Important Update: Effective Fall 2025, significant changes will be made to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. These adjustments include a new SAP evaluation process which will now be assessed at the end of each semester (fall, spring, summer) for all students.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
To be eligible to receive any federal, state and/or certain private educational loans funds, students must adhere to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship's (OSFAS) policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress. The intent of this policy is to ensure that students who are receiving federal and state financial aid as well as certain private educational loans for their education are making measurable progress toward completion of a degree in a reasonable period of time. Students are measured on GPA, Completion Rate, and Maximum Timeframe. Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be ineligible to receive any federal, state or certain private educational loans funds. Students who are found ineligible may appeal this determination under specifically prescribed conditions.
| Undergraduate | 2.00 USC Cumulative GPA |
| Graduate/Graduate Business (Master's) | 3.00 USC Cumulative GPA |
| Law/Pharmacy/Medical | 2.00 USC Cumulative GPA |
| Certificate of Graduate Studies | 3.00 USC Cumulative GPA |
In addition to the annual review of satisfactory academic progress, all students will be evaluated at the conclusion of four semesters of enrollment to ensure that you have earned a 2.00 GPA. This includes evaluation of your enrollment at the University of South Carolina and any other academic institution in which credits transferred to USC. Failure to meet this requirement will result in loss of eligibility to receive any federal, state and/or certain private educational loan funds.
The maximum time frame for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students varies depending on your degree program. Once students reach their maximum time frame or it’s determined they cannot complete their degree within the maximum time frame limit, they are no longer eligible to receive federal, state, and/or certain private educational loan funds.
| Program | Cannot Exceed |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 180 Hours |
| Graduate (Master's) | 75 Hours |
| Graduate Business (Master's) | 105 Hours |
| Law | 202 Hours |
| Medical | 262 Hours |
| Pharmacy | 233 Hours |
| Certificate of Graduate Studies | 36 Hours |
| Physician Assistant Studies | 168 Hours |
| Master of Communication Disorder | 114 Hours |
| Master of Speech Pathology | 118 Hours |
An undergraduate student’s academic record will be assessed once the student has attempted 160 credit hours to ensure that they can complete the degree within the maximum time frame limit. This assessment will occur during the fall and spring semesters. At any point during the academic year, if the sum of the two items listed below exceeds 180 credits, the student will be deemed ineligible to receive federal, state, and private educational loan funds.
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The number of credits the student attempted (includes all credits: earned, failed, transfer hours accepted, Incompletes, and Withdrawals)
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The number of remaining credits needed to complete the degree
If the student exceeds the maximum time frame or it is determined that the student cannot complete the degree within your maximum time frame, the student’s financial aid will be cancelled immediately.
All students at the USC are expected to earn 67 percent of all hours attempted at USC plus transfer hours accepted.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Evaluation Process
Satisfactory Academic Progress is reviewed every semester (fall, spring, and summer), including periods when the student did not receive financial aid or was enrolled in non-degree programs. Financial aid eligibility may also be assessed when students submit a FAFSA or apply for specific aid that requires compliance with SAP standards. Failure to meet SAP standards by the end of the semester will affect financial aid eligibility for the following semester.
Doctoral students are only assessed on percentage completion. Doctoral students must earn 67 percent of all hours accepted at USC plus transfer hours accepted regardless of whether federal financial aid was received.
Financial Aid Warning
Students who fail to meet the SAP requirements for GPA or Completion Rate will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one payment period (semester). Students placed on financial aid warnings must have met the SAP standards during the prior semester in which they were enrolled. During this warning period, students can still receive financial aid. Students on warning status must meet the SAP standards by the end of the warning period to continue receiving aid for future terms. Warning periods cannot be consecutive, but students may have multiple warning periods during their academic career.
Satisfactory Academic Progress At a Glance
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Federal Pell Grants
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Federal Work-Study Program
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Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
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Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
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Federal Direct PLUS Loan
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Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan
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Nursing Student Loans and Scholarships
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Health Professions Loans, Scholarships and Grants
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Private Educational Loans
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South Carolina Teachers Loan Program
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South Carolina Career Changers Loan
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South Carolina Need-Based Grant Program
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National Guard CAP
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Other federal or state programs as required
The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy standards will not apply to any hours forgiven under the USC Academic Forgiveness Program. Students who have been granted academic forgiveness must contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) for further assessment.
Students who must remain enrolled beyond their maximum time frame due to a change of major or completing a second degree will be required to submit an appeal once they reach their maximum time frame.
In determining a student's SAP standing, classes in which a student receives a W, WF, I, U, NR, F, or FN are counted as attempted hours but not hours earned. Only grades of A, B, C, D, S, and T are counted as attempted hours and hours earned. Students enrolled in audit courses (AUD) will not receive financial aid for these classes. Grades of W, NR, I, U, S, T and AUD are not used when computing GPA. Receiving grades of W, WF, I ,U, NR, F or FN can negatively impact the percentage of completion.
Dual enrollment courses taken at a USC campus count toward the student’s collegiate grade point average and in both attempted hours and hours earned, which can affect eligibility for financial aid programs. Dual enrollment courses taken at other institutions will count in attempted hours and hours earned.
Repeated courses and transfer hours accepted by UofSC will be counted in both the attempted hours and hours earned.
To be eligible to receive any federal, state, and/or private loan funding as a transient student, a student must have earned a USC cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.00 or higher.
Students are sent email notifications when a satisfactory academic progress review is completed, directing them to Self Service Carolina to view their academic progress and complete all requirements.
The deadline for receipt of appeals in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is 14 business days prior to the end of the semester for which aid is requested. See the list of appeal deadlines by semester.