Unless the terms of a particular grant or funding source require otherwise, the college uses standards for satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to determine eligibility for all need-based financial aid. Standards for SAP are the following:
Each award year, the student must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0 or higher. A continuing student must have a CGPA of 2.0 on all credit hours earned from colleges before the year for which aid is requested.
For the fall and spring semesters of each award year, the student must complete a minimum number of credit hours from all hours attempted. Grades of W, WX, E, F and I count as hours attempted but not as hours completed.
| Requirements for Hours Completed |
| Hours Attempted | Hours Required to
Complete with a
Passing Grade |
| 24 or more | 18 |
| 18-23 | 12 |
| 12-17 | 9 |
| 6-11 | 6 |
| 5 or less | Must complete all |
Students may apply for, and if eligible receive, financial aid for no more than 108 attempted credit hours. Credit hours transferred to the college and developmental credit hours count toward the 108 maximum. To complete an educational program within the 108 hours, students should file a degree plan or establish a transfer plan and enroll in courses that apply to their degree or transfer program.
An otherwise eligible student may receive financial aid for a maximum of 30 attempted credit hours in developmental/remedial course work. Once the 30 credit hour maximum is reached, additional developmental credit hours will not be used to calculate the award amount, but will continue to count toward the 108 maximum.
The college will review academic records in May of each year and determine each student's compliance with SAP. Students who fail to satisfy SAP will be placed on financial aid suspension for the next award year in which they enroll. To regain eligibility, a student must pay the expenses related to enrollment during the next award year and meet standards of SAP. Financial aid will be terminated for students who receive three suspensions for failure to meet standards of SAP.
A student placed on financial aid suspension may petition the college financial aid office to consider mitigating circumstances. The petition must be in writing with supporting documentation regarding the circumstances (for example, medical statements, divorce documents, unemployment letters, etc.). The financial aid office will notify the student of its decision. If the petition is denied, the student may make the same appeal to the college administrator to whom the financial aid office reports.
