Requirements for Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

Each student must meet a minimum cumulative grade point average to remain eligible for federal student aid. A grade point average of 2.0 is equivalent to a C average. The minimum GPA required for SAP, based on a 4.0 scale, is as follows:

Regardless of the number of attempted hours, a student who has attended four semesters must have a 2.00 GPA.

Students must also successfully complete and pass sixty-seven percent (67%) of all courses they attempt, even during periods when they are not receiving financial aid. General rounding rules will apply in calculating the completion rate. For example, if a student who has attempted a total of 12 credit hours only earns 8 credit hours, for a completion rate of 66.6%, this will be rounded 67%. All attempted credits resulting in either an academic grade or administrative transcript notation will be included in this calculation, including final grades, incomplete courses, course withdrawals, course repetitions, noncredit remedial courses, and transfer credits. Grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, I, W, Q are all considered attempted hours. All transfer hours are included in this calculation. All F’s, W’s, Q’s, and I’s will affect your eligibility.

At the end of each semester, the Financial Aid Office will review all students attempted hours, completed hours, and cumulative GPA. This is what is used to determine SAP. Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine future eligibility. SAP will also be reviewed after the 12^th day of class at the beginning of each year to determine if the student is sufficiently working towards the completion of a degree in the 150% maximum allowable time frame.

Only classes a student is enrolled in after the twelfth day of class will be considered. Ranger College may disburse a Pell grant, loan, etc., to an eligible student only after determining that the student has met SAP for the payment period. Students not meeting these requirements after one academic year will lose future aid eligibility. If a student fails to meet SAP, they will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office stating they have lost future eligibility.

Students must complete their degree program within an allotted period to remain eligible for financial aid. Hour limits are cumulative; therefore, all hours from all institutions attended will be included, even if a student did not receive federal student aid. The Financial Aid Office recommends that students who have attempted 30 or more hours have a degree check completed by an Academic Advisor to ensure they are taking the courses necessary for their degree. For financial aid purposes, grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, W, Q, and I are all considered attempted hours and will be counted towards the maximum time frame. Developmental classes will not be counted towards the 150% maximum allowable time frame, and will be considered in the review of SAP. Once students reach their maximum period for their specified degree, they are no longer eligible for federal student aid.

• For transfer students: The number of transfer hours accepted at the point of admission will be used to calculate the student’s remaining eligibility under the 150 percent rule and will be included in the quantitative calculation.
• Developmental classes: Developmental classes do not count toward the one hundred fifty percent (150%) percent maximum time frame.
• For second-degree students: Second-degree students will be given 150 percent of stated credit hours required for the second-degree program. A signed Degree Plan for the second major is required.
• Withdrawal: A “W” grade which is recorded on the student’s transcript will be included as credits attempted and will have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students who officially withdraw from Ranger College must make up the deficit hours and are encouraged to attend summer school to remove the deficient hours. The successful completion of a course is defined as receiving one of the following grades: A, B, C or D. Courses with grades of F, I, W, and Q will not qualify in meeting the minimum standard.
• Incomplete (I) grade: An incomplete grade indicates that a student has not finished all coursework required for a grade and is included in the cumulative credits attempted. An incomplete will count toward maximum attempted hours but not as hours passed until a final grade is posted in the Registrar’s Office.
• Repeated courses: A student who has received a failing grade in a course may repeat the course and receive financial aid. Students may only receive federal financial aid for one repetition (repeat) of a previously passed course. Students who have already passed a course with a grade of D or better may only repeat the class one additional time and receive financial aid for that course. All repeated courses are included in the total maximum attempted hours for SAP evaluation.
• Change of Major: A student may change from one major to another during attendance at Ranger College. Students who change from one major to another are still expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete the coursework within the time frame or hour limitation stated unless an appeal is approved. All attempted hours from a prior major are included in the total maximum attempted hours.
• Audited courses: Courses audited are not eligible for financial aid and are not counted as attempted or earned hours.