Institutions participating in Title IV federal aid programs are required by the United States Department of Education to establish institutional policies which define and measure the quantitative and qualitative progress of eligible students. Each student who receives federal financial aid at Lafayette College is required to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward completion of their program of study.
Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed and certified at the end of each academic year by the Office of Financial Aid. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress based on qualitative standards (GPA) and quantitative standards (the number of courses completed) as indicated below:
| By the end of | GPA | Courses completed |
|---|---|---|
| First year | 1.80 | 6 |
| Second year | 2.00 | 14 |
| Third year | 2.00 | 22 |
| Fourth year | 2.00 | 32 |
If a student fails to meet SAP, they will be notified via their Lafayette email and will receive a revised financial aid award notification if applicable.
If a student’s ability to meet the College’s standards of satisfactory academic progress was affected by mitigating circumstances, they may appeal the denial of federal financial assistance with the Office of Financial Aid. Students may appeal the decision and the loss of federal aid by completing the Appeal Loss of Title IV (Federal) Financial Aid Eligibility Due to Academic Progress form which can be located under their Unsatisfied Requirements on their my.lafayette.edu.
Examples of mitigating circumstances include but are not limited to: mental or physical illness, death of a loved one, and divorce or separation. Formal documentation is required to validate the mitigating circumstance(s).
The Request to Appeal Loss of Title IV (Federal) Financial Aid Eligibility Due to Academic Progress must be submitted within two weeks of receiving the emailed Satisfactory Academic Progress notification. Notification of the appeal decision will be communicated to the student via their Lafayette email address. Appeals will not be considered after the end of the term. Incomplete appeals will be denied.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
Incomplete course work and withdrawals will not count toward the academic progress calculation. If a student has any incompletes, plans to take a course during the summer, or has pending hours transferring in, they must notify (in writing/email) the Office of Financial Aid once they have successfully completed the course(s) so that academic progress can be reevaluate.
Students studying abroad during the academic year may not receive their transcript in time prior to the satisfactory academic progress review. Satisfactory academic progress will be checked when the study abroad grades are received to determine future eligibility for federal financial aid.
A mid-year Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) review is an institutional evaluation conducted after the first term or midpoint of the academic year—typically at the end of the fall semester—to assess whether students receiving federal financial aid are meeting required academic standards, including cumulative GPA and completion rate. This review allows the school to identify students who are not making adequate progress and, if applicable, place them on a Financial Aid Warning for the next payment period while maintaining their aid eligibility. The purpose of a mid-year SAP review is to provide an early checkpoint so students have an opportunity to improve their academic performance before the next formal SAP evaluation, when continued eligibility for federal financial aid is determined.
Any changes to this policy and/or the academic progress standards will be posted on this website.
Note: Federal and institutional aid will be suspended for any student(s) convicted of violating any federal or state drug possession or sale law.
***Students must monitor their Lafayette email regularly for appeal status updates and missing information.***