Policies, Appeals, and Important Information


The information below will assist you with completing the financial aid process as well as understanding your rights and responsibilities as a financial aid recipient.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)
This policy describes your responsibilities as a financial aid recipient at Cypress College to maintain a sufficient grade point average while completing the minimum required units annually to maintain eligibility.

Sample SAP Notices:

SAP is reviewed after final grades are reported for each term. If disqualified for spring 2024, the last day to submit a SAP Appeal is May 17, 2024.

Please note: Appeal determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and are not automatically approved.

Financial Aid Warning and Disqualification Overview
This document serves as an addendum to our satisfactory academic progress policy and is provided to students on Financial Aid Warning and Disqualification to help facilitate a better understanding of their status.

California College Promise Grant (CCPG) Policy and Appeal Information

The California College Promise Grant (CCPG) has separate standards from the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Please review our CCPG Policy here. If you are disqualified, please see below for the process to appeal.

To complete your CCPG Appeal, please go to cypresscollege.verifymyfafsa.com (you will log in with your myGateway credentials). If you do not see a CCPG Appeal, please contact our office at financialaid@cypresscollege.edu to request an appeal.

NOTE: Foster youth (under the age of 24) and CCPG F recipients are EXEMPT from appealing for both the CCPG Fee Waiver and Enrollment Priority. These standards are separate from the eligibility criteria for Federal Financial Aid and should not be confused with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.

CCPG Appeal Fact Sheet

Unusual and Special Circumstances Policies

Income Adjustment

If you (or a parent) have recently experienced a change in income or household, such as job loss, divorce, or an extenuating circumstance – you might be eligible for an Income Adjustment on your financial aid application. This is done via an appeal process: Income Adjustment Appeal on our Student Forms platform.

How to request the Appeal:

  • Once we have received your financial aid application, you may request the appeal by logging in on the platform and clicking the blue “+ Request” button at the upper right corner and select “Family Contribution Appeal”.
  • You will need to provide a brief explanation of your situation and upload supporting documentation.
  • Please note that any student requesting an Income Adjustment Appeal will need to complete verification before their appeal can be processed.
  • Once all information is complete and submitted, your Financial Aid Technician will review and may request additional clarification or items if needed in order to complete the appeal.

Dependency Override

If you answer “no” to all of the dependency questions on your financial aid application, you are considered a dependent student.

You may be able to request a Dependency Override Appeal if you have an unusual circumstance such as: you have no contact with either parents and don’t know where they live or unable to have contact with them, or you’ve left home due to an abusive situation. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for further clarification and assistance on the information needed for you to complete a Dependency Override Appeal on our Student Forms platform.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

For students under the age of 24, that are self-supporting and at risk of being homeless or, unaccompanied homeless youths or unaccompanied, youths at risk of being homeless. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for further assistance on the information needed to complete the form on our Student Forms platform and what resources that are available.

Other Financial Aid Policies At-a-Glance

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
This policy is the North Orange County Community College District’s policy regarding the privacy of student records. This policy also applies to student financial aid records at Cypress College.

Financial Aid Disbursement Policy and Dates
Important information and requirements for student financial aid disbursement for the current academic year.

Get disbursement schedules and frequently asked disbursement questions.

Student Loan Eligibility Policy
An overview of important information and requirements for student loan eligibility at Cypress College.

Verification Policy
This policy describes the requirements you must complete if your financial aid application is selected for verification.

Withdrawal and Return to Title IV (R2T4) Policy

The Cypress College Financial Aid office awards aid under the assumption that a student will attend and complete the courses that they enroll in for the semester (also referred to as “payment period”). When a student withdraws (does not complete any of their enrolled courses for that semester), the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive. The Financial Aid Office must then perform a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation to determine any earned or unearned aid.

Title IV Aid refers to the following:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Direct Loan (both subsidized and unsubsidized)
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

An R2T4 calculation only takes place if the student attended at least one day of their semester and is eligible for any Title IV funds and withdraws from all courses. R2T4 regulations do not apply to students who do not begin the semester or who continue to be enrolled in the term, even if it’s just one class.

For more information about withdrawal and R2T4, please review the Financial Aid Handbook.