The U. S. Department of Education requires schools to define and monitor satisfactory academic progress for federal student financial aid applicants.  Satisfactory academic progress is the measurement of a student’s performance toward their degree program according to the following three (3) standards:

1.   Minimum cumulative grade point average (Qualitative Measurement).

 Undergraduate students must meet the minimum system academic progression standards as established by the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR). These standards are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average (gpa) and system term gpa. The system term gpa is based on the credits earned from the six BOR universities during a given term. The cumulative gpa includes all credits earned (transfer plus system credit). Making satisfactory academic progression is as follows:

1) A student with a cumulative gpa of 2.0 or better is considered to be in academic good standing.

2) If a student’s cumulative gpa is below 2.0 in any academic term (fall, spring, summer), the student is placed on academic probation the following term.

3) While on academic probation, the student must earn a system term gpa of 2.0 or better.

4) When a student on academic probation achieves a cumulative gpa of 2.0 or better, the student is returned to good academic standing.

5) A student on academic probation who fails to maintain a system gpa of 2.0 or better is placed on academic suspension for a minimum period of two academic terms. The student completes a separate academic appeal form.

A student placed on academic suspension is also placed on financial aid suspension.

2.  Minimum completion of course work for cumulative credits attempted (Quantitative Measurement).

All students must successfully complete a minimum 67% of the cumulative course work (enrolled credits after last date to add and drop classes with a 100% refund) attempted.  Passing grades of A, B, C, D, P and EX are used for successful completion.  Grades of F, I, IP, TR, CR, NR, AU, and W are not counted for successful completion. 

3.  Maximum credits to complete a degree program (Maximum credits attempted).

 All federal financial aid students must complete their SDSU degree program with credits attempted that are no greater than 150% of the degree credit requirements.  For example, an undergraduate degree requiring 128 degree credits completed has a maximum of 192 credit hours attempted for the degree program. A graduate degree program requiring 32 graduate degree credits completed has a maximum of 48 credit hours attempted for the degree program  

Graduate academic standards are established and monitored by the Graduate School for graduate students. The Financial Aid Office does not suspend graduate students for a minimum gpa because the Graduate School maintains their own gpa review and appeal process for the graduate degree programs.

Review policy and notification

a) Satisfactory progress will be evaluated, at a minimum, at the end of the spring semester.

b) Financial aid recipients are sent a financial aid suspended letter if they are not meeting the satisfactory progress standards.  There are no warning (probation) letters prior to the suspended letter.  A student on suspended status and who had not previously applied for federal financial aid will be sent a suspended letter after applying for financial aid.

c) All credits/grades are counted (including Academic Amnesty and remedial) even if the student never had financial aid.

Appeal Process and additional information

a) Any student who is suspended from federal financial aid eligibility must complete a Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Appeal Form or update their prior appeal form, preferably no later than 45 days into the academic term.  The appeal form should include information to explain mitigating circumstances (health, family, personal, degree program changes, etc). The appeal form will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the appeal decision.

b) If an appeal is approved for the fall semester, financial aid may be awarded for the full academic year. After the fall academic grades are final, the student must complete another appeal form or notify the SDSU Financial Aid Office to review their satisfactory progress status. The spring federal financial aid will not be paid unless the fall academic conditions were attained or another appeal was approved. An appeal for the summer or spring terms will have only the respective summer or spring financial aid awarded.

c) Students meeting the above minimum standards, and on good standing, are eligible for federal financial aid.

d) Students not meeting the above standards may consider non-federal sources of student financial aid.

e) Please contact the SDSU Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.  Thank you.