Federal Student Aid

All students eligible for federal student aid must meet the Qualitative and Quantitative SAP standards.  

Qualitative (GPA)

• 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for undergraduates
• 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average for graduate students 

Quantitative Pace of Completion 

All students using federal financial aid must meet the pace of completion rate of 66.67 percent. Students must have completed a minimum of 66.67 percent of all courses attempted at the time of review in order to meet SAP standards. For example, a student who has attempted a total of 24 credits but has only earned 12 credits is not meeting the pace of completion rate. This is illustrated by the following math calculation: hours earned ÷ hours attempted = 12 ÷ 24 =  50 percent ratio.

Quantitative Maximum Time Frame 

Students are permitted to receive federal financial aid only for the cost of a number of credits up to 150 percent of the amount that it takes to complete their degree program (for example, up to 180 credits for a 120-credit degree).  Students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid for terms beyond this point, even if they received no aid for all of the terms of attendance.

Note: Hours attempted include transfer credits, credits earned in study abroad, and withdrawals and incomplete grades.  

Example of a student not meeting Grade Point Average 

Mia is an undergraduate student who started her degree program in fall 2022. She is expected to have a cumulative 2.0 grade point average for all credit hours attempted at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

At the end of the spring 2023, Mia was not meeting satisfactory academic progress because she did not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement.

Example of student not meeting the Completion Rate, also referred to as PACE:

All students must maintain a minimum of  66.67% of the total credit hours attempted. In this example, John is an undergraduate student who has a 2.0 GPA but is not meeting the PACE requirement of 66.67 % . The student has attempted a total of 48 credit hours and has only earned 24 hours.

To calculate PACE you must divide the earned hours by the total hours attempted  (24/48) = 50%.

Please keep in mind that total hours attempted include transfer credits, withdrawals, incomplete grades and transfer credits earned during study abroad.

Max Time Frame Example

Students are permitted to receive federal student aid only for an amount of credits up to 150% of the amount of credits it normally takes to complete their program.

In this example, Stephanie is pursuing a bachelor’s degree that requires 120 credit hours to complete.  Stephanie has attempted a total of 170 credits and needs 16 more credits to complete her degree requirements.

170 credits + 16 credits = 186 credits. Calculation:  120 x 150%= 180 credits hours attempted.

Stephanie is no longer eligible for federal financial  aid because she cannot complete her degree requirements within 180 credits attempted.

Note:  credits attempted include credits earned, failed, transferred , withdrawn and grades of incomplete. 

A Satisfactory Academic Progress Request form consists of the following: 

1. A signed and complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Request for Review form 

2.  A signed statement of explanation detailing: 

     a. Extenuating circumstances that affected the student's academic achievement 

     b. The time when the circumstances occurred, including the term or terms 

     c. The duration of the circumstances and how they were resolved  

3.  Include documentation that supports the extenuating circumstances detailed in your appeal.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include a death certificate, an obituary, court documents, documentation from medical professionals on business letterhead, official military orders, an eviction notice, and police reports. Incomplete SAP appeals will not be considered. 

Once an SAP Appeal has been submitted, the applicant will be notified of the appeal decision through their New School email. 

Steps for Completing the Academic Plan Form   

Step 1. Initiate 

The student must initiate the Academic Plan available on their my.newschool.edu portal. They must select the division from the drop-down menu, so that the email is sent to their academic advisor. 

Step 2. Academic Plan 

Once the form has been received, the academic advisor will create an academic plan that will allow the student to meet the quantitative and qualitative SAP standards. The academic plan will outline the conditions the student must meet in order to meet the SAP standards. 

 Step 3. Signatures Required 

Once the academic plan is complete, the advisor will save it and send it for review to the student. After reviewing and agreeing to the academic plan, the student must sign and submit the form. It will then be sent back to the academic advisor for a final signature from the department. 

Step 4. Submit the Form to Financial Aid 

Once completed and signed by both the academic advisor and the student, the completed form must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid for a final review and processing. Once the form is processed, the student will receive a confirmation email. 

The student's academic performance will be monitored on a semester basis to ensure they are meeting the conditions agreed upon in their academic plan. 

Failure to meet these requirements will result in a suspension of federal financial aid eligibility for all future semesters until the student is able to meet the SAP standards without the use of federal financial aid.   

During the suspension period, students must pay school expenses directly or through the use of private student loans. 

I am returning to The New School following an academic suspension. I would like to know what steps are required to have my federal financial aid reinstated.

Financial aid decisions are completely separate from academic admission decisions. Re-enrollment in The New School following an academic suspension or dismissal does not automatically guarantee that your financial aid will also be reinstated, and your previous coursework will still be considered in the determination of your aid eligibility.

I am returning to The New School following an SAP suspension.  I owe payments to The New School. What options do I have for paying the balance?
Discuss your options by contacting the Office of Student Accounts at [email protected]. 

Note: Federal financial aid cannot be used to pay a previous balance.  

I did not meet SAP standards. What are my options for paying for school?
If your appeal for financial aid reinstatement is not approved, you must make alternative arrangements to finance your education. You may choose to apply for a private loan during this period. Keep in mind that not all lenders will approve a private loan if you do not meet SAP. Check with your lender. 

Where can I submit my SAP appeal and supporting documents?
All documents to be included in the appeal should be submitted with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form through your MyNewSchool portal.

What happens if my SAP Request for Review is incomplete or I do not have the documents to support my appeal?
Incomplete SAP appeals will not be considered.

Who determines the outcome of an SAP appeal? Are all decisions final?
SAP Requests for Review are considered by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The committee's decisions are final.

How will I be notified of the outcome of my appeal?
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee's decision will be emailed to you.

Can I register for classes while my SAP appeal is being considered? 

Yes, you can register for classes while under financial aid suspension, but you are responsible for all costs incurred, regardless of the outcome of the SAP appeal.