How to Make Satisfactory Academic Progress

If you receive financial aid at La Salle University, federal rules require us to monitor your progress toward completing a degree or certificate. They also require us to establish a Satisfactory Academic Progress policy that describes what you must do to continue receiving financial aid.

Our SAP policy has three parts. You must satisfy all three to continue receiving financial aid:

  1. Grade point average: You must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, or a “C” average.
  2. Completion rate: You must successfully complete 67 percent of the credits you attempt each academic year. This means you must earn a passing grade (A-D) in 67 percent of the credit hours you take. An example: If you attempt 30 total credits in an academic year, you must get passing grades in at least 21 credits. See the definitions below of “attempted” and “earned” credits.
  3. Time frame: You must finish your degree or certificate in no more than 150 percent of the credits it requires. An example: If your degree program requires 120 credits, your financial aid eligibility ends when you complete 180 credits.

We measure your academic progress each year after spring semester. This calculation determines whether your financial aid is renewable for the following academic year.

How to Regain Financial Aid Eligibility

If you fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress, you have two options to regain financial aid eligibility:

  1. Pay for classes and work hard to earn the grades you need to regain eligibility.
  2. If extenuating circumstances caused your academic performance to drop, you can appeal your loss of financial aid. Some examples: you’re in an accident or a family member dies.

If there were extenuating circumstances, complete the Academic Progress Appeal form on the Financial Aid Forms page. Be sure to include documentation when you submit it to the Financial Aid Office.

If the committee that considers your appeal approves it, you get financial aid for one semester. If you don’t make SAP by the end of this probationary period, you lose your aid.

What Are Attempted and Earned Credits?

In figuring your completion rate under La Salle’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, we examine your attempted and earned credits. How do we define them?

Attempted credits include:

  • Transfer credits that apply toward your degree program
  • English as a Second Language credits
  • Credits you take at La Salle, including Pass/No Penalty courses, courses where you enroll but subsequently withdraw, and courses where you were enrolled at the end of the formal drop/add period
  • Repeated courses

Attempted credits do not include audited, non-credit courses.

Earned credits are all credits earned toward completion of your certificate or degree, including:

  • Transfer credits
  • Advanced standing and advanced placement credits
  • La Salle courses where you earn a passing grade
  • Repeated courses

Earned credits do not include classes where you earned a grade of incomplete, failed, withdrew, or audited.