Tuition & Aid

All learners are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible for graduation and Federal Student Aid.

Evaluation Periods

At each formal SAP evaluation (end of each semester), the college checks:

• Qualitative Measure (grade based)
• Quantitative Measure (pace based)
• Maximum time frame

SAP evaluation coincides with the end of a payment period and is defined as the end of the semester. Learner’s transcript is used to evaluate SAP and is placed in each learner’s file.

Academic Year Definition

Academic Year Minimums –

• Academic Progress is measured by semester credit hours.
• Minimum instructional time requirement per semester is 15 weeks and one (1) week of final evaluations.
• An Academic Year is defined as 32 weeks.

SAP sets minimum requirements for the following areas: maximum time frame for academic program completion, successful course completion rate, and cumulative grade point average. These minimum requirements apply to all learners regardless of Federal Student Aid status.

For more information, please see Federal Student Aid and Satisfactory Progress.

Maximum Time Frame

Each learner must successfully complete the educational objectives of the academic program within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the normal program length. To stay within this time frame, learners may attempt a limit of 1.5 times (150%) the number of credits in the program of study. For example, the total credits that may be attempted (maximum program length) for a sixty-eight (68) semester-credit program is 102 semester credits, or 150% of sixty-eight (68).

Successful Course Completion

A learner must complete a certain percentage of credits attempted to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress. A course is successfully completed if a learner earns a grade of “C” or above in undergraduate programs or “B-” or above in graduate programs. For more information, refer to the Grading System and Grading Scale section of this Catalog.

The successful course completion rate for each semester is calculated as the number of credits completed divided by the number of credits attempted for all courses. Withdrawn courses are counted as attempted credits that are not successfully completed. Failed and repeated courses are also counted in the calculation as credits attempted. Foundational course work, non-credit courses, and pass/fail grades have no effect on SAP. The successful course completion rate requirements and academic remedies are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table in the corresponding academic program’s section.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

Learners must achieve specific cumulative grade point average (CGPA) requirements at certain points during enrollment at the College to meet SAP. These requirements are detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table within the specific academic program sections of the College Catalog. Learners are required to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to graduate from the academic program in undergraduate programs or 3.0 in graduate programs. To avoid being placed on academic probation, a learner must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the end of each academic semester in undergraduate programs or 3.0 in graduate programs.

Academic Probation under SAP

At the end of each academic semester, the learner’s cumulative GPA and rate of progress is reviewed to determine if the learner is meeting SAP. Learners who do not meet the requirements outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Table will be placed on academic probation. Learners will remain on academic probation until the learner is meeting SAP requirements or violates the terms of the probation and is therefore withdrawn from the academic program.

While they are on academic probation, learners must participate in academic advising with the assigned Learner Support Services counselor and meet predetermined objectives. See the Federal Student Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress section of this Catalog for information regarding SAP’s influence on Title IV eligibility.

In addition to the academic probation, learners receiving Title IV Federal Student Aid also will be placed on an automatic financial aid warning or probation, following a successful appeal. Refer to the Federal Student Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress section of this Catalog for more information.

View Catalog

 

Withdrawals

Learners who withdraw prior to completion of the course and wish to re-enter the program will return in the same SAP status as at the of withdrawal.

Learners withdrawing from school will receive credit for all work successfully completed up to the point of withdrawal.

Transfer credits accepted toward the completion of a learner’s program are counted as both hours attempted and hours completed but excluded from program GPA calculation.

Unofficial Withdrawals

If a learner stops attending the College without providing official notification, the date of determination will be assigned by the College but will not be later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the last day of attendance.

The Registrar’s Office will submit a copy of withdrawal paperwork to Financial Aid department and will record information in SIS.

Still Need Help? Contact:

• Registrar: registrar@nightingale.edu
• Learner Support Services: learnerservices@nightingale.edu
• Financial Aid: fundingadvising@nightingale.edu

Available Resources

• College Catalog
• 668.34 Satisfactory Academic Progress
• https://ecfr.io/Title-34/Section-668.34
• US Department of Education Regulations
  • HEA, 484(c)
  • 34 CFR 668.16(e)
  • 34 CFR 668.32(f)
  • 34 CFR 668.34
• Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Financial Aid Appeal process allows learners who are not meeting SAP to appeal the College for reinstatement of Title IV aid. Learners can appeal the decision and be place on Financial Aid Probation. Learners have ten (10) business days after being notified to submit an appeal. Learner appeals are submitted via DocuSign and documentation is submitted via email to FASapAppeals@nightingale.edu. Appeals are reviewed by the SAP appeal committee. A learner may file an appeal based on: injury or illness; death of a relative; or other special circumstances.

Learner must provide supporting documents and describe in writing any unusual circumstances that warrant special consideration. Information as to why SAP was not met and what changes have occurred that will allow the learner to meet SAP by the next evaluation period are required.