Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid
To be eligible for federal, state or institutional aid students must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP), as defined by federal regulations, toward completion of their program of study. Portland State University monitors the following: 1) student's course completion rate which is a percentage calculated by taking the number of PSU + transfer credits passed divided by PSU + transfer credits attempted but not passed, according to student level; 2) grade point average (GPA) for PSU + transfer courses, according to student level; and 3) maximum time frame for PSU courses + accepted transfer credits. The maximum time frame for undergraduate students is 270 attempted credits. The maximum time frame for post-baccalaureate students is 90 attempted credits. The maximum time frame for graduate students is established according to the student's degree or program.
Repeated coursework: students may only receive aid once for repeating a previously passed class; students may receive aid for multiple repeats of failed classes as long as they maintain compliance with satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Multiple withdrawals: financial aid recipients who withdraw from all of their classes, or who receive all non-passing grades in their classes TWICE within the school year, will have their financial aid eligibility suspended.
Graduate students must take courses at the appropriate level; at least 67% of all credits enrolled in during each academic year must be graduate level courses.
Students who do not meet all requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy during a term will be placed on Financial Aid Warning; students who do not meet all requirements of the satisfactory academic progress policy during a second term will have their eligibility for financial aid suspended. Students whose eligibility is suspended may submit a written appeal. Students who appeal successfully will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and may need to submit and follow an academic plan.
For more information on Portland State University’s SAP Policy, visit www.pdx.edu/student-finance/satisfactory-academic-progress.