Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid
Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
To continue receiving federal student aid you need to make satisfactory academic progress. Failure to meet any of the three requirements below will put you at risk of losing your financial aid eligibility.
1. Successfully complete classes
Successfully complete at least 2/3 (67%) of the credit hours of which you have cumulatively attempted.
Divide completed credits by attempted credits to find your completion rate.
Example: 21 completed credits ÷ 24 attempted credits = 87.5%
2. Maintain good academic standing
Maintain or exceed a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 at all times.
3. Keep on track for graduation
Complete your program within 150% of the published length of the program measured in credit hours attempted.
Example:
- Your degree takes 60 credits to graduate.
- 60 ÷ 2 = 30
- 60 + 30 = 90.
- You may only be eligible for financial aid up to 90 credits.
Cumulative Credits — Includes all credits taken at Hawkeye and those transferred in, including college courses taken in high school
Attempted Credits — Credits you took regardless of whether or not you successfully completed, including repeated or developmental courses
Completed Credits — Credits attempted and received a passing grade (A, B, C, D, P)
Example: For the semester you take 4 classes that are 3 credits each (12 credits for the semester). At the end of the semester you receive an A, C, W, F for your 4 classes. You attempted 12 credits | You successfully competed 6 credits (A, C) | 6/12 = 50% completion rate
** Check your Hawkeye email for SAP results after the end of each term. **
Statuses
| Status | What that Means | Action |
| Satisfactory | You are eligible for financial aid | Keep up the good work to continue maintaining your GPA and progressing towards your goal. |
| Warning | First semester of not meeting minimum requirements You are eligible for financial aid | - Look into what is preventing you from meeting requirements.
- Make academic improvements.
- Meet with your academic/college success advisor, instructors, and/or financial aid counselor.
- Use the Student Tutoring and Computer Lab, Math Lab, Business Lab, and/or Library.
Grade reported in error or reported late? |
| Academic Plan | Previously on suspension, appealed, approved, and will take more than one semester to meet minimum requirements You are eligible for financial aid |
| Probation | Previously on suspension, appealed, approved, and can meet minimum requirements after the next semester You are eligible for financial aid |
| Suspension | Not meeting minimum requirements You are not eligible for financial aid | Grade reported in error or reported late? |
Review Forms
To have your records reviewed to see if you are in compliance with Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, please complete the appropriate form and return it to the Financial Aid office.
Warning status due to a grade reported in error or reported late: Warning Review Request [pdf]
Warning status because you are approaching 150% of the published required length of your program in cumulative credits attempted:
Suspension status due to a grade reported in error or reported late: Suspension Review Request [pdf]
Academic Plan status: Fall 2024 Academic Plan Review form [pdf] is due by 4:30pm on December 13, 2024.
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires students to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree in order to receive financial aid.
Hawkeye Community College's Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for financial aid apply to all students who want to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility for federal, state, and institutional programs. These include but are not limited to Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal / State Work Study, Iowa Grant, Vocational-Technology Grant, Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant, Iowa National Guard, Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent PLUS Loan for Undergraduate Students, and designated Hawkeye Foundation Scholarships.
These requirements apply to a student's entire academic transcript, including terms for which financial aid was not applied for or disbursed, including classes taken while in high school.
The academic progress of students is monitored at the end of each academic term.
See the Financial Aid Handbook for the full Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy