Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
To remain eligible for federal Title IV aid and veteran educational benefits, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). See the table below for what aid is included under federal Title IV aid and veteran educational benefits.
- GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Federal Title IV Aid |
Veteran's Educational Benefits |
| Federal Pell Grant | Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) |
| Federal Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) | Dependent and Survivors Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) |
| Federal Work-Study Program | Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserves Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606) |
| Federal Direct Loan Program | Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) |
| Vocational Rehabilitation for Service-Disabled Veterans | |
| Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance (Chapter 32) |
In order to meet the minimum SAP standards, undergraduate students must do all of the following:
- Successfully complete at least 67% of the cumulative course credits that they attempt. Total completed credits are calculated by dividing a student's total number of earned credits by a student's total number of attempted credits. Withdrawals, repetitions, pass/fail courses, and transfer credits (not including AP credits) are considered part of a student's attempted credit total.*
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
- Complete their program within 150% of the normal program length. The maximum time frame is reached when the student has attempted more than one-and-one-half the number of course credit hours required to earn the degree. The maximum time-frame standard for transfer-students will consider only those course credit hours attempted at Colgate University, as well as those accepted for transfer credit by the University.
In order to meet the minimum SAP standards, graduate students must do all of the following:
- Successfully complete at least 67% of the cumulative course credits that they attempt. Total completed credits are calculated by dividing a student's total number of earned credits by a student's total number of attempted credits. Withdrawals, repetitions, and transfer credits (not including AP credits) are considered part of a student's attempted credit total.*
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- Complete their program within 150% of the length of their program of study. The maximum time frame is reached when the student has attempted more than one-and-one-half the number of course credit hours required to complete their degree as outlined in their program of study.
The Office of Financial Aid reviews the academic records of all students at the end of each semester. In addition, the Committee on Standards and Academic Standing (CSAS) reviews the academic performance of all students each term. SAP standards and CSAS standards are separate with each having their own requirements.
If a student is not making progress according to the CSAS standards outlined in the Colgate University Catalog under "Academic Regulations", the student is placed on academic warning or is dismissed. A student on academic warning may lose eligibility for federal Title IV aid or veteran educational benefits if they are not meeting SAP standards.
Students are placed in a Financial Aid Warning Status after one semester of not meeting SAP standards. This means the student is one term away from losing federal Title IV aid or veteran educational benefits eligibility. The student is still eligible for financial aid and no appeal is necessary at this stage. The student is considered to have used their Warning Status for the term even if they did not receive federal (Title IV) aid or veteran educational benefits for that term.
After the second consecutive semester of not meeting SAP standards, the student will be required to take action in order to be eligible for federal Title IV aid or veteran educational benefits.
Both federal Title IV aid and veteran educational benefits eligibility may be regained by submitting a financial aid appeal with supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid. The appeal will be reviewed by the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee.
If approved, federal Title IV aid or veteran education benefits (whichever applies) will be reinstated and the student will be placed on a Financial Aid Probation Status for one semester. Students must achieve the minimum SAP standards by the end of their probationary period to remain eligible for federal Title IV aid or veteran educational benefits.
For students placed on an academic plan as part of their approved appeal, the Financial Aid Office will review your academic record at the end of each semester to ensure you are meeting the conditions of your academic plan so you can retain eligibility for federal student aid or veteran education benefits.
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. Attempted credits a student was unable to complete as a result of the COVID-19 qualifying emergency from the Spring 2020 semester to the Spring 2023 semester at Colgate may be excluded from the calculation used to determine if a student has earned 67% of their courses attempted. Beginning in Fall 2023, this flexibility no longer applies per the Department of Education.
This flexibility is not available for students not meeting the GPA requirement of SAP.