Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Financing a college education is an important investment that requires many resources. The Financial Aid office offers assistance to students by outlining various financial resources available and guiding students through the application process. Office staff is available throughout the year to assist students with their needs.

Financial Aid consists of:

• Scholarships based on merit (academic, talent, special skill).
• Grants based on need, as determined by a student's aid application.
• Employment that allows students to work and earn money to help pay for school.
• Loan money that is often repaid after school at a low interest rate.

All financial aid recipients are required to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards established by Edgewood College, per federal regulations, as follows. This policy is monitored each term and is separate from Edgewood’s academic standing policy.

1. Students must meet the minimum credit requirement on which their aid was initially based.
2. Students must meet the minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

Additionally, students may not exceed the maximum length of time to receive aid. Federal regulations set the maximum time a student may take to complete his/her educational program at 150% of the published length of the educational program. Transfer credits from other colleges or universities are counted as attempted hours.

*Successful completion of credits: Grades of A through D or P (Pass) are considered to be successful completion. Any other grade is not considered a successful completion. Taking an Incomplete (I) is not considered successful completion; however, if a student successfully completes the course by the end of the following term and earns a passing grade, he or she may notify the Financial Aid Office for reevaluation.

At the end of each term, the Financial Aid office reviews how many credits students successfully completed. This number is compared to the credit enrollment on which the aid was based (e.g., full- time, half-time). If a student meets the minimum credit and GPA requirement, the student is making satisfactory academic progress. If the student does not meet the satisfactory academic progress criteria, the following actions will be taken:

• Probation: The first time a student does not meet satisfactory academic progress, the student is placed on financial aid probation but will continue to be eligible for aid.
• Termination: The second time a student does not meet satisfactory academic progress, the student’s eligibility for financial aid is discontinued.

Students who are unable to meet satisfactory academic progress due to unusual circumstances may submit a letter of appeal to the Financial Aid Office requesting that their aid be reinstated. Contact the office for details. Students may also choose to enroll in a minimum of 6 credits at their own expense and earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to have their financial aid reinstated.