Federal regulations require UW Oshkosh to establish, publish, and apply standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility.  The purpose of measuring and enforcing these standards is to ensure financial aid recipients are progressing toward graduation.  Students who fail to meet the SAP requirements become ineligible to receive financial aid until they are in compliance with these requirements.

SAP Standards for Undergraduate Students

To be eligible for student financial aid, you must meet all SAP requirements.  The Financial Aid Office has established guidelines (based on federal regulations) for evaluating students' progress, taking into consideration the cumulative UW Oshkosh GPA, the cumulative number of credits attempted and completed at UW Oshkosh, and credits that have successfully transferred from any other postsecondary institution.  The financial aid SAP standards are not the same as the academic standards of the University or of any department or professional school.  Students' Financial Aid SAP status does not prevent them from enrolling in classes.  An individual's SAP status may be viewed in Titan Web.  SAP will be evaluated and updated in Titan Web prior to the start of each semester.

For further explanation on each SAP status, please click on the links below:

Meeting SAP Criteria

Financial Aid Warning

Not Meeting SAP Criteria

Financial Aid SAP Appeal Process

Viewing SAP Status in Titan Web

Once SAP evaluation has occurred, students will receive an email to their Titan Mail address (please see the University E-mail Policy in the appropriate undergraduate bulletin), directing them to Titan Web to view their SAP Status.  SAP status may be viewed by logging into Titan Web and following the steps below:

1. From the Student Center home page, under the Finances section, click on "View SAP Status"
2. Click on the current aid year
3. Review the status for each of the SAP requirements listed.

The SAP chart in Titan Web will be similar to the one below:

Students must complete their academic program within 150% of minimum required credits for a bachelor’s degree.  For example, a student pursuing his/her first undergraduate degree may be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 180 attempted credits based on a minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor degree at UWO (120 credit minimum based on the UWO Undergraduate Bulletin) .

If the student is currently meeting all SAP criteria, his or her SAP status is "Meets", and the student is eligible for financial aid for the current semester.

Freshmen are considered to be meeting SAP standards when they have been admitted into a degree program.  Undergraduate students may continue to receive financial aid while meeting the minimum standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (see below).  Non-degree students are generally ineligible for federal financial aid.

Meeting Minimum SAP Standards for Undergraduate Students

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of cumulative attempted credits AND maintain a minimum cumulative 2.00 UW Oshkosh GPA.  Classes graded “F,” “incomplete,” or “not pass” will be evaluated as courses attempted, but not successfully completed.  Attempted credits include all UW Oshkosh credits, including drops/withdrawals, in which the student is enrolled on or after a pre-determined census date for the semester (see Important Dates), as well as all credits transferred from any other postsecondary institution.  Repeated courses will be treated as additional attempted credits as indicated in the UW Oshkosh Undergraduate Bulletin.

Students must complete their academic program within 150% of minimum required credits for a bachelor's degree.  For example, a student pursuing his/her first undergraduate degree may be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 180 attempted credits based on a minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor degree at UWO.  Students obtaining a second or subsequent baccalaureate degree must complete that degree within 225 attempted credits.  The maximum credit limit includes all hours attempted at UW Oshkosh and credits that have successfully transferred from any other postsecondary institution, regardless of whether the student received financial aid for any/all of those credits.  Students approaching their maximum credit limit for financial aid eligibility will be notified via email and will not be placed on Financial Aid Warning status unless also not meeting the GPA and/or completion rate requirement. Students who surpass the 180 credit limit will be ineligible for federal and state financial aid, including grants, student loans, parent (PLUS) loan, and work-study unless they have an approved financial aid SAP appeal.

Financial Aid Warning

If a student does not meet the minimum standards at the end of a semester, he or she will be placed on initial Financial Aid Warning status for the following semester.   A student on Financial Aid Warning may continue to receive financial aid during the warning semester.  If the student meets the minimum SAP requirements during the warning semester, his or her SAP status will return to Good Standing.  If the student does not meet the minimum SAP standards by the end of the Financial Aid Warning semester, he or she will become ineligible for all federal and state financial aid, including grants, student loans, parent (PLUS) loans, and work-study in subsequent semesters until he or she again meets the SAP standards or has a financial aid SAP appeal approved.

NOTE: Scholarships, assistantships, stipends, or regular student assistant earnings (non-work-study) will not be affected by SAP ineligibility unless specified.

Not Meeting SAP Criteria

The following scenarios are examples of students not meeting SAP criteria, making them ineligible for financial aid:

1. A student seeking his or her first bachelor's degree has surpassed the 180 credit limit

2. A student seeking his or her second bachelor's degree has surpassed the 225 credit limit

3. A student who was on WARNING for a prior term and did not meet SAP requirements during that term

4. A student who had an approved SAP appeal for a prior term, resulting in a financial aid probation term, who did not meet SAP requirements during the probation term

Students who have not met the minimum SAP requirements at the end of a given term will be ineligible for financial aid for the following semester.  Students may attempt to regain financial aid eligibility by filing a SAP appeal.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal Process

Students who become ineligible for financial aid because they are not meeting the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, but feel they have experienced unique, extenuating circumstances or are very close to graduation may submit an appeal by following the process outlined below:

It is HIGHLY recommended that students submit any supporting documentation at the time of their appeal to ensure quicker appeal evaluation.  Incomplete appeals or insufficient supporting documentation could result in a delay in processing or denial of an SAP appeal.

Students who have a financial aid SAP appeal approved will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.  During this probation semester, the student is eligible for financial aid.  Students placed on Financial Aid Probation may be required to meet an individually prescribed set of criteria, including an academic plan, in order to continue receiving financial aid.  If, after grades have posted for that semester, the student is found to have met the minimum SAP requirements, he/she will be eligible for financial aid and will continue to be monitored by the regular SAP standards rather than an individually prescribed set of probationary standards.  If the student did not meet the minimum SAP requirements during the Probation semester, he or she will again be ineligible for financial aid.

NOTE: If you are denied financial aid based on your SAP status, that denial takes precedence over any previous award notification you may have received. 

Graduate Students

References: 34 CFR 668.16(e), 34 CFR 668.32(f), 34 CFR 668.34, 75 FR 66879 (2010-10-29)