Academic Requirements for Federal Aid

To be eligible for any federal/state program, the student must be:

  1. A United States citizen or eligible non-citizen

  2. Matriculated (i.e. pursuing a degree or certificate)

  3. Making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by Queensborough

Financial Aid Questions?

Questions about eligibility? Get video answers below, or head to Financial Aid TV


Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, for the purposes of receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, an undergraduate student must meet two distinct criteria. There is a qualitative measure, which is a minimum GPA, and a quantitative measure, which is a minimum number of credits completed based upon attempted credits.

Qualitative Measure

A student must achieve at least the minimum GPA based on the number of credits attempted according to the chart below. CUNY Board of Trustee policy for good academic standing requires that students maintain a sliding cumulative grade point average based on the number of credits attempted:

minimum GPA based on the number of credits earned table
Attempted Credits Minimum GPA
0-12 1.5
13-24 1.75
25-Upward 2.0

Quantitative Measure

An undergraduate student attending Queensborough Community College must complete a minimum number of credits based upon the number of attempted credits, as described on the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) For Federal Financial Aid.

Students will be measured against the satisfactory academic progress standard at the end of the spring term to determine eligibility for receipt of Title IV financial assistance for the upcoming year.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Procedures

Students who do not meet the above requirements may appeal. Below, is the link to the online 2024-25 SAP Appeal Form. These appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting from events such as personal illness, injury, personal tragedy, changes in academic program, and the reasonableness of the student's capability for improvement to meet the appropriate standard for the degree program in which the student is enrolled. Students who have over 90 attempted credits because they are pursuing a second degree are currently required to submit an appeal. It will be reviewed to ensure that they are meeting the SAP standards based on the attempted credits, cumulative credits, and GPA applicable to their second degree. A successful appeal will result in the student being granted a probationary period to improve their academic record to meet the appropriate standard for the degree program in which the student is enrolled. Only one appeal can be submitted per academic year but their isn't a limit on the number of times a student can follow the appeals procedure.

If a student is readmitted the academic record will be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress under the standards as the record stood at the end of the last term of attendance.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Forms For Federal Aid

Students wishing to submit a 2024-25 SAP Appeal should click the blue box below, which will bring you to Student Forms. This is our secure online portal used to complete financial aid forms and submit documents.  Supporting documentation must be submitted at the time you are submitting your appeal.

When you click on the link it will prompt you to create a Student Forms Account if you have not already done so. There will be a blue bar that says "SAP Appeal" which you must click on to complete an appeal.  You must have filed a 2024-25 FAFSA at least 10 days ago in order to complete & submit SAP Appeal. If you haven't completed your FAFSA at least 10 days ago the SAP Appeal will not be displayed as an option for you. You will need to file your FAFSA and wait 10 days in order to submit an appeal.


Deadlines:

Summer '24 - August 5, 2024

Fall '24 - November 8, 2024

The above deadlines are the last day a SAP Appeal could be submitted to be considered for aid for that semester. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval. If your appeal is not approved you are responsible for all tuition and fees.

Important Federal Notes

  1. The attempted credits usually reflect course loads maintained in a student's permanent record at the college.

  2. The accumulated credits should reflect credits that the student earned toward the completion of the degree program in which the student in enrolled.

  3. Enrollment in remedial courses will not be included as attempted credits for financial aid.

  4. Withdrawals which are recorded on a student's permanent record will be included as attempted credits and will have an effect on the student's capability to meet the appropriate standard. A Retroactive “non-punitive” withdrawal may result in the requirement for a student to repay any assistance received as a result of the student's enrollment at the time of receipt of the student assistance.

  5. Courses with incomplete grades are included as attempted credits. However, these courses cannot be used as credits accumulated toward the degree since successful completion is the criterion for positive credit accumulation.

  6. Repeated courses. Repeated courses can generally be accepted toward degree requirements once. However, each time a student attempts a course, it is included as part of the attempted credit record. Therefore, repeated courses, regardless of the prior grade, reduce the student's capacity to meet the appropriate credit accumulation standard.


CUNY Community Colleges

Credits
Attempted
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Completed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Percent 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Credits
Attempted
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Completed 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.6 1.7 1.8
Percent 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% 10% 10%

Credits
Attempted
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Completed 1.9 2.0 3.2 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.75 5.2 5.4
Percent 10% 10% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 20% 20%

Credits
Attempted
28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Completed 5.6 5.8 6 7.75 8 8.25 8.5 8.75 12.24
Percent 20% 20% 20% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 34%

Credits
Attempted
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
Completed 12.6 12.9 13.3 13.6 17.6 18.1 18.5 18.9 19.4
Percent 34% 34% 34% 34% 43% 43% 43% 43% 43%

Credits
Attempted
46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Completed 21.2 21.6 22.1 22.5 23.0 25.5 26.0 26.5 27.0
Percent 46% 46% 46% 46% 46% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Credits
Attempted
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
Completed 27.5 30.2 30.8 31.3 31.9 32.4 34.2 34.7 35.3
Percent 50% 54% 54% 54% 54% 54% 56% 56% 56%

Credits
Attempted
64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72
Completed 35.8 36.4 38.3 38.9 39.4 40.0 40.6 42.6 43.2
Percent 56% 56% 58% 58% 58% 58% 58% 60% 60%

Credits
Attempted
73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81
Completed 43.8 44.4 45.0 47.1 47.7 48.4 49.0 49.6 52.7
Percent 60% 60% 60% 62% 62% 62% 62% 62% 65%

Credits
Attempted
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
Completed 53.3 54.0 54.6 55.3 57.4 58.0 58.7 59.4 60.0
Percent 65% 65% 65% 65% 66.7% 66.7% 66.7% 66.7% 66.7%

*NOTE: A student can only receive federal aid for a maximum of (30) equated credits, excluding ESL.

Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.