function calculateSAP() {
var attempted = parseFloat(document.getElementById('attemptedHours').value);
var earned = parseFloat(document.getElementById('earnedHours').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('sap-result-area');
var percentSpan = document.getElementById('sap-percentage-text');
var msgPara = document.getElementById('sap-status-msg');
if (isNaN(attempted) || isNaN(earned) || attempted attempted) {
alert("Earned hours cannot exceed attempted hours.");
return;
}
var completionRate = (earned / attempted) * 100;
var formattedRate = completionRate.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
percentSpan.innerHTML = "Your Completion Rate: " + formattedRate + "%";
// Standard SAP requirement is usually 67%
if (completionRate >= 67) {
resultDiv.className = "sap-success";
msgPara.innerHTML = "Status: Meeting Standards. You are currently meeting the standard 67% pace requirement for Satisfactory Academic Progress.";
} else if (completionRate >= 60) {
resultDiv.className = "sap-warning";
msgPara.innerHTML = "Status: At Risk. You are below the typical 67% requirement. You may be at risk of losing financial aid eligibility. Contact your advisor immediately.";
} else {
resultDiv.className = "sap-danger";
msgPara.innerHTML = "Status: Below Standards. Your completion rate is significantly below the federal requirement. This usually results in Financial Aid Warning or Suspension.";
}
}
Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, is a set of standards that students must maintain to remain eligible for federal, state, and often institutional financial aid (including FAFSA). One of the most critical components of SAP is the Completion Rate, also known as "Pace."
What is the SAP Completion Rate?
The completion rate measures your "pace" through an academic program. It ensures that you are completing your degree within the maximum timeframe allowed. To calculate this, schools look at the relationship between the credits you successfully completed versus the credits you attempted.
The SAP Completion Rate Formula
The math behind SAP is straightforward, but it is cumulative, meaning it factors in every semester you have attended, not just the current one:
(Total Earned Credits / Total Attempted Credits) x 100 = Completion Rate %
Why Does 67% Matter?
While specific policies can vary slightly by institution, the federal benchmark for SAP is usually 67%. This number is derived from the requirement that a student must complete their program within 150% of the published length of the program.
For example, if a degree requires 120 credits, you must finish it by the time you have attempted 180 credits. To stay on track for that 150% limit, you must pass roughly two-thirds (67%) of the classes you register for.
What Counts as "Attempted" vs "Earned"?
This is where many students get confused. Your transcript tracks these differently:
Category
Included in Attempted?
Included in Earned?
Passed Classes (A, B, C, D)
Yes
Yes
Failed Classes (F)
Yes
No
Withdrawals (W)
Yes
No
Incompletes (I)
Yes
No
Repeated Courses
Yes (Every time)
Yes (Only once)
Example Calculation
Imagine a student, Alex, who has been in school for three semesters:
Calculation: (33 / 42) = 0.785 or 78.5%. Alex is well above the 67% threshold.
Consequences of Falling Below 67%
If your completion rate drops below the required percentage, the following usually happens:
Financial Aid Warning: Usually, you get one semester of "warning" where you still receive aid but must bring your pace back up.
Financial Aid Suspension: If you do not meet the standards after the warning period, your financial aid is suspended.
The Appeal Process: Most schools allow you to file an SAP Appeal if you had extenuating circumstances (like a medical emergency or death in the family) that prevented you from completing your courses.
How to Improve Your Completion Rate
To fix a low SAP pace, you must earn more credits without increasing your attempted credits significantly. This is best achieved by: