Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Institute’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards measure each student’s quantitative (credit completion) and qualitative (cumulative grade point average) progress toward the completion of the student’s program of study. The SAP standards are used primarily to determine a student’s eligibility to receive federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act; however, the SAP standards are applied to all students and represent a minimum standard of academic achievement required by the Institute for continued enrollment.

SAP Evaluation Periods

The Institute’s SAP standards measure a student’s satisfactory academic progress at the end of each Quarter. The Institute will provide an academic grade report to each student at the end of each Quarter which will include the student’s grades earned in each course attempted. The grade report will also provide cumulative information for all credits attempted and completed and a cumulative grade point average at the end of each grading period.

Maximum Time Frame

The maximum time frame in which a student may complete his or her program of study is the period of time in which it takes the student to attempt 150% of the academic credits contained in his or her educational program.

Quantitative Requirement - Credit Completion

Each student must complete a minimum number of credits by the end of each SAP evaluation period. Only satisfactorily completed course credits are counted as credits completed. Satisfactorily completed course credits include those for which a student receives a grade other than a “W,” “WF,” or “F.” All courses for which a student receives a grade, whether passing or failing, a withdrawn (“W”), a withdrawn failing (“WF”), or a repeated course are counted in determining credits attempted. Transfer credits accepted for the student’s program will be counted as credits attempted and credits completed. A student’s SAP standing will be calculated based on the student’s entire history of enrollment in a specific program of study, except as noted below. (See Credit Completion requirements at each Evaluation Level in the charts below.)

Qualitative Requirement – Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

The Institute measures qualitative progress on the basis on a 4.0 scale. All courses for which a student receives a grade will be included when calculating the student’s CGPA, except that of a withdrawal (“W”) or incomplete (“I”) will not be included in determining a student’s cumulative CGPA, and if a student repeats a course, only the highest grade for that course will be included when calculating the student’s GPA. (See CGPA requirements at each Evaluation Level in the charts below.)

Academic/Financial Aid Warning

Students who do not meet the minimum standards for credits completed or cumulative grade point average in accordance with the requirements at the appropriate “Evaluation Level” will receive written notification from the Dean of Education or his/her designee stating that he or she is being placed on an Academic/Financial Aid Warning. A student in Academic/Financial Aid Warning status will have one additional Quarter to correct the deficiency and meet the minimum requirements at the end of his or her next Quarter. The Academic/Financial Aid Warning period shall be one Quarter. The student will remain eligible for federal financial aid while on Academic/Financial Aid Warning. If the student does not achieve the minimum quantitative and qualitative requirements by the end of the Academic/Financial Aid Warning period, the student will no longer be eligible for any form of federal student assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and will be dismissed from the Institute unless the student submits an Appeal (see description below) and is granted a “Probationary” period by the Financial Aid Committee (“Committee”). A student whose enrollment is terminated because he or she failed to achieve SAP and who does not successfully appeal such termination may make application for re-admission.

SAP Tables

The following charts provide the minimum quantitative and qualitative requirements for each evaluation level.

Programs of Study One Academic Year

(Quarter Credit Programs)

Programs of Study More Than One Academic Year

(Quarter Credit Programs)

Nursing Programs 

(Quarter Credit Programs)

In addition, for those programs that are more than two academic years in length, a student must have a “C” average at the end of the second academic year in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress.