will be considered during the next annual SAP review. - Repeat Courses
Courses that are repeated will count in attempted hours. Repeated courses that are excluded from the academic record will not count as successfully completed hours or in the GPA calculation. - Drop Courses
Credits for courses that are dropped without attendance are not counted as attempted credits. All other credits for dropped courses will count as attempted credits. Dropped courses do not count as successfully completed credits.
SAP Determination
SAP is evaluated for all students at the end of the final semester of their current academic year to determine financial aid eligibility for the next academic year.
In addition, academic progress is reviewed mid-year to alert students who may be in danger of failing SAP. The mid-year review is for informational purposes only and does not impact a student's eligibility for the remainder of the current year.
| Academic Year | Mid-Year Review | SAP Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| three semester programs (Fall/Winter/Summer) |
January | end of the final semester of a student’s enrollment in the academic year |
| three-semester programs (Summer/Fall/Winter) |
August/September | end of the final semester of a student’s enrollment in the academic year |
| four-term programs (Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring) |
January | end of the final semester of a student’s enrollment in the academic year |
| two-semester programs | January | end of the final semester of a student’s enrollment in the academic year |
SAP Notification
Students who are not meeting SAP at the mid-year evaluation will receive an email to their NSU email addresses to alert them of their lack of progress so that they may work with their academic advisor toward meeting SAP before the end of the semester. Students who have failed to meet SAP at the end-of-year evaluation will be notified by NSU email address and can view their SAP status at anytime in SharkLink/Self-Service Banner (SSB) as follows:
- Login to SharkLink using your user name and password.
- Click on the "Finances" tab and select "View Satisfactory Academic Progress."
SAP Appeal
A student with extenuating circumstances may appeal the denial of student financial assistance by submitting a SAP Appeal Form within 60 days from the date the failure notice was sent. The appeal must be made in writing and include the following:
- A completed Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form describing why the student has failed SAP and what has changed that will allow the student to successfully meet SAP in the future
- Third-party supporting documentation of the extenuating circumstance. This can include a physician' note, complete obituary, death certificate, or other documentation that supports the circumstance, and is dated for or references the term(s) for which SAP was not met. In accordance with HIPAA privacy rules, documentation should never include medical records or copies of prescriptions.
- Additional supporting documents, if appropriate
A student's appeal may be approved on a probationary basis for one semester if it is feasible for the student to meet all SAP requirements within one semester. If not, an academic plan must also be included with the appeal.
Late appeals will not be accepted. Generally, a student can only receive financial aid on one approved appeal per academic degree. Students may not have more than one appeal in an award year.
SAP Academic Plan
If a student is unable to feasibly meet all SAP requirements within one semester, an academic plan must be developed with the student's academic advisor. The academic plan will outline grade and credit requirements that will allow the student to successfully meet SAP. If necessary, the academic plan may extend beyond the current academic year.
If SAP failure was based on the maximum timeframe measure, the student must complete all credits required for degree completion by the end of the last semester of the academic plan, and the degree or certificate must be conferred before the student can establish financial aid eligibility for the next period.
Under an academic plan, a student's progress will be monitored at the end of each semester to ensure that the student is progressing according to the requirements of the plan. As long as the student is progressing accordingly, the student will remain eligible for financial aid. If the student is not meeting the requirements of the plan, the student will become ineligible to receive financial aid in the future until all components of SAP have been met.