Academic Progress

What is “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP)?

If you receive financial aid, we must check whether you’re keeping up with your classes and staying on track with your educational goal.
This check is required by federal regulations — and it applies whether or not you’ve used financial aid before.
We look at three things:

• Pace (Quantitative) – Are you completing enough of the units you attempt?
• GPA (Qualitative) – Are you maintaining a strong grade average (2.0 or higher)?
• Time Frame (Maximum Units) – Are you finishing your program in a reasonable number of units?

We review your status each term (Fall, Spring, and Summer). It’s your responsibility to stay on track.
If you don’t meet one of the standards, it could affect your financial aid eligibility.

What Each Standard Means

Pace of Completion (Quantitative)

• You must complete at least 67% of all units you attempt — that’s about two-thirds of your classes.
  • If you attempt 18 units, you must complete at least 12.
  • If you attempt 24 units, you must complete at least 16.
• Important: Withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), and no-pass (NP/ENP) grades do not count as completed units, and can impact your pace negatively.
• Repeating courses is allowed, but both the original and repeated attempts count toward your total when we calculate your pace.

GPA (Qualitative)

• You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• This is measured across all eligible terms.

Maximum Time Frame

• Most associate degree or transfer programs must be completed within 90 units (150% of a typical 60-unit program).
• Certificate programs usually require completion within 150% of the published unit requirement (for example, a 30-unit certificate must be completed within 45 units).
• Remedial coursework:
  • The first 30 remedial units (courses numbered below 100) are excluded from the 90-unit limit.
  • Any remedial units taken beyond the first 30 will count toward your maximum timeframe.
• ESL (English as a Second Language) courses are not included in the maximum timeframe calculation.
• Transfer credits accepted by WCC are included in your total attempted units when calculating the maximum timeframe, but they are not included in your GPA or pace of completion.
• Once you reach (or are projected to exceed) your unit limit, you may lose financial aid eligibility.

What Your Status Means

What You Need to Know and Do

1. Check your email – We’ll notify you through your YCCD email if your aid status changes.
2. Stay on track – Complete at least two-thirds (67%) of your attempted units and maintain a 2.0+ GPA each term.
3. Plan your courses – Repeating classes or dropping too many can hurt your pace and timeframe.
4. Talk to your counselor – If you’re unsure about your educational goal or how many units you have left, schedule an appointment early.
5. Ask for help early – If you’re falling behind or nearing the unit limit, contact Financial Aid or Counseling right away.

Important Deadlines (2025–26)

If you need to appeal your status or submit a progress report, use the online forms in
Self-Service Financial Aid.

What If I Don’t Meet One of the Standards?

• If your cumulative GPA was below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, you must complete future courses without aid until your cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher, or submit an appeal if there are serious, documented circumstances that affected your performance.
• If your pace was below 67%, of all attempted units, you must continue attending at your own expense until your cumulative completion rate reaches at least 67%, or submit an appeal if there are serious, documented circumstances that affected your performance.
• If you exceed the maximum timeframe, you’ll be placed in Termination status and may lose eligibility for most financial aid programs, or submit an appeal if there are serious, documented circumstances that required you to attempt more than the allowable units.

If you have extenuating circumstances (serious illness, family emergency, etc.), you may submit an appeal. Be sure to:

• • Submit your appeal by the deadline.
  • Include documentation explaining what happened along with your current education plan.
  • Understand that submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval — you may need to pay for classes while waiting for a decision.

Need Help?

• Visit the Financial Aid Office for questions about your SAP status, appeals, or completed units.
• Meet with a Counselor to review your educational plan and stay on track to graduate.
• Keep copies of your grades, course schedules, and any documentation of special circumstances.

Quick Links

• • How to Submit your SAP Appeal Online
  • Your Online SAP Appeal Form
  • Progress Report Form