Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards
Students who wish to receive financial aid must make satisfactory academic progress toward their
degree. The UCLA School of Law Financial Aid Office measures students’ progress toward degree
completion using both qualitative and quantitative standards in accordance with federal regulations.
These regulations require UCLA to include all coursework “attempted” in that measurement, including
coursework for which the student did not receive financial aid.
Note: These standards are in addition to the academic requirements set forth in the UCLA School of Law
Summary of Academic Standards.
QUALITATIVE STANDARD
QUANTITATIVE STANDARD
Students must receive a passing grade in at least 67% of units “attempted” (i.e., a student who attempts
33 units in one academic year must successfully complete at least 22 of those units to meet the
quantitative standard). See the chart below for an explanation of what is included in “attempted units”.
J.D. students will be evaluated annually, after spring semester grades are available. LL.M. and S.J.D.
students will be evaluated each semester.
UCLA Financial Aid policy imposes the following limitations on the time to degree for students receiving
financial aid:
- 9 semesters for students pursuing the J.D. degree
- 12 semesters for students pursuing a joint degree program
- 3 semesters for students pursuing the LL.M. degree
- 3 semesters to advance to candidacy for students pursuing the S.J.D. degree
GRADES
Grades that meet satisfactory academic progress standards include D or better, Pass (“P”), and
Unsatisfactory (“U”). Fail (“F”), No Credit (“NC”) and Withdrawals (“W”) are not passing grades.
Coursework still in progress (“LI” and “IP”) will be excluded from the qualitative and quantitative
standard measures and evaluated and calculated only upon completion.
COURSEWORK |
CONSIDERED ATTEMPTED UNITS? |
Transfer Coursework,
Summer Study Abroad |
Coursework accepted for transfer credit, including summer study abroad, will count as units attempted. |
Repeat Coursework |
Courses repeated, for which credit was earned on the second attempt only will be counted both times as attempted units. |
Withdrawals |
Withdrawals after the first day of classes will count as units attempted unless the student does not attend any classes for that semester and receives a 100% refund of all fees. |
Cancellations |
Cancellation of registration on or before the 1st day of classes will not count as units attempted. |
FINANCIAL AID SUSPENSION AND APPEAL PROCESS
Students who fail to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be placed on
financial aid suspension and will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. Such students will have 30
days to submit a written appeal to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee and present it
to the Office of Financial Aid. In the appeal, students must provide a full explanation and any relevant
documentation pertaining to the circumstances leading to their failure to meet the standards for
Satisfactory Academic Progress. Prior to submitting the appeal, students must seek assistance from the
Dean for Students with the goal of establishing a realistic Academic Plan towards graduation that must
be included as part of the appeal.
FINANCIAL AID PROBATION
If the SAP Committee approves the appeal, the student will receive financial aid and be placed on
financial aid probation for one semester. During this probationary period the student will need to meet
the specific requirements of the Academic Plan in order to regain financial aid for subsequent
semesters.
Financial aid will not be available for the term following probation, until the assessment has been made
that the student has met the conditions of their Academic Plan. The determination of progress can only
be established once the grades for the probation term have been received.
LL.M. and S.J.D. students who are on financial aid suspension after the first semester of their program
will have their financial aid rescinded for the second semester. Upon a successful appeal process, the
student will have their financial aid reinstated.
REINSTATEMENT
Students who have had financial aid eligibility suspended for failing to maintain Satisfactory Academic
Progress standards, and/or who have a denied Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal, may
regain financial aid eligibility by bringing themselves into compliance with the qualitative and
quantitative components of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students who have
exceeded the time limit to degree cannot regain financial aid eligibility through the reinstatement
process.