Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal requirement that states students must maintain good academic standards in order to be eligible for financial aid. Student may refer to the the following academic standards listed below to ensure they stay on track to receive financial aid each semester.
Determining SAP Status
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Criteria:
There are three components to calculate a student's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):
Grade Point Average (GPA) Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Completion Rate Minimum 67% successful completion rate of all credit hours attempted
Example: a student with 54 earned credit hours out of 69 attempted credit hours would have a calculated completion rate of: (54 ÷ 69) x 100 = 78%. This example meets SAP rules.
Maximum Hours The maximum time frame a student may receive financial aid may not exceed 150% of the published length of their degree program.
Example: a student with a 60 credit hour associates degree program would be calculated as: 60 x 150% = maximum of 90 attempted hours of college-level coursework allowed
Example: a student with a 120 credit hour bachelors degree program would be calculated as 120 x 150% = maximum of 180 attempted hours of college-level coursework allowed
View ACD's Detailed SAP Policy
Evaluation Timeline:
Beginning Fall 2025, the Student Financial Aid Office will run an evaluation of SAP status at the end of each term (Fall, Spring, Summer), after grades are posted.
Financial Aid Warning & Suspension:
Once the evaluation is complete, any student who does not meet SAP status will be granted a warning semester to improve their GPA or completion rate while continuing to receive aid. If SAP status has not improved by the end of the warning semester, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension and will no longer be eligible for financial aid. Any previously offered awards for future semesters will be removed from the student’s account. Learn more about how to appeal in the next section.
How To Check Your SAP Status on ACES
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Submission Dates
Appeal Opens Appeal Closes Availability Fall 2025
May 1, 2025
Nov. 1, 2025
Closed
Spring 2026
Nov. 3, 2025
Apr. 1, 2026
Open
Summer 2026
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Unavailable
Submission Steps
- First, meet with your Certified Academic Advisor to initiate your appeal.
- Then, submit your appeal to the Student Financial Aid Office through the link on your ACES portal.
How to Submit Your Appeal on ACES
- Lastly, you must submit supporting documentation that describes why you did not meet SAP standards and how you will return to good standing through the Document Upload form within 7 days of submitting your appeal.
Processing Timeline
The review time of a SAP appeal may take 3-4 weeks. A message will be sent to your ACES financial aid portal once an approval or denial has been made. All decisions made by the Financial Aid office are final.
If approved, SAP appeals allow financial aid eligibility to be renewed. Students whose appeal is denied may submit a new appeal after the completion of one semester.
FAQs
Avoid dropping classes or earning grades not considered to be passing according to the SAP policy, and follow your degree plan and meet with an advisor regularly.
If you do not attend the Alamo Colleges District during the term for which the appeal was submitted and approved, the approval will be voided and your SAP status will be returned to suspension.
However, if you do complete attendance at the Alamo Colleges District during the term for which the appeal was submitted and approved, your renewed financial aid eligibility may be extended for up to one (1) academic year of non-enrollment. At the end of this non-enrollment period, your financial aid eligibility will be returned to suspension.
Due to prior college credit hours earned before attending the Alamo Colleges District, new incoming dual credit students entering fall or spring will be placed on SAP probation until the regular SAP process runs at the end of spring.
Please make sure you have
1) completed the ApplyTexas application for admission,
2) completed your FAFSA and
3) that the Alamo Colleges District has successfully received your FAFSA.
Your academic history, including hours transferred into the Alamo Colleges District, is cumulative and never resets itself. Once you are in violation of SAP requirements, the suspension status remains until an appeal is approved or sufficient progress is made. Transferred hours count towards maximum attempted hours.
No. An approved petition or Academic Fresh Start does not impact your financial aid suspension. Only an appeal approved through the financial aid appeal committee can reinstate students.
No. Your suspension status impacts eligibility for all federal aid, including Direct Loans.
