Satisfactory Academic Progress and Student Aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
To be eligible and continue to receive Federal Student Aid (FSA), students must make satisfactory academic progress toward achieving and completing their program of study through measurement of qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (completed credits) standards.
Qualitative Standard:
Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA established by their program
- 3.0 - Required by all on-campus programs, online library science, Nursing@Simmons, SocialWork@Simmons, and BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons
- 2.67 - Required by MBA@Simmons, HCMBA@Simmons, and MPH@Simmons
How courses count when determining GPA:
Count Toward GPA
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Do Not Count Toward GPA
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Completed courses
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Withdrawals
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Failed courses
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Incompletes
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Repeated courses
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Transfer credits
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Quantitative Standard:
All graduate students must complete at least 50% of all credits attempted. This is calculated by dividing the total credits earned by the total credits attempted.
How courses count when measuring pace
Count as Completed
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Do Not Count as Completed
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Completed courses
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Withdrawals (after add/drop)
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Transfer credit
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Incompletes
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One repeat after a failed course
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Failed courses
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Additionally, all graduate students are required to complete their degree within a reasonable timeframe. As the number of credits required to complete Simmons degree varies, students should consult with their program to determine the maximum allowed for their degree. All credits attempted will count toward this timeframe.
Frequency of Review:
Academic progress will be determined by Student Financial Services based upon the information contained on the student's academic record as of the date of the review. Students must meet both the qualitative and quantitative standards in order to be eligible and continue to receive financial aid. Reviews will include all terms of the student’s attendance (including summer terms).
SAP is reviewed at the end of each term for graduate students
**Please note: Financial aid may not be disbursed to your student account until SAP has been evaluated.**
The office of Student Financial Services will complete the SAP evaluation after the prior semester grades have been officially posted by the Office of the Registrar. If grades are not made official before the beginning of the next term, an otherwise eligible student may have their financial aid disbursement delayed.
No exceptions can be made to this process.
Review Results:
Satisfactory academic progress reviews result in a status for Title IV and Institutional eligibility. One of the following results will occur upon review for satisfactory academic progress:
SAP Appeal Decisions
Students will be notified of the appeal decision via email from Student Financial Services. Students who have an appeal approved will have their status updated to financial aid probation.
- Financial Aid Probation: Students who have their financial aid suspension appeal approved are placed on financial aid probation and will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for the following semester.
- Graduate students on probation must meet with their academic advisor to determine their Academic Plan
- Progress toward SAP will be evaluated at the end of each probationary semester and may require submission of additional documentation to show the student has adhered to the terms of their plan