To establish and maintain eligibility for federal financial aid at JCCC, you must meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
To establish and maintain eligibility for federal financial aid at JCCC, the student must meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards. Federal regulations require that a student make satisfactory academic progress toward an eligible degree, certificate, or transfer program leading to a bachelor’s degree. To comply with this regulation, the following SAP standards have been established.
SAP evaluation will occur prior to being packaged when the FAFSA information is received and at the end of each enrolled semester, including summer. Evaluation is based on primary major and cumulative JCCC and transfer credit coursework as appearing on the student’s official academic transcript from accredited institutions, including English as a Second Language (ESL) and remedial coursework. Only credit courses are considered for SAP evaluation. Students not making SAP will be notified through their student email account. (Note: Clock hour programs are computed as credit hours for SAP purposes.)
Students can check their current SAP status in their MyJCCC account. Find the Financial Aid & Scholarships card, then click the My Financial Aid button, select Aid Year, and then click Satisfactory Academic Progress.
The three SAP standards are evaluated by the following criteria:
1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
Students must attain a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0 (Most recent grade earned will be used in GPA computation).
2. Pace (Percentage of Completion)
Students must successfully complete 66.667% of all credit hours attempted as appearing on their official academic transcripts. This includes all enrollment periods whether financial aid was requested or received. The following grades do not affect the cumulative GPA but will be counted as attempted (but not completed) credit hours: “I” (incomplete), “W” (withdrawn), or “R” (repeated). Self-paced courses that are not completed by the end of the semester in which the student enrolled will be recorded with a grade of “I” until the course is completed. An incomplete course may delay future federal financial aid disbursements until a final letter grade is posted.
| Attempted Credit Hours | Required Credit Hours Completed |
| 12 | 8 |
| 15 | 10 |
| 18 | 12 |
| 24 | 16 |
| 30 | 20 |
3. Maximum Time Frame
The maximum time frame for students to complete their academic program may not exceed 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if the published length of the program is 60 credit hours, the maximum number of attempted credit hours may not exceed 90. After 150% of the published length of the program has been attempted (including JCCC and all transfer credit hours on record), students are no longer eligible for federal financial aid.
Students who are pursuing multiple degrees will be evaluated based on the published length of their primary program.
Students entering JCCC with 140% or more of the published length of their established program of study may be required to submit an SAP appeal.
Financial Aid Warning Status
Students not maintaining SAP standards for GPA or Pace will automatically be placed on “Warning” status for the subsequent term. Students may continue to receive financial aid during the warning period. However, students not making SAP at the end of the warning period will be ineligible for financial aid and placed on NSAP (Financial Aid Ineligibility) status. To attempt to regain eligibility, students will need to submit an SAP appeal.
Financial Aid Ineligibility Status (NSAP) and Appeals
Students may appeal their NSAP status by completing and submitting an SAP appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Forms must be submitted with appropriate documentation. The student must meet with a Counselor to review their DegreeCheck audit or Stellic Plan and to identify the anticipated final semester of attendance at JCCC. The anticipated final semester must be included with the submitted appeal. Students are allowed to appeal financial aid eligibility two times. Once an appeal is reviewed by the SAP Appeal Committee, the decision or recommendation is final, and the student will be notified of the outcome.
If the appeal is denied, the student will remain in NSAP status and must pay for educational costs until SAP standards are met. This denial takes precedence over any previous financial aid offer notification the student may have received.
If the appeal is approved, the student’s federal financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. To maintain eligibility, the Financial Aid Academic Plan conditions listed below must be met but might also include additional conditions such as reducing the number of enrolled credit hours, working with a Counselor, or visiting the Academic Achievement Center (AAC) throughout the semester. If the conditions of the student’s appeal and Financial Aid Academic Plan requirements are not met during the following terms, the appeal then becomes void, and the student is placed back on NSAP status.
Students moved to exclusion status are ineligible to receive federal financial aid at JCCC. Exclusion status occurs after two approved appeals without academic success or two denied appeals due to lack of information or documentation in the appeals. The Financial Aid Office will review students with a FAFSA on file who were previously ineligible to determine if they are currently meeting minimum SAP standards.
Financial Aid Academic Plan Status
Financial Aid Academic Plan status is granted after students have had an SAP appeal approved. Students on Financial Aid Academic Plan status are eligible through the semester and year approved on their appeal and may continue to receive financial aid funding, if the following requirements are met:
- Successfully complete their program, following DegreeCheck/Stellic Plan, and/or meet other conditions, if required, as stated in the approval letter.
- Receive a minimum 2.0 GPA average for all classes taken in each subsequent term.
- Successfully complete at least 66.667% of all courses attempted during each subsequent term.
If a student does not satisfactorily complete the above criteria, the student will be placed on financial aid exclusion and will not receive any federal financial aid until SAP standards are attained. Students denied aid due to exclusion status must take credit courses at their own expense until SAP standards are met. To remove Financial Aid Academic Plan status after an appeal is approved, the student must meet minimum GPA AND Pace standards AND have attempted less than 150% of the published length of their declared program.