Federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance require that an institution develop standards to measure academic progress toward a degree. Students applying for financial aid will be monitored for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) whether or not financial aid was applied for or received during any academic period in which the student was previously enrolled. You will not be eligible for financial assistance if you do not meet the academic progress requirements. Financial Aid and Scholarships monitors SAP at the end of each term. You must be meeting the minimum standards for SAP by the end of any given enrollment period at UNT to maintain financial aid eligibility.

GPA Requirements

The minimum cumulative UNT GPA for undergraduate students is 1.8 for the first term of enrollment and a 2.0 for all subsequent semesters.

The minimum cumulative UNT GPA for graduate students is 2.67 for the first term of enrollment and a 3.0 for all subsequent semesters. SAP will be measured according to graduate student classification, whether or not a bachelor's degree has been earned.

Course Completion Rate

You must successfully complete at least two-thirds of the cumulative attempted credit hours.

Attempted hours include:

  • all graded coursework at UNT
    • including non-passed and repeated coursework
  • all withdrawals at UNT
  • all transferable coursework from other colleges, including dual credit
  • all articulated test credit

Course Completion Rate is measured by dividing the cumulative number of hours successfully completed by the cumulative number of hours attempted.

Maximum Hour/Timeframe Limit

Federal regulations require an institution to establish a maximum number of credit hours to complete a degree or certification while also remaining eligible for federal, state, or institutional financial assistance. Consideration of eligibility includes all terms of enrollment, whether or not federal, state, or institutional aid is received.

Undergraduate students cannot exceed hours above 150 percent of their required degree plan at any institution of higher education, to include all registered, earned, or attempted hours.

For a graduate program (master's or doctoral), the maximum timeframe cannot exceed the published length of the program measured by the number of years at UNT.

Post baccalaureate and Graduate Academic Certificate programs will be monitored for maximum timeframe based on their twelve month or twenty-four month period of aid eligibility.

In addition, university withdrawal, dropped, duplicated or never completed hours are counted as well as hours earned in the Armed Forces. Any hours excluded under the UNT Admission's Academic Fresh Start option are included as attempted hours for financial aid purposes.

Appeals

If you fail to meet SAP requirements and lose financial aid eligibility, you may submit a written appeal with supporting documentation for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility if you had extenuating circumstances.  Please see the following page for information regarding the SAP Appeal requirements and process.

SAP Appeal Process

Repeated Coursework

Per Federal Regulation, a student is not eligible for Title IV (federal) financial aid for any course they repeat more than once if they have previously passed the course.

For example, a student took BIOL 101 in the fall and earned a D. The student can retake the course once and receive financial aid for that course. If the student attempts to retake the course again, no federal financial aid funds can be used to help pay for the class.

Helpful Terms

  • SAP:  This is the acronym for "Satisfactory Academic Progress". 
  • Course Completion Rate: An ongoing measure that ensures students are on track to complete their program in the maximum timeframe.  This is also sometimes referred to as "pace of progression".
  • Meets SAP: Status assigned to students who are meeting all SAP requirements.
  • Financial Aid Warning: Status assigned to students who failed to meet SAP requirements (minimum GPA and/or course completion rate) in a single term of enrollment. Students are allowed to receive financial aid during a "Financial Aid Warning" status if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
  • Financial Aid Suspension: Status assigned to students who did not meet SAP requirements (minimum GPA and/or course completion rate) in two consecutive terms and/or have met their maximum hour or timeframe limit. Students are not eligible for financial aid at this status. 
  • SAP Appeal: The process for students on Financial Aid Suspension to petition for a reconsideration of financial aid due to extenuating circumstances.
  • Financial Aid Probation: Status assigned to students for one-term who have successfully appealed a Financial Aid Suspension status. Students are allowed to receive financial aid during a "Financial Aid Probation" status if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
  • Financial Aid Academic Plan: Status assigned to students on Financial Aid Probation who have had an additional appeal approved. This is developed in cooperation and agreement with financial aid and an academic department/advisor.