To qualify for and receive financial aid, students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in a program of study that will lead to a degree or teaching certificate and must be in good academic standing at the University. Whether or not a student is receiving Title IV aid, a student’s academic progress will be evaluated each academic period (fall/spring/summer). Having a violation(s) will result in a loss of financial aid eligibility.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Standards to Maintain
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed at the end of each term.
Completion Rate
Students must satisfactorily complete 67% of their total attempted credits. Students may view their completion rate on RAMweb by navigating to the eligibility tab on their financial aid awards and requirements page.
Satisfactorily completed credits include letter grades of A, B, C, D, S, or test-out credits. Satisfactorily completed credits do not include grades of F (failing), U (unsatisfactory), I (incomplete), W (withdrawal), the initial U or F grade received in the Repeat/Delete option, or a course originally attempted for credit but updated to an AU (audit) credit after add/drop period.
Completed Credits / Attempted Credits = Completion Rate
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average
Undergraduate students and DVM students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
*Academically dismissed students are not eligible for financial aid. For more information, refer to the Academic Scholastic Standards Policy.
Maximum Timeframe
Students total attempted credits must not exceed the following credit limits which are 150% of the credits, which includes all transfer credits, needed to obtain that degree
Undergraduate Degrees: Biomedical Engineering – 240 credits | Music Education – 185 credits | Second Bachelor – 48 credits | All Others Undergraduate – 180 credits | Teacher Certification/Licensure – 45 credits
Masters Degrees: 150% of the credits listed on the approved GS6 form on file with the graduate school. If no GS6 is on file, limit will be 45 credits | Graduate Certificate Programs – 150% of the credits required for program
Doctorate Degrees: 150% of the credits listed on the approved GS6 form on file with the graduate school. If no GS6 is on file, limit will be 108 credits
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: 180 credits
Financial Aid Eligibility Statuses
Students in, or close to being in, violation of Satisfactory Academic Progress may be in one of the following eligibility statuses for financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who do not meet the grade point average and/or cumulative pace SAP requirements, are placed on financial aid warning their next term of enrollment. At the end of the warning period, students will be reviewed for compliance of SAP eligibility criteria (listed above) and if found to be in compliance will continue to be eligible to receive financial aid for the following term. If student does not meet the criteria listed above the student will be put on a Financial aid Violation and will not be eligible for financial aid.
Financial Aid Probation
Students who have successfully appealed a Satisfactory Academic Progress Violation are put on Financial Aid Probation. There are two types of Financial Aid Probation: the first type allows the student to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress within one term. The second type allows the student, based on an academic plan developed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Committee, to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress by a specific point in time. Both types allow the student to receive financial aid while on probation. If the student does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress within one term or does not meet the terms of their academic plan (receive an F, W, or an I), the student will be put on a Financial Aid Violation and will not be eligible for financial aid.
Financial Aid Alert
Students who have reached 130 percent or more attempted credits toward their degree program will be put on Financial Aid Alert. This notifies the student that they are getting close to their Max Timeframe and may want to meet with their Academic Advisor to ensure they are on time to complete their program before they become ineligible for financial aid funds. For a most bachelor degree programs, this would leave them with 24 credits before they reach Max Timeframe. Students become ineligible for Financial Aid Funds once they have met 150 percent attempted credits of their degree program (see chart above). Students are eligible to receive financial aid while on alert.
Financial Aid Ineligible
Student is not meeting one more of the financial aid eligibility standards and is not eligible for financial aid. Please refer to the regaining eligibility section.
Summer
For students enrolled in spring, summer financial aid will be not be released for students who are on Financial Aid Warning, Alert, or Probation until spring grades have been reviewed and student continues to be eligible.
Fall
For students enrolled in summer, fall financial aid will not be released for students who are on Financial Aid Warning, Alert, or Probation until summer grades have been reviewed and student continues to be eligible.
Regaining Eligibility
If extenuating circumstances exist, such as death of a relative, student illness or injury, or other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control, an appeal may be submitted.
Students who are on a Maximum Timeframe Violation (who do not have any other extenuating circumstances that occurred beyond their control), who have changed from one degree program to another and not graduated may request their program change be considered as their extenuating circumstance on a one-time basis. After you have submitted your appeal through RAMweb, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Students may appeal a Satisfactory Academic Progress violation by selecting the Financial Aid link on their RAMweb and completing the online appeal. The appeal must explain what extenuating circumstances occurred and a plan for corrective action. Students must also submit third-party documentation of their extenuating circumstances. A student will have 30 days from the time they submit their appeal to provide their documentation.
A committee will review the students appeal and render a decision. The committee may ask for additional information or an academic plan. The committee’s decision is final. Decisions are usually made within 2-3 weeks after all documents are received. Students who have an appeal approved will generally have one semester to clear their violation or must meet the requirements set by the academic plan. Students who are denied may provide additional information not previously submitted for reconsideration.
Students will be notified regarding their appeal status through email and RAMweb.
Appeal Deadlines
Fall – September 15
- July 20 to receive results by start of Fall semester
- August 15 to receive results by the end of Fall course add/course drop period
Spring – February 15
Summer – June 15
A student may submit an appeal after the deadline on RAMweb. If you are submitting a late appeal, you will be prompted to provide an explanation as to why you are submitting a late appeal.
All appeals must be reviewed and processed before the end of term to eligible for financial aid.
If a student does not appeal, or if an appeal is denied, eligibility can be regained:
- Students on a Maximum Timeframe violation may regain eligibility by graduating and entering into a new program. New credit limits apply and the class level violation will be automatically cleared.
- If a student’s appeal is denied or a student does not have an extenuating circumstance, they may continue to attend CSU and pay for their education at their own expense or they may explore the option of an alternative loan through an outside lender that does not require Satisfactory Academic Progress. Once they meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, students will regain financial aid eligibility.
- Students may be considered for a new appeal after they have completed two or more regular semesters at CSU or another school and can demonstrate their ability to succeed academically. Alternatively, a student could take leave from their schooling for the same two semesters and be considered for a new appeal. A student does not regain eligibility under these options, but would be considered for an appeal.
To be eligible to receive financial aid, academic fresh start students must be in compliance with the satisfactory academic progress standards when they apply for financial aid. Students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress standards and who have extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal, which may require an academic plan. A committee will review the appeal and their decision is final. Students who have an appeal approved will generally have one semester to clear their violation or must meet the requirements set by the academic plan.
Total Attempted Credits
Colorado State University defines total attempted credits for a given class level (undergraduate, graduate, or DVM) as credits attempted at CSU, accepted for transfer, and all credits officially withdrawn from at CSU. The credits a student officially withdrew from are added with their other attempted credits to determine their total attempted credits. Additionally, all Repeat/Delete courses, both the initial and the repeated course, are counted as attempted credits. A course originally attempted for credit but updated to an AU (audit) credit after add/drop period is also counted as attempted credit. Students must appeal existing withdrawal violations from prior terms.
Incomplete Courses
Course will be counted as attempted, not completed in evaluating a student’s completion rate. The course will be counted toward the student’s credit limit maximum.
Repeat Courses
Each attempt of a course will be counted regardless of whether or not the student has attempted the course previously. Each attempt of the course will be counted as completed if passed with a grade of ‘D’ or higher regardless of college requirements. The course will not be counted as completed if student received an ‘F’, ‘U’, ‘W’, or ‘I’ grade.
Withdrawal
Course will be counted as attempted and not completed when evaluating the student’s completion rate. The course will be counted toward a student’s credit limit maximum.
Non-Credit Remedial Coursework
Courses are not offered at Colorado State University.
Resources for help
Students who need additional support to maintain Satisfactory Progress should be aware of the following resources:
Your academic advisor
- Your academic advisor
Contact your academic department if you are not sure who your advisor is.
Academic Advancement Center
- Academic Advancement Center
(970) 491-6129
Academic coaching and tutoring for students who meet program eligibility
Collaborative for Student Achievement
- Collaborative for Student Achievement
(970) 491-7095
For academic resources, visit www.undeclared.casa.colostate.edu
CSU Health Network
The Institute for Teaching and Learning
- The Institute for Teaching and Learning
(970) 491-3132
For learning programs and tutoring, visit TILT at tilt.colostate.edu/learning
Student Disability Center
- Student Disability Center
(970) 491-6385
Support and help for students with both permanent and temporary limitations and health conditions.
This information is subject to change. Copies of the CSU Satisfactory Academic Progress policy may be requested by contacting our office.