SAP Overview
Federal regulations mandate that all students make satisfactory, measurable academic progress toward completion of a degree in order to receive federal assistance through Title IV federal grant, work study and loan programs.
EKU’s SAP standards comply with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education. Every student is reviewed for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of each semester. To stay eligible to receive federal funds, students must:
Students who no longer meet SAP have the opportunity to appeal this decision if they have extenuating and documentable circumstances that prevented them from meeting federal standards. There is a maximum of three EKU financial aid appeals. All three appeals must be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee. The committee’s decision is final. After three appeals are reached, all future appeals will be denied.
Cumulative Credit Hour Completion Rate (Pace)
You must earn at least two-thirds or 67% of the credit hours you attempt. An example of pace calculation is below:
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Total Attempted Hours | Must Earn 67% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | 15 hours | 12 hours | 27 | 27 x 67% = 19 hours |
| 2nd Year | 15 hours | 15 hours | 57 | 57 x67% = 39 hours |
| 3rd Year | 18 hours | 15 hours | 90 | 90 x 67% = 61 hours |
Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion
Attempted Hours
Incomplete, bankrupted, repeated and withdrawn hours are attempted hours.
Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility with an Appeal
Students who are no longer meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress have the opportunity to appeal this decision if they have extenuating and documentable circumstances that prevented them from meeting federal standards.
Students may complete an online appeal here: EKU SAP Form
There is a maximum of three EKU financial aid appeals. All three appeals must be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee. The committee’s decision is final. After three appeals are reached, all future appeals will be denied.
Appeals must include:
Students who are approved for a SAP appeal will be notified via their EKU email and will be placed under financial aid probation. While under probation, final grades will be reviewed each semester to ensure the student meets the terms and conditions of their appeal approval (for example, passing all attempted hours with a 2.0 GPA for the term).
| Semester of SAP Appeal | Deadline to Submit SAP Appeal |
|---|---|
| Fall | November 1 |
| Spring | April 1 |
| Summer | July 1 |
SAP Cycle
Every student is reviewed for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of each semester. Certain changes to a student’s enrollment status may also trigger a SAP review, such as changing a degree type. Students who do not regain financial aid eligibility through a SAP appeal will be reviewed at the end of each full term. If the student is no longer failing to meet SAP requirements, then financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. Some students may be placed in a SAP warning status. This status is to create awareness for the student and allow them to improve their standing before financial aid probation is implemented. An appeal is not required for students in a warning status.
Other Options
Students who are attempting to pay for schooling without Title IV funds may still be eligible to receive certain outside scholarships and private education loans. Other funding sources would be subject to their own terms and conditions. The student must assume responsibility for accessing appropriate payment options.