Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is used to define successful completion of coursework to maintain eligibility for student financial aid. Federal regulations require the University to establish, publish and apply standards to monitor your progress toward completion of your certificate or degree program. If you fail to meet these standards, you will be placed on financial aid warning or suspension. Your academic performance must meet the SAP standards below.
These standards include “qualitative” as well as “quantitative” components. Students must maintain a certain cumulative grade point average (qualitative) and successfully earn minimal numbers of degree credits at each evaluation (quantitative). In determining satisfactory academic progress, all course work is considered, whether or not the student received financial aid at the time the work was completed.
Program Directors and Assistant Directors review students academic progress each term after grades are posted. Students, who do not meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress, will be notified by the program via email with a copy to academicaffairs@arch.columbia.edu.
Represented by your grade point average (number of LP’s). Consistent with the GSAPP’s academic standing policy; you must be in good academic standing to remain eligible for aid.
Consistent with the general academic requirements of the Graduate School, graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average as per below:
| Graduate Degree | Academic Requirement |
|---|---|
| M.ARCH | No more than 2 LPs in any distribution |
| M.S. AAD / M.S. AUD | No more than 2 LPs in the Design Sequence or 3 in the program |
| M.S. CCCP | No more than 4 LPs in the entire program |
| M.S. HP / M.S. UP | No more than 4 LPs in the entire program |
| M.S. RED / M.S. CDP | No more than 3 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL M. ARCH & M.S. UP | No more than 2 LPs in any distribution |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. SW (Master of Science in Social Work) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. HP | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL M.S. UP + JD (Juris Doctor) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL M.S. UP + MBA (Master of Business Administration) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL MSUP + M.S. IA (Master of Science in International Affairs) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. PH (Master of Science in Public Health) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program |
| NY/Paris (The Shape of Two Cities: New York / Paris Program) | No more than 3 LPs in the entire program |
This standard has two parts.
PART ONE
First, you must successfully complete a required percentage (67%) of the credits you attempt. This component is referred to as your credit completion ratio.
PART TWO
Second, you must complete your degree or certificate program within a maximum timeframe (150%), which may vary according to your student status and program.
The maximum timeframe a student may attend and continue financial aid eligibility cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the student’s academic program measured in academic years. The length of a graduate program is based on the published length for each individual program; in no case will the graduate student’s enrollment exceed the 150% point in time. When the student’s enrollment exceeds the 150% point, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid.
In summary:
| Graduate Degree | Cumulative GPA/ Academic Requirement | Cumulative Completion Ratio Required | Minimum Required Credits | Minimum Duration of Program | Maximum Timeframe for Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.ARCH | No more than 2 LPs in any distribution | 67% | 108 points | 6 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 162 points |
| M.S. AAD & M.S. AUD | No more than 2 LPs in the Design Sequence or 3 in the program | 67% | 45 points | 3 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 67.5 points |
| M.S. CCCP | No more than 4 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 48 points | 4 semesters full-time enrollment | 50% = 72 points |
| M.S. HP & M.S. UP | No more than 4 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 60 points | 4 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 90 points |
| M.S. RED / M.S. CDP | No more than 3 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 45 points | 3 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 67.5 points |
| DUAL M.ARCH + M.S. UP | No more than 2 LPs in any distribution | 67% | 144 points | 8 semesters | full-time enrollment |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. SW (Master of Science in Social Work) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 90 points | 6 semesters total (3 @ GSAPP) | 150% = 135 points |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. HP | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 96 points | 6 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 144 points |
| DUAL M.S. UP + JD (Juris Doctor) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 119 points | 8 semesters total (2 semesters @ GSAPP) | 150% = 178.5 points |
| DUAL M.S. UP + MBA (Master of Business Administration) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 90 points | 6 semesters total (3 semesters @ GSAPP) | 150% = 135 points |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. IA (Master of Science in International Affairs) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 90 points | 6 semesters total (3 semesters @ GSAPP) | 150% = 135 points |
| DUAL M.S. UP + M.S. PH (Master of Science in Public Health) | No more than 6 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 84 points | 5 semesters total (3 semesters @ GSAPP) | 150% = 126 points |
| NY/Paris (The Shape of Two Cities: New York / Paris Program) | No more than 3 LPs in the entire program | 67% | 24 points | 2 semesters full-time enrollment | 150% = 36 points |
A student notified of their failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress is no longer eligible for federal or institutional financial aid.
The student may appeal for additional eligibility by completing a SAP appeal letter. As part of the appeal the student must explain:
All appeals are submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.
If an appeal is granted the student will be placed on a status of Financial Aid Probation and given an academic plan they must adhere to. The Probation status will last for one term. At the end of that term the student will again be evaluated to determine whether:
If the student fails to meet the criteria established as part of the appeal, they will be placed on a financial aid suspension status and will be ineligible for financial aid until s/he meets the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements or submits a second successful appeal.