skip to main content
The Ohio State University
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) denotes a student’s successful completion of coursework that is applied to a certificate or degree program. Regulations require that all students who receive the benefit of Federal Title IV assistance must maintain SAP. The Ohio State University Student Financial Aid Office is required to monitor student aid recipients’ progress.
There exist both qualitative and quantitative components to the SAP Policy. The following classifications of students attending Ohio State are monitored under this policy:
Financial Aid Programs subject to this policy include:
As previously noted there are both qualitative and quantitative components to SAP. These are:
Required GPA (component 1) and required completion percentage (component 2) are evaluated for SAP annually at the conclusion of the spring term.
Maximum time frame (component 3) is monitored each term since students may reach the maximum number of hours or the maximum number of terms allowed at any point in the academic year. Students who are approaching program maximums are sent a warning notice when they are within 24 hours or one term of reaching their program maximums.
All students affected by this policy are required to meet and maintain a minimum, cumulative GPA based on their academic classifications:
The cumulative GPA's for students in the professional colleges represent the cumulative GPA requirements for retention by each college.
All undergraduate and graduate students are required to complete 67% of the hours attempted. This is reviewed on an annual basis.
All students are expected to complete their degree programs within a maximum time frame that is established based on their classifications or academic disciplines:
Hours counted as attempted include:
Hours not counted as attempted include:
Hours successfully completed include:
Hours unsuccessfully completed (deficiencies) include:
The SFAO monitors SAP for all enrolled students. Consortium classes are designated “Academic Affairs”, and have marks of S, U, or NG. Courses designated U or NG are considered deficient. After SAP is run, if the consortium grade of NG is still part of the record, the student is required to self identify when the mark is updated to an S.
Students seeking second degrees and students with double majors are monitored like any other students under this policy. If or when the students were to exceed the maximum time frames allowed for their respective programs, they can appeal.
As previously referenced, both the cumulative GPA and the completion percentage components of SAP are monitored on an annual basis. Students who fail to meet these requirements are placed on Suspended and notified at the end of the spring term.
Maximum time frame is reviewed at the end of each term.
Students who become ineligible for assistance can re-establish their eligibility in one of two ways:
The Appeal Form is available on the web and may also be picked up at the Student Service Center (SSC) located in the lobby of the Student Academic Services Building. The Appeal Form must be submitted with supporting documentation of the mitigating or extenuating circumstances that negatively impacted the student’s ability to make SAP. The Appeal Form and supporting documentation must be submitted together at the SSC or a regional campus financial aid office by the deadline date published on the Appeal Form. Exceptions to the deadline can be made based on mitigating circumstances.
The appeal documents are reviewed for completion by a staff member before forwarding to the Student Financial Aid Office for final review and the appeal decision. Complete appeals are reviewed within two weeks of submission and students are notified accordingly. Students who have their appeals granted are reinstated for financial aid eligibility in a conditional status and given an academic plan. Students will remain on conditional status for the length of their academic plan provided they meet the conditions of their academic plan each term.
The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
SFAO reviews the cumulative academic record of continuing students who are first time applicants to determine if they are meeting the SAP requirements. If they have not met the SAP requirements they are notified and placed on Suspended status.
Students who have not previously enrolled at Ohio State are considered unconditionally eligible for assistance.
All student aid recipients are sent a warning when they are within 24 hours of reaching the maximum number of hours allowed to complete their respective degree programs, or one term from reaching the maximum number of terms allowed. When students reach or exceed the maximum number of hours or terms allowed, they become immediately ineligible for financial assistance. Affected students who have reached or exceeded the hours or terms allowed due to academic program changes, changes in major, transfer hours accumulated from other schools or pursuit of a second degree (i.e., a second bachelor’s degree) can have their status reviewed.
Students need to complete the Request for Additional Hours form, which is available online or from the SSC or extended campus financial aid office. The completed form along with documentation from an advisor that states the number of additional hours or terms the student needs to complete can be submitted for review. If the request for additional hours or terms of eligibility is granted, the student will have her maximum hours or terms allowed increased. She will remain eligible under this condition based on the information provided by her advisor.
Students are reinstated on Conditional status based on successful appeals during the term in which they appeal. If they miss the published appeal deadline, they can be reinstated the next or subsequent term.
