Satisfactory Academic Progress

Updated: July 2022

"Satisfactory Academic Progress" (SAP) is the term used to signify a student's successful completion of coursework toward a degree or certificate. For federal, state, and institutional aid, the University is required to monitor the progress of each student toward degree or certificate completion. These academic standards apply for all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether or not aid was received. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or do not achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completed credits, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state, and institutional aid administered by our office. Students who are not meeting standards will be notified via the email on file in MyNEVADA.

 

Undergraduate students

To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating your progress. You must be meeting all standards in order to maintain good standing for receiving federal, state, and institutional aid. SAP is calculated at the end of the Fall, Spring (includes Wintermester), and Summer terms.

  • Qualitative component: Consists of cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA and passing/non-passing grades for remedial coursework
  • Quantitative component: Consists of pace and maximum time frame

Graduate students

To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating your progress. You must be meeting all standards in order to maintain good standing for receiving federal, state, and institutional aid. SAP is calculated at the end of the Fall, Spring (includes Wintermester), and Summer terms.

  • Qualitative component: Consists of cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA
  • Quantitative component: Consists of pace and maximum time frame

Physician assistant program

To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating your progress. You must be meeting all standards in order to maintain good standing for receiving federal, state, and institutional aid. SAP is calculated at the end of each semester.

  • Qualitative component: Consists of cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA
  • Quantitative component: Consists of pace and maximum time frame

Medical students

To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships has established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating your progress. You must be meeting all standards in order to maintain good standing for receiving federal, state, and institutional aid. SAP is calculated at the end of each semester.

  • Qualitative component: Consists of Academic Probation
  • Quantitative component: Consists of pace and maximum time frame

Private loans SAP

Student who are meeting SAP standards are eligible to apply for private loan funding. Please visit our page on private loans to learn more about the process.

Students who are on financial aid suspension must have a successfully processed Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal or Maximum Time Frame Appeal on file with the financial aid office before a private loan request can be reviewed. Students may be eligible for private loan funding regardless of the appeal decision. Students who are not meeting federal SAP standards and are approved for private loan funding must maintain the following academic requirements in order to continue receiving private loan funding:

  • Undergraduate students. 2.0 or above University of Nevada, Reno semester GPA and a 67% semester completion rate
  • Graduate students/physician assistant. 3.0 or above University of Nevada, Reno semester GPA and a 67% semester completion rate
  • Medical students. A 100% per term completion rate

Failure to maintain private loan SAP may result in the denial of future private loan requests.

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