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Staying Eligible for Financial Aid at CBU

To continue receiving financial aid, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. These requirements are set by the federal government to ensure that you are progressing toward graduation.

Eligibility Requirements

GPA Requirement:
- Undergraduate students: Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Graduate students: Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
All students: Successfully complete at least 67% of your attempted units.
All students: Complete your degree within 150% of the standard program time.
- Example: A 124-unit undergraduate degree must be completed before attempting 186 units; a 36-unit graduate degree must be completed before attempting 54 units.

SAP status is reviewed for all students at the end of each Spring semester.

If You Do Not Meet SAP Standards

Financial Aid Suspension:

You will lose eligibility for financial aid. You can submit an appeal, but aid will remain paused until your appeal is reviewed and approved. Updates will be sent to your LancerMail.

Financial Aid Probation:

If your appeal is approved, you will receive aid for one additional semester. To retain aid after that, you must pass all classes and continue meeting SAP standards. If you do not, aid will be suspended again and another appeal will be required.
These policies follow federal regulations (34 CFR § 668.34) and CBU’s Academic Catalog.

Academic Plan Form

Meet with your Student Success Coach to complete the Academic Plan Form. Once completed, upload it to the Student Forms portal for review.

FAQs


What is SAP? Federal regulations require California Baptist University to establish, publish, and apply standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility. The purpose of these standards is to ensure financial aid recipients progress toward graduation. Students who fail to meet SAP become ineligible to receive financial aid until they regain compliance.
How do I appeal? Submit your appeal through CBU's Student Forms website. A complete appeal includes: SAP Request Form: Include a personal statement explaining extenuating circumstances, your plan of action, and your signature. Supporting Documentation: Letters or bills from healthcare providers, a death certificate, obituary, or transcripts showing progress. Academic Plan: Completed with your Student Success Coach and signed. Include your expected graduation term, course numbers, and units for each semester.
What is an Academic Plan? An Academic Plan must be developed with your Student Success Coach using the Academic Plan Form. If your appeal is approved, you must follow the plan exactly as submitted. Failure to do so may result in future denial of financial aid.
How soon will I hear about my appeal? Appeals are reviewed regularly by the SAP Committee, typically weekly. You will be notified of the decision via LancerMail shortly after the hearing.
What if my appeal is denied? If your appeal is denied, you will receive information on alternative options such as: Continuing enrollment at CBU without financial aid. Continuing with private loans. Taking a leave of absence to complete deficient units at a community college. Once those units are completed and you demonstrate satisfactory progress, you can appeal again for aid reinstatement. If your initial appeal is denied, you may request a second review by emailing finaid@calbaptist.edu. A different reviewer will evaluate your case independently.
I received a termination letter but have had a grade change. What should I do? You must still submit a SAP Appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Include documentation showing the grade change (e.g., transcript or grade report).
How is the 12-semester limit determined? The federal government limits undergraduate aid eligibility to 150% of the published length of the program. For a four-year program, this equates to six years or 12 full-time semesters. A 124-unit undergraduate degree has a 150% limit of 186 attempted units. Eligibility for aid ends once either threshold is reached.
Where can I find the SAP policy? The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is listed in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs under the Financial Aid section and on InsideCBU under the Financial Aid tab.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)