college policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Eligibility

Administrative

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid Eligibility

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?

Federal regulations require all financial aid recipients to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by Macomb Community College. This SAP policy is separate from the College’s general academic probation policy.

Maintaining SAP is a requirement for federal grants and loans and most aid programs offered by the State of Michigan.

SAP is reviewed at the end of each semester - Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer. For first-time financial aid applicants who already have Macomb credits SAP is first run when the College receives your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) results, and then at the end of each semester thereafter.

SAP Standards

To remain eligible for financial aid, students must meet both of the following policies:

1. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

GPA Requirement

  • You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of each semester.

Completion Rate Requirement

  • You must successfully complete at least 67% of all credit hours attempted
  • This includes all attempted credits whether or not financial aid was received for them
  • A passing grade counts as completed. Failing or withdrawing does not (including E and NS grades)
2. Not Exceed Maximum Number of Attempted Credits


You may not attempt more than 150% of the credits required for your academic program.

Examples:

Program Requirement Maximum Attempted Credits
62 credit hours 93 (62 x 1.50 = 93)
68 credit hours 102(68 x 1.50 = 102)
75 credit hours 113 (75 x 1.50 = 113)

 

To determine your credit limit:

  1. Find the number of credits required for your program (catalog or academic advisor).
  2. Multiply that number by 1.50.
  3. That total is the maximum number of credits you may attempt while still receiving financial aid.

If you exceed this limit, you will be denied financial aid. Courses transferred to Macomb and those earned toward other programs will count toward this limit.

What Counts as Attempted Credit Hours

Attempted Credit include:

  • Classes with an earned letter grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, E, P or F
  • Classes with an unearned letter grade of E, or W (withdrawal) or NS (no show)
  • Remedial and ESL courses
  • Repeated classes: Once a course is passed, it will count as completed. If repeated, the same course cannot be included as completed more than once.
  • Classes transferred from other institutions

Do NOT count as attempted credits:

  • Audited classes (and you cannot receive financial aid for them)
  • Incomplete (I) grades  - until they are replaced with a final grade
  • Continuing education or enrichment courses


Summary of Satisfactory Academic Progress Statuses

Satisfactory

The GPA, Completion Rate and number of attempted credits meet the SAP standards.

Warning 

The first semester you fail to meet the SAP standards, you will be placed on Warning for the next semester. You may still receive financial aid during this warning semester. If you meet the SAP standards, by the end of that semester, your status returns to Satisfactory.

Unsatisfactory

If you do not meet SAP standards by the end of the warning semester, you will be placed in an unsatisfactory status and you will lose the financial aid that requires meeting SAP standards.  You must pay for your classes yourself until  you meet the reinstatement requirements. Students with extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal.

Reinstatement

Your financial aid has reinstated after you meet the SAP  standards after being in an unsatisfactory status:

  • 2.0 cumulative GPA and
  • 67% cumulative completion rate

Maximum Credits

If you attempt 150% of your program’s required credits, you will be placed in Maximum Credits status and lose financial aid eligibility.

Appeal Process

If you do not meet the SAP requirements you may appeal by completing and submitting one of the following:

  • SAP Appeal Form For students with extenuating circumstances  who can return to SAP by the end of the semester  being appealed.
  • Maximum Credit Hours Appeal Form For students who have exceeded 150% of their program credits.

Forms are available:

Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the SAP Committee. Deadlines are posted for each semester on the appeal form. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval.

At the discretion of the Director, your appeal can be approved if you will meet SAP by the time you complete your program. You will be required to follow an academic plan, developed with the assistance of an academic advisor/counselor or other school official, to continue to receive financial aid.

*Examples of Extenuating Circumstances

  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Documented hospitalization or illness
  • Major accident or illness affecting  you, your child or parent
  • Victim of a crime or unexpected disaster

Probation

If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on Probation. You may continue receiving financial aid for the next semester.

Approved by President’s Council
April 18, 2009
Revised June 16, 2026