Financial Aid Probation Semester

Satisfactory Academic Progress policy can be viewed at MSU SAP Policies


What is Financial Aid Probation?

Financial Aid Probation is a status assigned to you when you fail to make SAP at the end of an evaluation period, however you have successfully appealed to have your financial aid reinstated.


What are the requirements to be granted Financial Aid Probation?

You may submit a SAP Appeal Form to request to have your aid reinstated. If your SAP Appeal is approved, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and you will automatically be placed on a SAP Academic Plan.

If your SAP Appeal is denied, then you will remain on Financial Aid Suspension and you will not be granted a probationary semester. You will be responsible for the payment of any tuition and fees without the assistance of financial aid.


How do I submit a SAP Appeal?

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal form is now available online as an eForm.

You will need to log into your Banner account (my.msstate.edu) to access this form. Select "SAP Appeal Form" under the Student eForms section.

Guidance on preparing an appeal is available online at MSU SAP Appeal Info. You are limited to three SAP appeals while attending MSU. Information/Instructions on completing a SAP Appeal can also be viewed online at MSU SAP Policies.


Can I receive financial aid while I am on Financial Aid Probation?

Yes, if your SAP Appeal is approved, you may be granted aid for your probationary semester (if otherwise eligible).


What happens at the end of my Financial Aid Probationary period?

Your SAP will be evaluated at the end of your probationary semester to determine if the overall requirements of the SAP Policy have been met.

  • Good Standing – eligible to receive financial aid
    If the overall SAP Policy requirements are met at the end of the probationary semester, your SAP status will be updated to ‘good standing’ (making satisfactory academic progress) beginning with the next semester. You will be eligible to receive financial aid (if otherwise eligible).
  • Financial Aid Suspension – not eligible to receive financial aid
    If the overall SAP Policy requirements are not met at the end of the probationary semester, then you be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and you will be suspended from receiving any financial aid and/or Sumner Grant funds beginning with the next semester and for future semesters until the SAP Policy requirements have once again been met. Any federal student aid and/or Sumner Grant aid previously awarded for the upcoming semester will be cancelled. You may submit a SAP Appeal to request to have you financial aid reinstated.

What happens if I still am not making SAP but met conditions of my SAP Academic Plan?

If after your Financial Aid Probationary period, the overall SAP Policy requirements are not met, however you have met all the conditions of your SAP Academic Plan, you may be able to continue to receive financial aid (if otherwise eligible) until the length of your plan has expired.

Conditions of SAP Academic Plan:

  • Enroll in all courses listed on the approved SAP Appeal Form
  • Pass all courses listed on your academic plan - do not make any ‘F’s
  • Earn minimum semester gpa 2.5 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduates)
  • Do not drop or withdraw from any courses listed on your academic plan

Information about SAP Academic Plans can be viewed online at MSU SAP Policies.


What happens if I am still not making SAP and did not meet all the conditions of my SAP Academic Plan?

If after your Financial Aid Probationary period neither the overall SAP Policy requirements nor the semester requirements specified on the SAP Academic Plan are met, then you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and you will be suspended from receiving any federal student aid and/or Sumner Grant aid until the SAP Policy requirements have once again been met or you submit another successful appeal. Any federal student aid and/ or Sumner Grant aid previously awarded for the next semester will be canceled.


When will my Financial Aid be paid into my MSU account?

If your SAP Appeal is approved, your financial aid will be paid into your student account when your financial aid application (FAFSA) and all other financial aid requirements have been met. You can check the status of your financial aid online via your myState account.


What if I have Excessive Withdrawal Hours?

If you who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension for exceeding the maximum number of withdrawal hours, you are no longer eligible to receive financial aid. You can only regain eligibility for aid by submitting a successful SAP Appeal.

Students who have been granted a probationary semester and are following all the conditions of their SAP Academic Plan may still be eligible for aid (refer to SAP Academic Plan at MSU SAP Policies).


What if I am on Suspension for Exceeding Maximum Hours/Time-Frame?

If you have exceeded the maximum allowable time to complete your degree program, you are no longer eligible to receive financial aid. Federal regulations also state that you become ineligible for financial aid whenever it becomes mathematically impossible for you to complete your degree program within the maximum time frame. In these scenarios, you can only regain eligibility for aid if you submit a successful appeal.

Students who have been granted a probationary semester and are following all the conditions of their SAP Academic Plan may still be eligible for aid (refer to SAP Academic Plan at MSU SAP Policies).


How Do I Regain Financial Aid Eligibility?

If you have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension as a result of your failure to meet SAP, you can regain financial aid eligibility by meeting at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Correct the SAP problem(s) and meet the overall SAP Policy requirements.
  2. Submit SAP Appeal (limit of three). If your SAP Appeal is approved by the SAP Appeals Committee, you will be placed on Financial Aid Probation (for one semester).

Are there any other sources of funding?

If you have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension, there may be additional funding opportunities for you through the Alternative/Private Loans program. More information can be viewed at https://www.sfa.msstate.edu/loans/.