How to Apply
How to apply for Financial Aid at Cuesta
FAFSA Online
Veterans

Types of Aid
Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGW)
Grants
Work Study
Federal Student Stafford
Scholarships
Emergency Book Loan
Foster Youth Program
Loans

Policy/Procedure
Eligible Majors
Satisfactory Progress (SAP)
Clearinghouse

FAQ's

Policy/Procedure
Eligible Majors
Satisfactory Progress (SAP)
Clearinghouse

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

SAP Appeal Forms

When you accept your financial aid award, you enter into a contract. You agree to successfully complete the number of units for which you receive payment and to make satisfactory progress toward your educational goal. Your progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the standards listed below.

This policy has been developed for students receiving federal financial aid to assist in academic planning and success. Federal regulations require a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate when receiving financial aid. Federal regulations state that academic progress standards MUST include a review of periods of enrollment in which the student did not receive aid as well as the semesters they did receive aid. For the purposes of financial aid eligibility, Cuesta College students MUST meet the following minimum standards to be applied to units attempted at all accredited post-secondary institutions. These standards are applied to all previous college course work whether or not you received financial aid.

MINIMUM UNIT REQUIREMENTS: You're required to complete a minimum number of units per semester according to your enrollment status:

Withdrawals (W), Repeats, Incompletes (I), No Credits (NC), Failing Grades (F), or units achieved by challenging courses are not considered units completed for financial aid purposes. All courses offered with units of credit at Cuesta College will be considered valid units, including basic skills courses.

Note: All Psych Tech trimesters are funded at full-time payments...12 units.

Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all Cuesta College course work. Students who do not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress are subject to Financial Aid Probation / Suspension.

Financial Aid Probation
First-time financial aid applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 from course work at Cuesta College or another institution may apply for financial aid and, if eligible, will be awarded for one semester only. This initial semester will be considered a probationary period.

Any student who does not maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in any semester shall be placed on probation for the following semester. While on probation, the student will continue to receive aid provided they agree to complete the minimum units for which they received payment in order to avoid Financial Aid Suspension; however, loan eligibility may be affected. At the end of the probation period, the student's academic progress will again be reviewed. Probationary status will be removed if the student has completed the minimum unit requirement for which they were paid and has achieved a cumulative Cuesta GPA of 2.0. Students who do not make Satisfactory Academic Progress during the probationary semester will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension
Students who are placed on Financial Aid Suspension are ineligible to receive financial aid. Students may request reinstatement of financial aid upon proof of completion of at least 6 units with a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Students who have had their financial aid eligibility suspended may file an appeal (ONE TIME ONLY) with the Financial Aid Advisory Committee, if they feel they had special circumstances that prevented them from making satisfactory progress; e.g.: medical or family emergency. The committee will meet in person with the students filing the appeal. If the advisory committee grants mitigating circumstances for a semester of unsatisfactory progress, financial aid eligibility will be extended for one semester. This semester will be considered a probationary period. Students may receive an approved appeal only once while at Cuesta College.

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NOTE: Transfer credits from other institutions will be included in the Maximum Time Frame if applicable toward your current objective.
Remedial Units: Funding is limited to a maximum of 30 remedial units. Federal regulations define "remedial" as courses that do not apply to a degree, certificate or transfer program. Please refer to the college catalog or your academic advisor for clarification.

Students must identify a Cuesta College academic or vocational goal. Entering students are to attend a Cuesta College Orientation Workshop. All continuing students must annually complete a Student Educational Plan (SEP) with an academic counselor, visit the Cuesta College Counseling web pages to learn more about the Student Education Plan (SEP) 

A copy of your signature agreeing to comply with the new Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards will be placed in your financial aid file.

1011SAP Appeal Form / Progress Report

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