Warning
Federal Regulations require students to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. These standards are:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- Maintain a completion rate of at least 66.67% (completed credits divided by attempted credits)
- Graduate within the Maximum Timeframe (150% of the credits required to complete a student's current program)
If you are not meeting all of these requirements, you will be suspended from Federal Student Aid and need to submit an appeal to be considered for future aid. Students will be placed on a “Warning” status for one semester following an Unsatisfactory Semester to allow them one additional semester to raise their SAP status above the minimum standards.
Example:
A student enrolls in 15 credits for the Fall Semester:
| Fall Semester | Credits | Grade |
| ENGL 101 | 3 | B |
| MATH 108 | 4 | F |
| COMM 101 | 3 | C+ |
| PE 221 | 2 | W |
| HIST 101 | 3 | B- |
| Attempted Credits | 15 | GPA: 1.85 |
- This student’s completion rate is 60% (9 out of their 15 attempted credits, after receiving an “F” in Math 108 and a “W” in PE) and GPA is 1.85
- They are below the minimum SAP requirements and will be placed on a Warning Semester for the Spring.
| SAP Requirements | Fall | Spring | Total Credits | GPA |
| Completed Credits | 9 | 12 | 21 | FALL: 1.85 |
| Attempted Credits | 15 | 12 | 27 | SPRING: 2.5 |
| Total | 60% | 100% | 78% | 2.175 |
Looking at the new SAP calculation based on cumulative GPA and completion rate for both semesters, the student is at 78% and a 2.175 GPA. The student successfully used their Warning Semester to raise their GPA and completion rate to a Satisfactory Status.
If the student was unsuccessful in raising their GPA and completion rate after the Warning Semester, they would be suspended from financial aid and need to submit an appeal. More information about the appeal process can be found here.
If you have questions please contact Cardinal Central at 208-769-3311 or cardinalcentral@nic.edu.