Federal law requires that schools administer federal aid to set a minimum academic performance standard in order to continue to receive financial aid. A school must monitor a student’s qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (course completion) performance. The federal minimum standards require a 2.0 cumulative GPA, 67 percent cumulative completion ratio, and total hours not to exceed 150 percent of the program.

Qualitative: 

Undergraduates, including post-baccalaureate students seeking a second undergraduate degree, are expected to maintain a 2.0 MSUB grade point average (GPA) and a 2.0 overall 
GPA. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative, MSUB GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. 

Quantitative: 

Pace (Percentage of courses completed): This is the number of courses you successfully completed versus the total number of courses you attempted. Students must successfully complete at least 67% of cumulative attempted credit hours.  

Maximum Timeframe (Total attempted hours): This is the total number of courses you enrolled in to receive your degree. For both Undergraduate and Graduate programs, this is 150 percent of the published length of the program, measured in credit hours.  For more information view the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

SAP includes all credit hours attempted where the following grades were given: A, B, C, D, F, I, N, P, T, U, W, X and all grades each time a course was repeated. Credit hours attempted in each semester that you enroll will be counted, even the semesters when you do not receive financial aid.

Yes, the Registrar evaluates and posts transcripts from prior institutions. 

Transfer credits from other institutions accepted by MSUB are also included in your total number of credits attempted and completed and used in our calculations of the ratio of courses completed and cumulative hours. For more information view the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. 

Repeated credits will be counted toward the number of credits attempted. Repeats of previously unearned credits are eligible for funding within reason. Students may receive funding for a previously passed course one time only.

Remedial courses (credit bearing courses numbered below 100) and ESL courses are counted in the qualitative and quantitative standards, and the maximum timeframe allowed for SAP purposes.

Grades of W (withdraw), I (Incomplete), X (No Pass, Withdraw), N (No Credit / Audit), and F (Failing) will be counted toward the number of credits attempted but not counted as passed or earned. If a graduate student earns a grade of T (work in progress), he/she will need to contact our office for an evaluation of eligibility.

No, SAP is calculated for all federal programs administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Montana State University Billings, including Federal Direct Loans.

If your appeal is not completed, properly signed, and if no corroborating documents are included, your appeal is considered incomplete. Students who fail to turn in additional requested documents in a timely fashion will be denied. We encourage students to submit a thoughtful and well-worded typed statement, as this reflects on your commitment towards improving academic performance. 

Students' appeals are not guaranteed to be approved, and students are subject to being dropped from their classes due to non-payment, if they have not made payment arrangements with Business Services.

We strongly encourage that you submit your completed SAP appeal as soon as possible to give the committee ample time to review it. Appeals will be reviewed within four (2) weeks of submission. If you submitted an incomplete SAP appeal and then turn in additional documents, it may take additional time to process the documents submitted later. It is best to turn in a complete appeal with all corroborating documents by the deadline.

SAP holds are for financial aid purposes only, and they do NOT affect registration. This hold could be on your account for several reasons: 

1. At the end of the semester, the Office of Financial Aid places this hold on students with an academic plan. Your grades are then reviewed to ensure you are following your plan. The hold is removed if you are following your plan. If you are not following your plan, your hold will remain, and you will not receive your financial aid.  

2. If you are on an academic plan, it is important to communicate any changes in your enrollment to the Office of Financial Aid to ensure it complies with your previously approved academic plan.  

University Campus 
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship
1500 University Drive 
Billings, Montana 59101-0245
McMullen Hall - First Floor East 

Phone: 406-657-2188 
Fax: 406-657-1789 
finaid@msubillings.edu 

* Please Note: If you are attempting to submit documents to our office which contain Personally Identifying Information (i.e. Social Security Numbers, Tax information, etc.) we require that those items be submitted using a secure method, such as fax or in person. MSUB will not be able to receive this information via email.