Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid

Overview

Federal regulations require Yale School of Nursing (YSN) to evaluate and monitor students’ academic progress to determine eligibility for Title IV financial aid. This policy applies to all students enrolled in YSN degree programs (GEPN, MSN, PMC, DNP) and governs continued eligibility for federal financial aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is assessed using qualitative, quantitative, and maximum timeframe standards described in this policy. Failure to maintain SAP jeopardizes a student’s eligibility to receive federal financial aid. 

Qualitative Standard (Academic Performance)  

To remain eligible for financial aid, students must earn a grade of Pass or higher in all required courses and maintain a cumulative average of Pass at each SAP evaluation. These standards reflect the academic policies on academic difficulty, including warning, probation, and dismissal, and apply to all students receiving federal financial aid. For programs longer than two academic years, students must demonstrate academic standing consistent with YSN’s graduation requirements for their program by the end of the second academic year. For the purposes of this assessment, any courses transferred in from another institution or waived for credit will not be included.  

Maximum Time Frame  

Students must complete their degree within a designated maximum timeframe: six years from matriculation for GEPN, MSN, and PMC programs, and five years for the DNP program, inclusive of any time spent on approved leaves of absence. Students are not eligible for financial aid beyond the maximum timeframe, regardless of enrollment status.  

Evaluation Schedule  

SAP evaluations are conducted at the end of each term for GEPN students. For MSN, PMC, and DNP students, evaluations occur annually at the end of each academic year. The evaluation takes into account academic performance in courses, pace of completion, and maximum timeframe. If a student fails to meet any SAP requirements, their academic record will be reviewed for possible placement on warning, probation, or loss of eligibility for financial aid. 

Financial Aid Status & Notification

Students are notified via their Yale email address whenever their SAP status changes or if their financial aid eligibility is affected. A student who meets all SAP requirements remains eligible for financial aid.  

In programs for which SAP evaluation takes place at the conclusion of each term (Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing), any student not meeting SAP requirements will be placed on financial aid warning for the next term and continue to receive aid without an appeal. If SAP is still not met at the end of that warning term, aid eligibility is suspended unless the student successfully appeals. 

In any program for which SAP evaluation takes place on an annual basis (Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Nursing, Post-Master’s Certificate), any student not meeting SAP requirements immediately loses aid eligibility and must file a successful appeal to regain eligibility. 

A student who wishes to appeal a suspension of financial aid for failing to meet SAP standards must submit a written appeal to the Office of Financial Aid within ten business days of receiving the suspension notice. The appeal must explain the circumstances contributing to their inability to maintain satisfactory academic progress, describe steps taken to address these challenges, provide documentation as appropriate, and propose an academic plan to regain financial aid eligibility. The Financial Aid Office will review the appeal and respond within seven business days. If the appeal is denied, the student loses eligibility for financial aid. If approved, the student is placed on financial aid probation and remains eligible for aid for one additional term. If the academic plan covers multiple terms, continued eligibility is contingent on adherence to the plan.    

A student who loses financial aid eligibility due to failure to maintain SAP can regain it by remedying any SAP deficiencies before a subsequent evaluation. If a student who loses eligibility does not file an appeal or has an appeal denied, eligibility can still be restored by enrolling at personal expense and achieving SAP standards at a subsequent evaluation.  

Treatment of Repeats, Withdrawals, Incompletes and Transfer Credits 

All attempts at a repeated course are treated as attempted credits with respect to quantitative pace calculations, but only the highest grade earned is included in the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Withdrawals count as attempted but unearned credits and can negatively impact a student’s pace. Incomplete grades are not included in the calculation until a final letter grade is recorded. Transfer or waived courses are counted as both attempted and completed credits when calculating pace, yet are omitted from the qualitative calculation of academic performance.