The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards measures a student's progress toward degree completion using both qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (units completed compared to units attempted) methods.
To be eligible for federal and state aid, students must be maintaining progress toward a degree, certificate or transfer. For detailed information about our policy, please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.
The following three (3) components are evaluated at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring & Summer):
Failure to meet one or more of the SAP standards may affect whether or not you can continue to receive your aid.
Evaluation of SAP takes place after EACH SEMESTER (Fall, Spring & Summer) and final grades have been posted.
Not meeting SAP means you are not eligible for financial aid without an approved appeal and financial aid is not retro-active if you choose not to appeal or your appeal is not approved before the semester deadline (listed below).
If you do not meet any one or more of the three SAP standards, you will be notified via MyCOD email and the notification will include details on why you didn't meet SAP and your options to move forward. No financial aid can be offered or disbursed to a student that has not met a component of SAP.
Note, some students may be automatically suspended based on their previous academic history (transferred or previous AA/AS/Certificate) as they have reached their maximum time frame allowed for an Associates or Certificate program.
If any financial aid was offered to you prior to the official SAP evaluation, the funds will NOT disburse until you have an approved SAP appeal (placed on Probation status).
If you do not meet SAP, you're given the opportunity to appeal the loss of financial aid by addressing the cause and issues with your academic progress as well as working with an counselor to create a Student Educational Plan (SEP) to make sure you see success in the future!
Starting Fall 2024, no lifetime limit on SAP Appeals. Students can appeal ONCE per semester.
If you have justifying circumstances that led you to not meeting minimum SAP standards, we would encourage you to appeal before the semester deadline (posted below).
Examples of justifying circumstances include, but are not limited to:
We encourage you to appeal, but if this is not the best time to appeal or you do not have any justifying circumstances, you have the following options:
Note: Review your award letter to determine which aid is impacted by not meeting SAP. If you continue to enroll in classes while not meeting SAP, you are responsible for paying any expenses on your own.
*Note that during the COVID-19 National Emergency, EW grades were not included in the SAP calculation as these were considered excused withdrawals due to COVID-19 pandemic.
*Eligibility for aid is based on federal and state regulations. Students must meet these regulations in addition to meeting SAP standards.
Typically a student not meeting SAP is NOT eligible for the following federal or state programs: Federal Pell Grant, Cal Grants, FSEOG, Student Success Completion Grant, Federal Work-study (FWS), and Federal Direct Loans (and some private loans depending on lender).
For more information about the programs listed above, visit our Type of Awards webpage.
Note: The tuition waiver, California College Promise Grant (CCPG), is tied to your GPA/PACE of Progression NOT your overall SAP status. A student who LOST CCPG eligibility will need to appeal with Admissions & Records to re-gain CCPG eligibility.