Financial aid regulations require that students meet specific Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain eligibility for financial aid.
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
Your academic record will be evaluated after each academic year to determine if you are meeting the SAP requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility for the next academic year. Your SAP status at the end of the annual evaluation period determines your SAP status for the current academic year. Changes to your academic record after the end of the official evaluation period will not impact your SAP status for the current academic year. The UC Berkeley SAP requirements fall into three areas:
Making progress toward your degree by completing a minimum percentage of attempted units.
Maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Completing your degree within a maximum specified amount of attempted units.
As of the 2022-23 Academic Year, SAP will be evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. Your SAP determination at this time will determine your eligibility for aid beginning in the Summer term, or whichever your first term will be in the upcoming year. Therefore, eligibility for Summer 2023 aid will be contingent on meeting SAP after the end of the Spring 2023 semester.
Students enrolling in Summer Sessions: Please note that Summer Session A begins before Spring grades are made available. Eligibility for Summer aid may change once Spring grades are posted, and SAP is reviewed.
While you are expected to meet minimum academic progress requirements to maintain your financial aid eligibility, we understand that extenuating circumstances sometimes prevent students from making satisfactory progress towards their degree. If you are ineligible for financial aid because you are not meeting SAP requirements before the beginning of the academic year, and extenuating circumstances have hindered your academic performance, you may submit a SAP Appeal to have your eligibility reconsidered.
Please note that submission of a SAP Appeal does not guarantee its approval and you should not assume aid eligibility until your appeal has been approved. If you withdraw before your SAP Appeal is reviewed and an approval is received, you will be responsible for all costs associated with your enrollment.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Undergraduate Students
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Financial aid regulations require that students meet specific Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Your academic record will be evaluated based on your progress at the end of each Spring semester, to determine if you are meeting the SAP requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility for future terms, including summer. The UC Berkeley SAP requirements for undergraduate students are as follows:
Maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) at or above 2.0.
Maintain a satisfactory pace of progress towards your degree by completing at least 67% of all units attemptedcumulatively
Completing your degree within a maximum number of attempted units not to exceed 150% of the published length of your program.
NEW: As of the 2022-23 Academic Year, SAP will be evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. Your SAP determination at this time will determine your eligibility for aid beginning in the Summer term, or whichever your first term will be in the upcoming year. Therefore, eligibility for Summer 2022 aid will be contingent on meeting SAP after the end of the Spring 2022 semester.
Cumulative Grade Point Average At or Above 2.0
You are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above at the end of the annual SAP evaluation period to remain eligible for financial aid for the subsequent academic year.
Satisfactory Pace of Progression Toward Degree Completion
A minimum percentage of units attempted must be successfully completed cumulatively by the end of each SAP evaluation period to maintain a satisfactory pace toward degree completion and remain eligible for financial aid. Students must successfully complete 67% of all units attempted cumulatively during their undergraduate career, including accepted transfer units.
Please Note:
The 67% completion rate still applies even if you were approved for a reduced course load by your college and/or the Disabled Students Program (DSP)
Courses taken P/NP are still factored into SAP. "P" is considered to be attempted and completed, while an "NP" is considered attempted, but not completed, when determining completion rate %
Maximum Number of Attempted Units
You may receive financial aid for attempted units not to exceed 150% of the published length of your program, if needed to complete degree requirements. The attempted unit limit applies to time you have spent at any college or post-secondary institution, including non-AP college transfer units earned in high school, semesters during which you withdrew, and semesters in which you did not receive financial aid. It does not include semesters when you were not registered.
The published length for an undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley is 120 units. Students are only eligible to receive financial aid for up to 180 attempted units, including accepted transfer units.
The following classes/units DO NOT count as units attempted or completed:
Remedial courses for which no credit is received
Advanced Placement (AP) units
International Baccalaureate (IB) units
Classes taken at other colleges that are not reflected on your UC Berkeley transcript as transfer units
To determine if you have maintained a satisfactory pace of progression toward your degree, you will need to know how many units you have attempted and completed during your undergraduate career.
Divide the number of units successfully completed by the number of units attempted to calculate your percentage. For example, 18 units successfully completed divided by 24 units attempted would be 18/24 = 0.75 or 75%. This exceeds the 67% minimum and meets the satisfactory pace requirement.
Transfer units that are accepted by your college toward your academic program, including those earned while in high school, after high school, or after being admitted to UC Berkeley, are counted as both completed and attempted. These units are factored into your cumulative pace of progression in the evaluation.
Examples:
A transfer student admitted with 70 transfer units will have 70 units attempted and completed included in the pace of progression calculation.
If the same transfer student completes 14 units out of 24 attempted units during their first year at UC Berkeley, they would have 84 units completed out of 94 units attempted.
This student's cumulative measure would be 84/94 = 0.8936 or 89.36%. Cumulatively, this student is meeting SAP (67% or higher).
This student is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress and is eligible for financial aid.
SAP Appeals
We understand that circumstances sometimes prevent students from making satisfactory progress towards their degree. If you are ineligible for financial aid because you are not meeting SAP requirements before the beginning of the academic year, and extenuating circumstances have hindered your academic progress, you may submit a SAP Appeal to have your eligibility reconsidered.
Please be aware that submission of an appeal is not a guarantee of approval. We review appeals on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks to review your appeal and notify you of the decision via email. We strongly encourage you to submit your SAP Appeal immediately after you receive notification that you are not meeting SAP requirements so that you may receive a decision on your appeal in a timely manner.
If an SAP Appeal is required, one will be made available for you on CalCentral. Please review the appeal form to ensure you include all required documentation by the appropriate deadline. Incomplete appeals will not be considered.
The SAP Appeal deadlines for 2022-2023 are:
Summer 2022 deadline: Friday, June 24, 2022
Fall 2022 deadline: Friday, September 16, 2022
Spring 2023 deadline: Friday, February 10, 2023
Preparing Your Appeal (Undergraduate Students)
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Have you received a message advising you to complete an SAP Appeal? Not sure what steps to take to re-establish your financial aid eligibility? Follow these simple steps or see an adviser in Cal Student Central for assistance:
Note: We must receive a complete appeal before the end of the term for which you are appealing. Appeals submitted after the end of the term will not be retroactive.
Preparing Your Appeal
Calendar: Be aware of key deadlines, including cancellation and tuition/fee refund dates and the SAP Appeal deadline. Make advising appointments ASAP.
Write Your Letter: Your letter of explanation should include the exceptional circumstances that may have prevented you from meeting financial aid SAP requirements. When writing your letter, be sure to address the following:
What were the circumstances that prevented you from meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress?
What has changed since then that will allow you to successfully follow your academic plan?
What steps will you take, or which resources will you use, to ensure your success moving forward?
Give Examples: In your letter, provide specific examples of changes that you will make or resources that you will use to ensure your future academic success (e.g., EOP advising, counseling, tutoring, etc.).
Gather Documentation: Ensure your submission is complete; include documentation to support your letter of explanation (e.g., medical documentation, pay check stubs, transcripts, etc.).
Meet With Your Academic Adviser(s): Discuss your circumstances, review your transcript and your supporting documentation, and prepare a manageable academic plan. As an Undergraduate student, the academic plan accompanying your SAP Appeal must be reviewed and approved by your college advisor before it is submitted to the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. It must also be reviewed and approved by your major advisor, if you are a declared Letters & Science major, and your DSP advisor, if you are approved for a reduced course load through DSP
Prepare Backup Plan: If your appeal is not approved, you may need to seek alternative enrollment options or sources of funding.
Submitting Your Appeal
SAP Appeals are submitted through the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website. You will be asked to complete and sign the electronic SAP Appeal form first. Once your form is signed and submitted, you will be prompted to upload your supporting documentation and signed Academic Plan. Be sure to click “Submit”, and then “Finish” so that your appeal is on file for review.
Reviewing Your Appeal
If approved, review the terms of your appeal. Make sure you understand what successful completion means and the number of units you must complete each term to maintain your financial aid eligibility.
If you're approved and considering a change in your course load, discuss your academic plan options with both your academic adviser(s) and a Financial Aid and Scholarships counselor prior to making any adjustments to your schedule.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Graduate Students
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Financial aid regulations require that students meet specific Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Your academic record will be evaluated after spring semester, after spring grades post, to determine if you are meeting the SAP requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility for future terms, including summer. The UC Berkeley SAP requirements for graduate students are as follows:
Completing your degree within an amount of attempted units not to exceed 150% of the published length of your program.
Making progress towards your degree by completing at least 67% of all units attempted cumulatively.
Maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.000 or above.
NEW: As of the 2022-23 Academic Year, SAP will be evaluated at the end of each Spring semester. Your SAP determination at this time will determine your eligibility for aid beginning in the Summer term, or whichever your first term will be in the upcoming year. Therefore, eligibility for Summer 2022 aid will be contingent on meeting SAP after the end of the Spring 2022 semester.
Students in Graduate programs with a published length of one year or less will be evaluated after each semester to determine SAP.
Maximum Number of Attempted Terms
You may receive financial aid for attempted terms not to exceed 150% of the published length of your program, if needed to complete degree requirements. The attempted term limit includes Summer enrollment, semesters during which you withdrew, and semesters in which you did not receive financial aid. It does not include semesters when you were not registered.
For example, students in a graduate program with a published length of 6 terms would only eligible to receive financial aid for up to 9 attempted terms.
Satisfactory Pace of Progression Toward Degree Completion
A minimum percentage of units attempted must be successfully completed both cumulatively and by the end of each academic year to maintain a satisfactory pace toward degree completion and remain eligible for financial aid. Students must successfully complete 67% of all units attempted cumulatively during their graduate program.
The following classes/units do not count as units attempted or completed:
Classes taken at other colleges that are not reflected on your UC Berkeley transcript
Courses dropped before the fifth week of instruction.
Certain Incomplete or Withdrawn units from 2019-20 and 2020-21, that were not completed as a result of COVID-19 related circumstances.
The following classes do count as units attempted, but do not count as units completed:
Repeated courses (in which you previously received a passing grade)
Courses dropped after the fifth week of instruction.
Courses attempted in a semester in which you withdraw after the fifth week of instruction.
Failed or Incomplete courses
Cumulative Grade Point Average At or Above 3.000
You are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the end of the annual SAP evaluation period to remain eligible for financial aid for the subsequent academic year.
Berkeley Law Students: Berkeley Law does not award traditional letter grades. Satisfactory Academic Progress for Berkeley Law students aligns with the academic standing at the Law School. Students who are not in good academic standing with Berkeley Law are not considered to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress and are ineligible for financial aid. Berkeley Law students are eligible to submit SAP appeals.
SAP Appeals
We understand that circumstances sometimes prevent students from making satisfactory progress towards their degree. If you are ineligible for financial aid because you are not meeting SAP requirements prior to the beginning of the academic year, and extenuating circumstances have hindered your academic performance, you may submit a SAP Appeal to have your eligibility reconsidered.
Please be aware that submission of an appeal is not a guarantee of approval. We strongly encourage you to submit your SAP Appeal immediately after you receive notification that you are not meeting SAP requirements so that you may receive a decision on your appeal in a timely manner.
If an SAP Appeal is required, one will be made available for you on CalCentral. Please review the appeal form to ensure you include all required documentation by the appropriate deadline. Incomplete appeals will not be considered.
The SAP Appeal deadlines for 2022-2023 are:
Summer 2022 deadline: Friday, June 24, 2022
Fall 2022 deadline: Friday, September 16, 2022
Spring 2023 deadline: Friday, February 10, 2023
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
While you are expected to meet minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain your financial aid eligibility, we understand that extenuating circumstances can sometimes prevent you from making satisfactory progress toward your degree.
We’ll Help You Stay On Track
If you are ineligible for financial aid because you are not meeting SAP requirements before the beginning of the academic year, and extenuating circumstances have hindered your academic performance, you may submit a SAP Appeal to have your eligibility reconsidered.
If your SAP Appeal is approved, you will be responsible for following specific conditions each term in order to maintain your financial aid eligibility during that academic year. We will notify you via email of the conditions you are required to meet to maintain eligibility, and we will review your progress before we disburse any additional aid to you each term.
If your SAP Appeal is denied, you will be responsible for all costs associated with your enrollment during the academic year. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will certify a private educational loan if you secure a loan and are approved by a private lender.
Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval.
Be sure to submit your appeal early, before the start of the term, so you can receive a timely decision, allowing you to plan accordingly.
The SAP Appeal deadlines are:
Summer 2023 sessions: June 23, 2023
Fall 2023 semester: September 15, 2023
Spring 2024 semester: February 9, 2024
Appeals may not be accepted after the deadline has passed. Complete the online form and submit your academic plan once you have met with your academic advisor(s) to ensure your appeal is received on time.
If you do not submit your appeal in a timely manner, and your appeal is denied after the term has started, you will be responsible for any and all costs incurred, including any costs related to a decision to withdraw from the semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Process for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Have you received a message in Cal Central advising you to complete an SAP Appeal? Not sure what steps to take to re-establish your financial aid eligibility? Follow these steps or see an adviser in Cal Student Central for assistance.
The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office strongly encourages you to submit your appeal as soon as possible. The deadlines for SAP Appeals are: June 23, 2023 for Summer 2023, September 15, 2023 for Fall 2023 and February 9, 2024 for Spring 2024. We will not consider any appeals retroactively after the term is over.
Preparing Your Appeal
Calendar: Be aware of key deadlines, including cancellation and tuition/fee refund dates and the SAP Appeal deadline. Make advising appointments ASAP.
Write Your Letter: Your letter of explanation should include the unique circumstances that may have prevented you from meeting financial aid SAP requirements. When writing your letter, be sure to address the following:
What were the circumstances that prevented you from meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress?
What has changed since then that will allow you to successfully follow your academic plan?
What steps will you take, or which resources will you use, to ensure your success moving forward?
Give Examples: In your letter, provide specific examples of changes that you will make or resources that you will use to ensure your future academic success (e.g., EOP advising, counseling, DSP, tutoring, etc.).
Gather Documentation: Ensure your submission is complete; include documentation to support your letter of explanation. For example: medical appointments documentation (you can cover/redact any sensitive information), pay check stubs, transcripts, etc.
Meet With Your Academic Adviser(s): Discuss your circumstances, review your transcript and your supporting documentation, and prepare a manageable academic plan.
If you are an Undergraduate student, the academic plan accompanying your SAP Appeal must be reviewed and approved by your college advisor before it is submitted to the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. It must also be reviewed and approved by your major advisor, if you are a declared Letters & Science major, and also your DSP specialist, if you are approved for a reduced course load through DSP.
If you are a Graduate Student, the academic plan accompanying your SAP Appeal must be reviewed and approved by both your Faculty Graduate Advisor/Head Graduate Advisor and the Dean of Graduate Division (318 Sproul Hall), Dean of Optometry School, Director of Program Office at Haas or Dean of Students at Berkeley Law before it is submitted to the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.
Prepare Backup Plan: If your appeal is not approved, you may need to seek alternative enrollment options or sources of funding.
Submitting Your Appeal
SAP Appeals are submitted through the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website. You will be asked to complete and sign the electronic SAP Appeal form first. Once your form is signed and submitted, you will be prompted to upload your supporting documentation and signed Academic Plan. Be sure to click “Submit”, and then “Finish” so that your appeal is on file for review.
Reviewing Your Appeal
If approved, review the terms of your approval. Make sure you understand what successful completion means and the number of units you must complete each term to maintain your financial aid eligibility.
If you are approved and considering a change in your course load, discuss your academic plan options with both your academic adviser(s) and a Financial Aid and Scholarships counselor prior to making any adjustments to your schedule.
