Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that all federal financial aid recipients must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree to maintain eligibility. We monitor each student's cumulative grade point average, completion rate, and maximum time frame for completion of a degree. All federal financial aid programs at Lipscomb University are held to this policy.
In order to receive federal financial aid, students must be making satisfactory academic progress. The university is required to apply standards that are both qualitative and quantitative.
- Qualitative: Students must be accepted for admission and be eligible to enroll for classes. In addition, students must achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average based on each program's academic requirements.
- Quantitative: All students must earn a cumulative minimum of 66.7% of all hours attempted. Students cannot receive federal aid after attempting 150% of the hours required for completion of their academic program.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed by the Financial Aid Office at the end of each term in which a student receives Title IV aid. Students placed on Federal Financial Aid Warning or Probation will be notified by email to their Lipscomb email address. Students on warning must pass 75% of their attempted hours in the semester in which they are currently enrolled. If the student does not pass 75%, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation.
All probations may be appealed in writing by completing a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. All appeals must include documentation of any unusual circumstance that contributed to the probation. A plan must be in place to ensure success of the student for the following semester and future minimum SAP requirements and be signed by a faculty member. Federal Financial Aid Warning or Probation is not the same as Lipscomb University Academic Probation or Suspension. If a student receives a grade change or satisfies an incomplete grade after Satisfactory Academic Progress is confirmed, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office.