Students who receive federal student aid (Title IV), state aid, and/or institutional scholarships must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to remain eligible. Please review the policy in detail if you are attending RCC and receiving financial aid.
The purpose of SAP standards is to ensure students are progressing toward their degree program in a timely manner (“Good Standing”). A student’s SAP status affects their ability to receive aid. All students at RCC will be evaluated for SAP status at the conclusion of each term.
Minimum Cumulative GPA (cGPA) – All students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
Minimum Cumulative Credit Completion Pace (cPace) – All students must successfully complete (grades of A, B, C, D*, or P) at least two-thirds, or 66.67%, of their total attempted RCC credits. For example, if you enroll in 12 credit hours, you must complete 8 credits to meet the Minimum Pace requirement (8 ÷ 12 = 66.67%).
Maximum Time Frame – Students may receive financial aid for a limited time. They must be able to complete their declared major within 150% of the program length (in credits). For example, a 90-credit associate’s degree must be able to be completed within 135 attempted credit hours (90 x 150% = 135). Once a student has earned an associate’s degree or higher, even if they haven’t reached the 150% point, they’ve reached their Maximum Time Frame.
Financial Aid Warning Status: Students who fail to meet the cGPA and/or cPace standard will be placed on Warning status and still qualify for financial aid.
Financial Aid Suspension Status: Students on Warning status who do not successfully achieve Good Standing, and students who have exceeded the 150% Max Time Frame requirement are immediately placed on Financial Aid Suspension status. Suspension halts eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional aid.
Pay out of pocket to bring levels up: If a student’s cGPA and/or cPACE are causing Financial Aid Suspension, one option is to pay out pocket for courses until the levels are up to the minimum requirement(s).
Appeal: Students on Financial Aid Suspension status (for cGPA/cPACE or Maximum Time Frame) may submit a SAP appeal.
Probation (Aid Eligible) Status: Students who successfully appeal their Financial Aid Suspension status are placed on Probation (Aid Eligible) status. Students who require additional terms to get cGPA and/or cPACE to Good Standing must submit a new appeal each term.
Return to Title IV/Financial Aid Repays
Students earn their aid each term by attending and completing the classes you received aid for.
RCC students who receive federal financial aid (like Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, and Federal Student Loans) who withdraw (either "officially" through the Registrar's Office - OR - "unofficially" by no longer attending classes) from RCC before completing 60% of the term are subject to Return of Title IV regulations. We strongly encourage students to reach out to FinAid Advising if they feel they need to withdraw or cannot continue to attend their classes, to discuss options and outcomes of doing so.
The student’s withdrawal date is used to determine the student's percentage of earned aid and what percentage of the enrollment period the student completed.
RCC’s FinAid Department will calculate how much of the federal aid is earned and unearned, and determine if unearned aid needs to be paid back.
When a student’s aid is reduced as a result of not completing more than 60% of classes, the student will be notified of the repayment required via email by the Financial Aid Office. The student is responsible for paying RCC in full for the unearned aid. If unearned funds are not paid back, it could impact aid eligibility at RCC or other colleges.
If the percentage of earned aid is greater than 60%, the student does not have to return Title IV Aid.
Return to Title IV does not apply to state grants like Oregon Opportunity or Oregon Promise.
Please review the Add/Drop/Withdraw from Classes page for details on the deadlines to add, drop and/or withdraw from classes and the difference between drop and withdraw.
Financial Aid Repays
If you receive aid for a class but never attend it, that class must be adjusted out of your enrollment and award level for the term. If removing the class reduces your enrollment level, then your aid will be adjusted to match the new enrollment level. This will result in a Financial Aid Repayment. This is applicable to both federal and state aid.
For example, if you are awarded and paid for 12 credits but at the end of term we find out you never attended one of your 4-credit classes, your aid must be adjusted to the 8-credit level and you'll owe back the difference.
