Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Important Points of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

SAP is a policy requiring that student's maintain the school's academic standards to continue receiving federal and state student aid funds (excluding the California College Promise Grant).

In order to receive your financial aid you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards

Green Check Mark
Maintain a 2.0 Cumulative GPA

Receive an average letter grade of C in all courses you have completed.

Green Check Mark
Maintain 67% Unit Completion

Complete at least 67% of your attempted units with a grade of A, B, C, D, CR, P.

Green Check Mark
Maximum Time Frame Requirement

Complete your program within 150% of the published program's required units - Comprehensive Student Educational Plan (CSEP) Instructions

Are you eligible to receive your Financial Aid?

Check your SAP status

You will receive a message through Message Center notifying you of your SAP status for the following semester. Once all of the your grades have posted for your current semester.

  • Log-in to your MyCerritos portal
  • Click on "Student Center"
  • Click on "Message Center"
    Message Centerd

  • Locate your SAP message for the semester and view your status.
    Example: Spring 20XX SAP Status
    SAP Messaged
Meets You are meeting the Financial Aid SAP Standards and are eligible to receive Financial Aid.
Warning You will be placed on warning after one semester of not meeting SAP. You are still eligible to receive financial aid.
Disqualification If you fail to meet SAP after one semester on warning status, you will be placed on disqualification. You will NOT be eligible to receive financial aid grants or student loans. 
Appeal If disqualified, you have the opportunity to appeal by the posted deadline. If approved, you may be required to meet with a financial aid counselor to complete an academic plan. 

If you have questions regarding your SAP Status, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@cerritos.edu 

If you are disqualified, you can appeal your decision by following the appeal process and submitting a SAP Appeal by the posted deadline.

Appeal your SAP Status to receive Financial Aid

  • Complete both of the below GetSAP counseling sessions and upload proof of completion with the appeal on Student Forms.

    Start SAP Appeal

    1. Impact of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
    2. Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Process
  • Complete the appeal on Student Forms detailing your situation and reason(s) for not meeting SAP for each semester that you had non-passing grades, what has changed, and your plan to improve your progress.

  • Submit your SAP Appeal Form on Student Forms by the appropriate deadline.  The link is located under your SAP Status Disqualification message, it can be found in your Message Center on MyCerritos portal in the Student Center.
2023 - 2024 SAP Appeal Deadlines
Fall 2023 November 3, 2023
Spring 2024 April 5, 2024
Summer 2024 July 19, 2024
  • You will receive notification of the SAP appeal decision via Message Center.


    Example:Appeal Statusd

Learn more about SAP and how it works. Find the answer to your questions.

Financial Aid Counseling CenterFinancial Aid Questions - Get Video Answers - FATV/Get Answers

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View our entire SAP Policy for 2023-2024

Students should review the policy every year to know what the requirements are to stay in good standing with financial aid.

Use our tools to check your SAP status: 

Calculator

Not sure if you are going to be meeting SAP by the end of the semester? Use our SAP Completion Rate & GPA Calculator.

Get the most out of your Financial Aid

  • Get on Track 

  • Stay on Track

  • Maximize your Financial Aid

To avoid Financial Aid Disqualification it is important to have FALCON Habits.

iFalcon. Do you Falcon?

Focus: Know your major and have an educational plan.

Advance: Always try to improve and successfully pass all your courses.

Link Up: Get to know your professors, counselors, join a club, etc.

Comprehend: Ask questions to truly gain understanding and reflect.

Organize: Use a planner, take good notes and manage your time well.

New Ideas: Embrace and apply what you've learned to solve problems.

For more information regarding iFALCON please visit cerritos.edu/ifalcon