Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
Standard #1: Grade Point Average (GPA)
Always maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA each semester and cumulatively to avoid financial aid warning and disqualification. A 2.0 GPA is required for graduation and transfer to four-year colleges and universities. If transferring is your goal, always exceed the minimum GPA requirements so your academic profile is competitive and attractive to potential transfer institutions.
Standard #2: Pace of Progression & Maximum Timeframe
You must complete at least 67% of the units you attempt each semester and overall to maintain your eligibility (this is defined as your “Pace of Progression”).
Warning: Maximum Timeframe for Aid
You are not eligible to receive Federal financial aid at Cypress College when you accumulate more than 90 units attempted in your entire academic career (all institutions; this is referred to as “Maximum Timeframe.)” Since the AA degree requires 60 units, the financial aid office permits you to take remedial courses or change your major once prior to reaching 90 units attempted.
The units you accumulate and your academic success matters. All students are expected to complete their bachelor’s degree within 12 full-time semesters. At Cypress, you are expected to complete your associate degree within 6 full-time semesters or 90 units attempted to avoid disqualification. See below for additional information.
General Requirements
Students receiving Federal financial aid must be enrolled in an eligible program. An eligible program is defined as:
- Certificate with unit requirement above 16 units, OR
- An associate degree (AA or AS), OR
- A two-year academic transfer program that is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree.
The following two standards must be met for Cypress College students to establish and maintain eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
Standard 1: Grade Point Average Requirement
Students must maintain a 2.0 minimum grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted.
If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, the student will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester. If the student does not achieve a 2.0 or higher GPA during their warning semester, they will be disqualified from further financial assistance and will be given the option to submit a financial aid petition to request reinstatement prior to reaching the maximum timeframe at Cypress College (i.e. 90 units attempted if you are pursuing an A.A.; varies if for certificates). Students who transfer to Cypress College with below a 2.0 GPA from all previous institution(s) attended may be placed on financial aid warning or disqualification based on a review of their entire postsecondary record. The expectation is that all students will meet the minimum standards required by Federal law.
Standard 2: Pace of Progression and Maximum Timeframe for Financial Aid Eligibility
Pace of Progression
Students must complete at least 67% of the units attempted to maintain eligibility (this is referred to as “Pace of Progression”). The “Pace of Progression” is based on all classes that appear on permanent records. Additionally, students are not eligible to receive Federal financial aid at Cypress College when the student has reached the maximum timeframe (i.e., 90 units are attempted if you are pursuing an A.A.; varies if for certificates). Your units attempted are officially recorded after the last day to drop each semester. These units appear on your transcripts as attempted.
Attempted Semester Units Include (whether paid for by financial aid):
- Earned (successful) Grades: A, B, C, D, and P
- Incomplete Grades: I, IP
- Non-passing Grades: EW, F, NP, W
The chart below provides an example of how many units you must complete each semester to meet Pace of Progression:
| Attempted units for the semester*: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Units you must complete: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
*Important note: Cypress College has a COVID-19 SAP exemption for W and EW grades earned during the spring 2020 semester through end of fall 2021. W and EW grades earned during the exemption period are excluded from the 67% completion Rate and Maximum Timeframe calculations. W and EW grades earned before or after the exemption period will still count against you when SAP is calculated.
Maximum Timeframe
Students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Cypress College when you accumulate more than 90 units attempted in your entire academic career (this is referred to as “Maximum Timeframe”). The units you accumulate and your academic success matter.
Federal law requires that students requesting financial aid be able to complete their primary educational goal within 150% of their program length or six semesters full-time. We calculate the maximum timeframe for AA degrees and Certificates as follows:
- Certificate programs vary (# units required for program) x 150% = Maximum units allowed
- 60 units required for an AA degree x 150% = 90 units allowed
- 120 Units required for a bachelor’s degree x 150%= 180 units allowed
All coursework as recorded on your transcripts from all institutions attended is used to calculate your maximum timeframe. A student who has exceeded the maximum timeframe and/or cannot mathematically complete their program within this timeframe will be placed on Financial Aid Disqualification status and will be provided instructions on how to appeal. Students who have previously received BA/BS, MA/MS, or professional degrees (for student loans only) will also be disqualified and provided the option to submit an appeal.
Students are expected to complete their primary educational goal within the equivalent of 6 full-time semesters to avoid Financial Aid Disqualification. Cypress College financial aid strictly enforces our satisfactory academic progress policy to comply with Federal law and create the conditions for our graduates to have the ability to receive financial aid when they transfer and enter higher cost colleges and universities. Please note the conditions below as they address many of the areas that impact student success for financial aid applicants and recipients at Cypress College:
1. Change of Major/Educational Objective: Students are permitted to change their educational objective once at Cypress College. Students should be aware that changing majors multiple times can impact their financial aid eligibility and will get them closer to reaching maximum timeframe.
2. Repeated Classes: Students taking repeated classes will not be paid for those units unless the repeated class is part of an approved curriculum required for their program. Any repeated classes will count toward the maximum timeframe.
3. Remedial/Basic Skills Coursework: A maximum of 30 units of remedial/basic skills coursework (including ESL) taken from Cypress College can be excluded from the 90-unit maximum timeframe. Only remedial/basic skills or ESL courses that were completed successfully with a “C” or better are eligible to be discounted. Examples of courses that qualify at Cypress College include Math 10, 15, 20 and any English course below English 100.
4. Pass, No Pass (P/NP) and In-Progress (IP) grades count as attempted units in the maximum timeframe. The grades do not affect the cumulative GPA.
5. Enrollment in Physical Education (PE) classes only will not be funded by financial aid if not applicable to a student course program of study. Academic Renewal is not recognized for financial aid purposes. Financial aid always counts your units attempted and completed regardless of whether you have been granted academic renewal. Even when a more favorable grade is subsequently received, both attempts would be counted as part of your maximum timeframe for financial aid purposes.
7. Declare a Major: Students must declare a specific major area of study that has a unit requirement of over 16 units. Please refer to the College Catalog and your academic counselor for information about the various majors and programs of study at Cypress College.