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Satisfactory Academic Policy

Satisfactory Academic Policy

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​To remain eligible for federal and state financial aid, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. SAP measures a student’s progress toward completing their educational goal through three standards: GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe.

Students receiving financial aid are responsible for understanding and meeting SAP requirements, as failure to do so may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office with questions about their SAP status.

To be eligible you must:

  1. Fill out the FAFSA every year
  2. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA (2.0)
  3. Complete a minimum percentage of the classes you attempt (67%).
  4. Complete your degree or certificate within the maximum time frame allowable at your school.

For a detailed explanation of each SAP status, open and read this PDF:2026-2027 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy​
(Fall 2026 / Spring 2027 / Summer 2027​) ​

 

2025-2026 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy​
(Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 / Summer 2026​) ​

 

How Do I File an Appeal to Request that my Aid Reinstated?

All students who have been Disqualified or Terminated are notified of their SAP status via email and
must complete the SAP Appeal Process. If their appeal is approved, their financial aid may be
reinstated.

Disqualified SAP Appeal:

  1. Review the SCC SAP Policy (PDF link above) and this​ SAP PowerPoint​​​ presentation
  2. Print this disqualification notice​​​​ and write your appeal statement
  3. Complete a Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP) with an SCC academic counselor
  4. Submit ​all completed appeal documents to the Financial Aid Office prior to the deadline

Terminated SAP Appeal:

  1. Print this termination notice​​​ and write your appeal statement
  2. Complete a CSEP with an SCC academic counselor
  3. Submit all completed appeal documents to the Financial Aid Office prior to the deadline*​

SAP Appeal Deadlines

2026-2027 Academic Year:

  • Fall 2026: 11/20/2026
  • Spring 2027: 5/21/2027
  • Summer: 2027: 7/22/2027

2025-2026 Academic Year: ​

  • Fall 2025: 11/21/2025
  • Spring 2026: 5/22/2026
  • Summer: 2026: 7/24/2026

Appeal Decisions:

Approval of a SAP appeal is not guaranteed. The Appeal Committee’s decision will be based on all
documentation provided with the appeal, including academic transcripts. Decisions will be emailed to you within a few weeks after your appeal is submitted.

If your appeal is approved: You must follow all conditions listed in your approval. If you meet these
conditions, you may not need to submit another appeal in future terms, even if you have not fully
resolved all SAP deficiencies.

If your appeal is denied: You will not receive federal or state financial aid for the current term. To
regain financial aid eligibility in a future term, you must demonstrate academic improvement and may be required to submit a new appeal if you are still not meeting SAP requirements. You may request a Second Review by contacting the Financial Aid Office. The Associate Dean of Financial Aid will conduct the review, and the decision is final and cannot be appealed. You may still be eligible for the California College Promise Grant.