Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal, state, and university regulations require financial aid recipients to show progress toward the completion of their degree. This policy, referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), must include a qualitative measure, such as a cumulative GPA, and a quantitative measure, such as a maximum time frame to complete a degree.
UNH CPS Online students, view your Satisfactory Academic Progress policy .
SAP Requirements
1. Meet a minimum grade point average of:
- Undergraduate students: 2.0
- Graduate students: 3.0
- Law Students: 2.0 *Please see for requirements relating to your specific program.
2. Earn a minimum number of credits each semester. All transfer hours count toward your number of credits earned.
- Durham/Manchester Undergraduate students:
# Semesters Enrolled | # Credits Required | # Semesters Enrolled | # Credits Required |
1 | 8 | 7 | 65 |
2 | 16 | 8 | 76 |
3 | 24 | 9 | 89 |
4 | 32 | 10 | 102 |
5 | 43 | 11 | 115 |
6 | 54 | 12 | 128 |
- Durham/Manchester Graduate students: Successfully complete 67% (rounded to the nearest whole percentage) of total attempted hours.
- Law Students: Successfully complete 67% (rounded to the nearest whole percentage) of total attempted hours.
- Note: Enrollment at the semester’s census date is the number of credits that will be counted as attempted hours for the term. Enrollment below full-time will be prorated.
3. Complete your degree within 150% of the time for the published length of your major. All transfer hours count toward your maximum time frame.
- Associate Degree Program – 6 semesters
- Bachelor’s Degree Program – 12 semesters
- Dual Degree Program – 15 semesters
- Graduate Degree Program – varies depending on the published length of your degree program.
- Law Degree Program - varies depending on the published length of your degree program.
Maximum Time Frame
Students who do not complete their degree within 150% of the time for the published length of their degree will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. All attempted credit hours are considered toward the maximum time allowance. If it is mathematically impossible for a student to complete their degree within 150% of the time for their degree, appeals cannot be considered. Please reach out to our staff if you have had a drastic change in your program of study which may require further review.
Programs Governed by SAP Requirements
Federal programs: Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, Work Study, Parent PLUS loans, Grad PLUS loans.
NH State grants: UNIQUE Annual Grant, Governor’s Scholarship
Institutional aid: Tuition Grant, Wildcat Family Award, and many others.
*Note: If you are not meeting SAP, your eligibility for alternative loans may also be affected. Please see your loan disclosures or speak with your lender for more information.
Repeated Courses
Federal regulations require that institutions monitor students taking repeated coursework and determine financial aid eligibility. All repeated courses are counted as attempted credit hours, however repeated coursework will not count toward the total number of credits earned for SAP purposes.
SAP Appeals
A student not meeting the SAP requirements will not be eligible for financial aid and will be notified via their UNH email. Circumstances under which a student would be permitted to submit an appeal include death of a relative, injury or illness of the student, or other extenuating circumstances. As part of an appeal, a student must submit information regarding why the student failed to make SAP, and what has changed that would allow them to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation. Students will have 14 days from the date of their email notification to submit an appeal. An appeal may be approved if the student will be able to meet SAP standards after the subsequent payment period or the student develops an academic plan that, if followed, will ensure that the student is able to meet SAP standards by a specific point in time. Academic plans, if required, must include measurable goals and be designed in conjunction with the student’s Academic Advisor. SFS will make every effort to provide an appeal outcome within 14 calendar days. A student will be notified of the outcome of the appeal at their UNH email address.
SAP Probation
If a student’s appeal is successful, they will be placed on Probationary status. Probation status allows the student to receive financial aid for one additional payment period (semester). After that time, the student’s progress will be reviewed. If a student fails to meet the measures outlined in their appeal, financial aid eligibility will be terminated until they meet SAP standards on their own.
