Satisfactory Progress Policy

Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Policy

The federal government requires that colleges develop and enforce an institutional system to monitor the academic progress of financial aid recipients and mandates that aid recipients be making satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. These standards may be different than the academic standards required to remain in the program, to advance to candidacy, or to earn a degree or certificate. Where difference exist, the standards set forth in this policy shall be used to determine eligibility for participation in student financial aid programs at Pacific Oaks College.

Pacific Oaks College has developed the standards described in this policy. Students who meet or exceed these standards are said to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students who are not meeting these standards will be considered:

The academic progress of aid applicants is reviewed on a yearly basis. Pacific Oaks College's standards of academic progress can fall into two categories: qualitative and quantitative. These categories are defined below.

[back to top]

Qualitative Standards

To be eligible for financial aid, a student may not have more than six units of May Complete or Incomplete work on their transcript. If a student has more than six units of May Complete or Incomplete work they will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester to give them the opportunity to make up the work. The student will be eligible for financial aid for the semester that they are on probation. If a student has to retake a course to fulfill the make up coursework, they may register again for that course, however it will not count towards the minimum number of units required for financial aid eligibility. If the student does not fulfill the required make-up coursework, they will cease to be eligible for financial aid in subsequent semesters until the work is completed and their May Complete/ Incompletes are revised.

[back to top]

Quantitative Standards

Additionally, students must complete their educational objectives within reasonable periods of time. To accommodate all students and their schedules, the reasonable period is measured not chronologically, but by semester units earned. Students who significantly are not meeting the number of units to earn their stated degree/certificate will be considered ineligible to received student financial aid assistance for failure to maintain satisfactory progress.

[back to top]
Maximum Time Frames

Degree Program	Maximum units to complete Degree at Pacific Oaks	Length of program*	Length of Program**
BA	54*	6	9
BA ABLE	34	4	6
BA /Credential	42-47	6	12
MSTC/Special
Credential	42	6	12
MA	30-36*	4	8
MA/Credential/ MSTC/Special	48/53	8	16
MA/MFT	48	6	12
MA/LFS	54	7	Cohort
MA ABLE	33-42	7	11
MA ABLE/ MFT	49-55	7	14
MSTC/Intern	36	6	12
MSTC/Intern/MA	42	8	16

*Maximum number of semesters to complete degree at Pacific Oaks Summer Semester not included. Full time, Fall/Spring enrollment.
**Maximum number of semesters to complete degree at Pacific Oaks. Summer Semester not included, 1/2 time Fall/Spring enrollment.

Students who do not qualify for Financial Aid may still have access to the Tuition Payment Contract with FACTS: Payments of tuition monthly during the semester. Payment in full should be made by end of semester. Please contact the Business Office for more information.

[back to top]