Graduate SAP

Applies to all Braniff School of Liberal Arts, College of Business, and Neuhoff Institute for Ministry & Evangelization graduate students receiving financial aid.

As required by the Higher Education Act of 1965, the University of Dallas has established minimum standards for financial aid eligibility for graduate students. Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is a set of standards that a student must achieve in order to receive federal financial assistance. Graduate students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to be eligible for any federal or state financial aid.

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1. A Qualitative measurement or cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 GPA scale is required along with a Quantitative measurement or cumulative pace towards graduation of at least 67% (.67) are reviewed at the end of each term (Fall, Spring and Summer). Pace will be evaluated by dividing earned hours by all attempted hours. Transfer hours will be used in this calculation in the same manner as those for undergraduate enrollments. Withdrawal from classes will affect a student's pace and will be calculated as attempted credits.
2. Graduate students must complete all work within the time limit set by their program.
3. An Incomplete or a Temporary grade does not count as an earned credit and will affect eligibility until credit is earned. SAP cannot be reviewed until a grade has been posted for all classes completed. Once a grade has been posted to replace an incomplete grade, a student should contact the Office of Financial Aid to have SAP reviewed. A student is not eligible for financial aid until the SAP status has been determined.
4. If the student is not making SAP, he or she will be notified of a one-semester Financial Aid Warning. During the warning semester, the student must have a cumulative pace of at least 67% and complete the semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 GPA scale. If these requirements are not met at the end of the warning semester, the student will lose his or her financial aid for the next semester (this is known as a Financial Aid Suspension). A student can regain Financial Aid eligibility if SAP requirements (67% pace and 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA on a 4.00 GPA scale) are met at the end of a subsequent semester.
5. A student placed on Financial Aid Suspension can make a formal appeal for the reinstatement of financial aid for one semester. An appeal can be made in the event of the death of a student's relative, injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. If an appeal is granted, a student will be put on Financial Aid Probation and will receive financial aid for one additional semester. A student on Financial Aid Probation must reach 67% of the cumulative graduate credit hours attempted or pace and earn a 3.00 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 GPA scale by the end of the probationary semester or meet other academic standards set by the Director of Financial Aid in order to have his or her financial aid reinstated.
6. If a student receiving financial aid withdraws after the term begins, the student must notify Financial Aid. Per federal regulations, the Office of Financial Aid will perform a return of funds calculation. Once a student attends beyond the 60% point of the term, the student has earned 100% of all aid. A complete withdrawal prior to then, however, will result in aid that must be returned to its program(s). The percentage of aid that must be returned for federal funds may also be applied to state and institutional funding. This may result in the student owing a balance to the University. Prior to returning, the student must pay that balance in full. (Changing all courses to audits counts as withdrawal for financial aid purposes).

Updated January 15, 2022