Title IV Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The U.S. Department of Education mandates institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress that include quantitative/pace and qualitative standards for students receiving federal financial aid. King University makes these standards applicable to all institutional funds as well as to all Title IV funds.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards ensure that students are successfully completing coursework towards an eligible degree and continue to receive financial aid. All students receiving financial aid are required to meet SAP standards.
SAP is evaluated annually at the end of the spring semester for students who are in a financial aid eligible program, including both full and part-time enrollment.
Federal regulations require the University to establish, publish and apply standards to monitor student progress toward completing a degree. Any student failing to meet the SAP standards will be placed on suspension. Academic performance must meet the SAP standards below.
Enrollment Status:
Financial aid recipients must be degree-seeking students enrolled in a program leading to an Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree, graduate-level degree, or approved certificate program. Generally, most financial aid requires at least half-time enrollment; however, Pell Grant eligible students may be eligible to receive Pell while enrolled less than half time.
Qualitative Standards
Traditional Undergraduate Programs:
| At the end of the semester: | When this number of hours has been completed: |
Required Cumulative GPA for Satisfactory Progress: |
| Freshman | 0 – 25 | 1.6 |
| Sophomore | 26 – 55 | 2.0 |
| Junior | 56 – 87 | 2.0 |
| Senior and above | 88 – graduation | 2.0 |
Adult Studies Undergraduate Programs:
Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.
Graduate Programs:
Must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.
Quantitative Standards
Quantitative progress or pace is calculated as follows: Cumulative number of credit hours completed divided by cumulative number of credit hours attempted = Quantitative Progress/Pace. Students are required to maintain a 67% completion rate to remain eligible for financial aid.
Maximum Time Frame
Students must complete their program within 150% of the institutionally-defined program length. For example, an undergraduate student must complete their 124-credit program of study within 186 attempted credit hours. A graduate student whose degree program requires 45 credits must complete the program of study within 67.5 attempted hours.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students failing to make Satisfactory Academic Progress will have their Financial Aid eligibility suspended. Students placed on suspension are not eligible to receive financial aid. Students on suspension may submit an appeal to have their financial aid reinstated.
Financial Aid Probation
Students whose appeals are approved by the Committee will be placed on probation or may require an academic plan.
Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid
Financial aid eligibility may be regained by resolving all deficiencies (quantitative and qualitative). Students who meet the SAP standards at the next evaluation are eligible for financial assistance for their next enrollment period.
Financial Aid Appeals
When a student is not making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and their financial aid is suspended, federal regulations allow for certain cases in which the student may submit an appeal to regain their financial aid eligibility. Specifically, if a student experiences mitigating circumstances beyond their control including extended/serious illness, death in the immediate family, or other significant events, these must be appropriately documented for the specific term(s) in which the deficiency occurred.
Appeals must be made to the Financial Aid Office using the King Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form. Students must also submit all supporting documentation. A student’s formal appeal letter should detail the extenuating circumstances that contributed to the student’s inability to meet SAP standards. It must also explain what steps the student has taken to address the situation. Students may submit a maximum of two appeals.
Financial Aid Appeal Deadline for Submission
Students failing to meet the SAP requirements will receive an email to the King email address alerting them to the deficiency.
Appeals submitted to the Committee will be reviewed, and adjudicated, within approximately two weeks.
Additional Questions? Contact Us:
Email: [email protected]
Office: 423.652.4725