Satisfactory Academic Progress
Per federal regulations from the Department of Education, all students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to remain eligible for financial aid. The financial aid programs affected include, but are not limited to, all federal, state, and institutional aid, and private education loans. To comply with this federal regulation, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has established requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as detailed below.
Financial Aid SAP is reviewed annually at the end of each spring semester. If you don’t meet the SAP requirements listed below at the time of review, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and must appeal to have your financial aid reinstated for upcoming semesters at UNI.
Please note: The Financial Aid SAP policy is separate from the Office of the Registrar Academic Standing Policy. If you’re on Academic Probation or Suspension, contact the Office of the Registrar with questions. Students on Academic Suspension may need to appeal their SAP standing upon re-admission to UNI.
SAP Requirements
Minimum GPA
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA. Transfer GPA is included.
Undergraduate and 2nd BA students: 2.0 cumulative GPA
Graduate students: 3.0 cumulative GPA

Pace of Progression
Students must complete at least 67% of all credit hours attempted at UNI (pace of progression is rounded up when calculating, so the actual required percentage is 66.49%).
Only grades of A, B, C, D, X, CR, P, or RC are counted as completed.
Failed classes, withdrawn classes, incompletes, and no credit count as attempted but not completed and negatively impact the SAP calculation.
Most transfer credits are not included in the pace calculation, with the exception of Study Abroad, National Student Exchange, and credits transferred under a consortium agreement.
The credit hours from a repeated course are included in the calculation every time the class is taken.

Maximum Time to Complete a Degree
Students must complete their degree within 150% of the credit hours required for the degree per the academic catalog.
This calculation includes all attempted credits hours, including transfer credits.
Maximum Time Example: If your degree requires 120 credits to graduate, 150% of your degree requirements is 180 (120 X 150% = 180). For this example, your financial aid would be suspended if you did not complete your degree before attempting 180 credits.
