Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

General Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Types

Tools to Search and Estimate

Maintaining Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require that Youngstown State University review the academic progress of students annually who apply for and/or receive federal financial aid, whether they are a previous aid recipient or not.  The purpose of this review process is to measure whether a student is making satisfactory progress towards his or her educational goals.  All federal programs are affected when a student is not in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.  (State grant programs such as the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Grant (PHEAA) are not governed by the federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy but rather by the respective state.)

SAP Requirements

Youngstown State University's satisfactory academic progress requirements consist of three components:

1. Minimum grade point average
2. Maximum time frame to earn the degree sought
3. Percentage completion rates

GPA Requirement - All undergraduate students at Youngstown State University must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA if over 49 credit hours, a minimum cumulative 1.75 GPA if 32 to 49 credit hours; graduate students must maintain a 3.00 GPA.  The following grades will count toward the calculation: A, B, C, D, and F.  Credit hours that negatively impact your grade point average include NC-no credit, AU-audit, I-incomplete, W-withdrawal, and F-failed.  For incompletes, the credit hours apply to the term the student was enrolled, not the term the student was making up the incomplete.

Max Time Frame Requirement - When a student's attempted hours, as defined above, reach 150% of the maximum hours needed to complete an associate or bachelor's degree, federal financial aid eligibility will be suspended unless the time frame is extended with an appeal accompanied by an Academic Advisor Evaluation.

Percentage Completion Requirement - At the time of the annual assessment, completed hours as a percentage of attempted hours, must meet the following minimum requirements:
 

• Freshmen (0-31 hours earned) must complete a minimum of 65% of the total hours attempted each year
• Sophomores (32-62 hours earned) must complete a minimum of 70% of the total hours attempted each year
• Juniors (63-93 hours earned) must complete a minimum of 75% of the total hours attempted each year
• Seniors (94+ hours earned) must complete a minimum of 80% of the total hours attempted each year

Percentage completion will be calculated by dividing completed hours by attempted hours.  Rank is also calculated based on attempted hours. For federal financial aid satisfactory academic progress purposes, attempted hours exclude audited hours and withdrawals made by the last date to add a class.  Completed hours exclude the following grades: F-failed; NC-no credit; AU-audit; I-incomplete; W-withdrawal.  For Incompletes, note that the credit hours apply to the term in which the student was enrolled in the course, not the term the student was making up the Incomplete.
 

Transfer and Transient Students

Transfer students will be eligible for federal aid through the spring semester of the academic year they begin at Youngstown State University.  During the spring semester, they will then be evaluated under the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.  Transfer hours will be included in the number of hours earned and attempted but only YSU grades enter into the GPA calculation.

YSU transient students must submit a Consortium Agreement and Verification of Enrollment along with a copy of the student's bill for the current term for a determination of financial aid eligibility.  Ad Hoc Consortium Agreement forms can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.  Courses, which transfer to YSU, will be included in the Hours Attempted calculation.
 

Non-Degree Students (undergraduate, post-undergraduate, and graduate)

A student must be enrolled in a degree program to receive federal financial aid.
 

Appeal Process

If a student is non-compliant, he/she must appeal the denial of financial aid by submitting an appeal form that explains the circumstances.  Supporting documentation may be required.  Appeals will be evaluated by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee, which will respond in writing with the decision within 30 days.
 

Satisfactory Academic Appeal Form - pdf*

Academic Advisor Letter- pdf*

*Requires Adobe Acrobat

The decision made by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee is final.  Students who consistently abuse the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy will be denied federal financial aid.

Students who do not appeal, or who are denied by the Committee, will not be eligible for federal financial aid programs for the award year until their academic record is once again in compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.  To attain compliance, students must attend school without federal financial assistance while clearing their satisfactory academic progress.  When reinstatement is granted, a student may be considered for those financial aid funds available at that time.

The first time a student is non-compliant he/she will be sent a Satisfactory Academic Progress warning letter detailing the criteria of noncompliance and also communicating if still non-compliant at the time of the next review, he/she may be denied future federal student aid.  First time non-compliant students that we notify of satisfactory academic progress deficiencies with warning letters are automatically approved for fall and spring to give them notice and ample time to remedy their deficiencies before federal student aid is denied.
 

Contact Information

Contact Susan Sahli at (330) 941-2374 or sesahli@ysu.edu for additional information and deadlines.