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Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines

Undergraduate Students:

GPA Requirements

In order to be making satisfactory progress toward a degree, for purposes of receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, an undergraduate student must achieve at least the GPA required for satisfactory academic standing at the College as indicated in the chart below, or have an academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation.

Credits attempted Minimum Grade Point Average
0-12 1.50
13-24 1.75
25-above 2.00*

*2.0 if you are in a bachelor’s degree program and after your second year of enrollment

Progress Requirements

After taking (attempting) 18 credits in an associate degree program or 24 credits in a bachelor degree program, an undergraduate student must earn (that is, complete with a passing grade) a minimum percentage of the total credits attempted toward the degree. See the applicable chart below for the minimum earned credits requirements.

Bachelor’s degree programs

Number of Attempted Credits Minimum Percentage of Attempted Credits to be Earned Minimum number of Earned credits equals  Attempted Credits multiplied by:
From 0 to 24 N/A N/A
25 to 30 15% 0.15
31 to 36 25% 0.25
37 to 45 35% 0.35
46 to 48 40% 0.40
49 to 60 45% 0.45
61 to 72 50% 0.50
73 to 94 55% 0.55
95 to 120 60% 0.60
121 to 129 61% 0.61
130 to 138 62% 0.62
139 to 150 63% 0.63
151 64% 0.64
152 to 156 65% 0.65
157 to 164 66% 0.66
165 to 180 66.70% 0.667
181 or more 100% 1

Associate degree programs

Number of Attempted Credits Minimum Percentage of Attempted Credits to be Earned Minimum number of Earned credits equals  Attempted Credits multiplied by:
From 0 to 15 N/A N/A
16 to 20 10% 0.10
21 to 25 15% 0.15
26 to 30 20% 0.20
31 to 35 25% 0.25
36 to 40 34% 0.34
41 to 45 43% 0.43
46 to 50 46% 0.46
51 to 55 50% 0.50
56 to 60 54% 0.54
61 to 65 56% 0.56
66 to 70 58% 0.58
71 to 75 60% 0.60
76 to 80 62% 0.62
81 to 84 65% 0.65
85 to 90 66.70% 0.667
Greater than 90 100% 1.0

Maximum Time-frame

An undergraduate student may not attempt more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.
Students will be measured against the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards at the end of the spring term to determine eligibility for federal Title IV financial aid for the upcoming year.

Graduate Students:

In order to be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, for purposes of
receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, a graduate student must meet the minimum
standards specified below.

A. Minimum GPA – maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better, or have an
academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation.
B. Maximum Time-frame – may not attempt more than 150% of the credits
normally required for completion of the degree.
C. Pace of Progression – must accumulate credits toward the degree greater than or
equal to two-thirds the cumulative credits attempted at the institution.

All graduate students will be measured against each of the three SAP components at the
end of the spring term to determine eligibility for Title IV financial aid in the upcoming year.

Appeals:
Students who do not meet the federal Title IV Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may appeal to the Course and Standing Committee of the College to retain eligibility for Title IV federal student assistance.

These appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting   events such as personal illness, injury, personal tragedy, changes in academic program, and the reasonableness of the student’s capability for improvement to meet the SAP standards applicable to the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

There is no limit on the number of times a student may follow this appeals procedure.

To view or print an appeal form and other information about the appeal process provided by the Course and Standing Committee, please click on the Title IV SAP Appeal Packet.

Transfers:
As applicable in the Satisfactory Academic Progress measurement, for transfer students from colleges inside and outside of CUNY, the number of external credits accepted toward a degree at the College will serve initially as both the number of attempted credits and the number of earned credits.