Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

All students are expected to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) except non-degree seeking graduate students. The three benchmarks in meeting SAP are maintaining a minimum Cumulative GPA (2.0 for undergraduate students and 3.0 for graduate students), 67% Cumulative Completion Rate, and 150% Duration. See below for more information on each.

The Academic and Financial Aid SAP policies at Rochester University are one and the same. Students who do not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress experience Academic/Financial Aid actions, regardless of whether or not they are financial aid recipients.

The following are definitions used to measure a student’s satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a degree or certificate.

• Undergraduate students (including early college and dual-enrolled students): 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) consistent with graduation requirements.
• Graduate students: 3.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) consistent with graduation requirements.

An undergraduate student cannot graduate with a CGPA of lower than 2.0. A graduate student cannot graduate with a CGPA of lower than 3.0. However, if the undergraduate student’s CGPA drops below 2.0 or the graduate student’s CGPA drops below 3.0 at some point during the course of their program, the student’s continuing academic and financial aid standing will be determined by the guidelines outlined further below in the section on “Monitoring the Minimum SAP Requirements.”

• 67% Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR), determined as follows:

Cumulative Credits Completed does not include hours with grades of “F” Failing, “W” Withdrawal, or “I” Incomplete. Cumulative Credits Attempted includes successfully completed hours, accepted transfer hours, courses previously taken and repeated, and hours with “Ws”, “Fs”, or “Is” in grade reports. Audited courses are not considered credits attempted or completed when calculating SAP. Credits attempted are defined as credits the student is enrolled in at the end of the official drop/ add period. Students with a CCR of 66.999% or lower do not meet SAP standards.

• Duration of eligibility, which is up to 150% of the program’s length.

A student must complete the requirements for the degree within 150% of the time it normally takes to complete the degree. Once a student has attempted 150% of the minimum credits required to graduate, they are no longer eligible for financial aid and is no longer considered as meeting the standards of SAP. In the event of extenuating circumstances, the student may file an appeal to the SAP Appeals Committee. An SAP Appeal Self-Assessment form must be submitted to the SAP Appeals Committee by the deadline outlined in the student's SAP letter. Appeals submitted after the deadline will be considered for the following semester. 

Example: 120 credits required for a degree X 150% = 180 credit hours a student may attempt while working on the degree.