Best Student Loans With No SAP GPA Requirements in 2025

College students can lose access to federal financial aid—including Pell Grants, work-study, and federal student loans—if they don’t meet their school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

This can be a devastating setback, especially for students who are already halfway through a degree or returning to school after a rough start in college.

According to our 2025 private student loan borrower survey, 11.24% of borrowers said they were denied financial aid because they “didn’t meet satisfactory academic progress.” If you’ve been denied funding due to SAP issues, you’re not alone—and you’re not out of options.

Private student loan lenders typically have no SAP or GPA requirements, including our roundup of the top lenders below. (The main catch is that your school may refuse to certify your loans if you’re having SAP issues. But keep reading to learn more!)

Table of Contents

1. What are Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP) requirements?
   1. SAP requirements for federal student aid
   2. School-specific SAP policies
2. Private student loans that don’t require SAP
   1. Sallie Mae
   2. Citizens
   3. Earnest
   4. SoFi
   5. Ascent
3. FAQ

What are Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP) requirements?

If your financial aid was suspended, it’s likely because you didn’t meet your school’s SAP requirements—a set of academic standards required to continue receiving aid. These standards apply to federal student loans and most institutional aid packages, but vary slightly by school.

SAP requirements for federal student aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires all schools that offer federal financial aid to enforce SAP policies. That means even if you qualify financially, you could lose access to federal grants, loans, or work-study programs if your academic progress slips.

At a minimum, federal law requires schools to measure SAP using these three benchmarks:

• Minimum GPA: Undergraduate students typically must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA (equivalent to a C average).
• Pace of completion: You must successfully complete at least 67% of the courses you attempt.
• Maximum timeframe: You must finish your degree within 150% of the published program length (e.g., six years for a four-year program).

If you fall short on any of these, your federal aid will be suspended. Some schools allow students to appeal or requalify later, but approval isn’t guaranteed—and that’s why many students seek out private student loans that don’t have SAP or GPA restrictions.

School-specific SAP policies

While the federal government sets baseline rules, each school can establish its own SAP policy—often with the same or stricter requirements. Here are some examples from major universities to give you a sense of what’s typical:

College	GPA requirement for SAP (undergraduate)	Minimum completion rate of attempted credits per year
Arizona State University	2.0	67%
Michigan State University	2.0	67%
New York University (NYU)	2.0	67%
Ohio State University	1.80 for first-year students, 2.0 after that	67%
Pennsylvania State University	2.0	67%
Purdue University	2.0	67%
Rutgers University	1.40 – 2.0, depending on how many credits you’ve already completed	50% – 75%, depending on how many credits you’ve already completed
Texas A&M University	2.0	67%
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	2.0	67%
University of Central Florida	2.0	67%

If you’re having trouble meeting SAP requirements, consider why you’re struggling in school and how you can improve your situation before you take on more loans. This could mean taking a break, transferring to another school/program, or changing to a different degree field.

A worst-case scenario is taking out more loans and continuing to struggle or possibly failing out. Once you have a good plan to improve your academic progress and you’re confident that you will be able to graduate, I recommend looking at federal student loans first, then private loans.

Private student loans that don’t require SAP

If you’ve lost your federal or school-based financial aid because you didn’t meet SAP standards, a private student loan might be your best option to stay enrolled or return to school.

Most private lenders do not require borrowers to meet SAP or GPA minimums as part of their loan approval process. However, nearly all private loans must be certified by your school before the funds are disbursed. Some schools may refuse to certify loans for students who aren’t meeting SAP, even if the lender has approved the application.

That said, some schools will still certify and release private loan funds despite SAP issues, giving students another chance to continue their education and improve their academic standing.

I’d recommend student loans so that students can pay them back over time at their own pace and concentrate on their studies.

— LendEDU private student loans survey respondent

According to our research, here are some top picks for student loan lenders that will disburse student loan funds even if you don’t meet GPA or SAP requirements.

Sallie Mae

Citizens

Best for Multi-Year Approval

4.7 _/5

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Why we picked it

Citizens indicates that students should meet SAP to be eligible for loan disbursement, but it does not list GPA requirements in its application criteria. In practice, some borrowers may receive funding despite SAP issues if the school chooses to certify the loan.

Citizens also offers multi-year approval, which allows eligible borrowers to secure future funding without reapplying each year—a unique convenience feature.

Eligibility requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (international students must apply with a cosigner who is a citizen or resident)
• Minimum enrollment of half-time in a degree program
• Offers multi-year approval for future semesters
• Cosigner strongly encouraged if the student has limited credit history

Earnest

SoFi

Best for Member Benefits

4.7 _/5

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Why we picked it

SoFi does not publish SAP requirements for student loan eligibility, and some schools have confirmed SoFi disburses funds even when SAP isn’t met. SoFi’s added perks—like financial planning services—make it a well-rounded option if you’re facing temporary academic setbacks.

Eligibility requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program
• Must meet SoFi’s underwriting criteria (credit score, income, etc.)
• Cosigner required in most cases unless the borrower has strong credit

Ascent

Best Graduation Award

4.4 _/5

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Why we picked it

Ascent does not explicitly require students to meet SAP, and financial aid departments at some universities list Ascent as a lender that may disburse despite SAP-related aid loss. It also stands out for offering non-cosigned options to creditworthy juniors and seniors, and offering 1% cash back upon graduation.

Eligibility requirements

• U.S. citizen, permanent resident, DACA recipient, or eligible international student with a U.S. cosigner
• At least half-time enrollment at an eligible school
• Cosigner required for most undergraduate loans unless borrower meets credit/income requirements
• No GPA minimum for most loans (but non-cosigned outcomes-based loans may evaluate GPA)

[Private student loans] helped me obtain my goals and further my education so that I could graduate from college [even with a low GPA]. I eventually graduated with a bachelor of science degree.

— LendEDU private student loans survey respondent

SAP and GPA for student loans FAQ

Can I get federal financial aid with a 1.9 GPA?

Possibly—but only if you’re still meeting your school’s SAP requirements. Many schools require a 2.0 GPA to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), so falling to a 1.9 could make you ineligible for federal aid. However, some schools may place you on financial aid warning or probation, allowing you to continue receiving aid for one semester while you work to improve. If you’re not automatically granted this, you may be able to file an appeal.

Does FAFSA ask for GPA?

No, the FAFSA form does not ask for your GPA. However, your school is required to evaluate your academic performance—including GPA—when determining your ongoing eligibility for federal financial aid. This happens after your FAFSA is submitted and aid is awarded.

Can I get grants and scholarships with a low GPA?

Getting grants and scholarships with a low GPA can be more difficult, especially since many are merit-based. However, some need-based grants—like the Pell Grant—do not consider GPA when you first apply through FAFSA.

That said, to continue receiving need-based aid like the Pell Grant, you must meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. This usually means maintaining a minimum GPA (often 2.0) and completing enough credits each term. Falling below these benchmarks can result in losing your grant eligibility.

Additionally, some scholarships are based on:

• Community involvement
• Leadership experience
• Artistic or athletic talent
• Unique background or goals

These may not factor GPA as heavily and could still be accessible even with lower grades.

Can I appeal if my student loan funds are held due to SAP?

Yes, most schools allow you to appeal a SAP-related financial aid suspension. You’ll typically need to submit a written explanation of why you fell below SAP standards, along with documentation and a plan for academic improvement.

Appeals are not guaranteed to be approved, and while you wait for a decision, federal or school-based aid will remain on hold. If your appeal is denied, you may need to pay out of pocket or look into private student loans from lenders that don’t enforce SAP restrictions directly—though disbursement still depends on school certification.

Can I get student loans if I have a low high school GPA?

Yes, you can still qualify for student loans with a low high school GPA—especially federal loans. Federal student loans, such as Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, do not require a minimum GPA to qualify initially. As long as you complete the FAFSA and meet other eligibility criteria (like citizenship and enrollment in an eligible program), your GPA won’t stop you from receiving loans when you first start college.

However, to keep receiving federal student loans, you’ll need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) once you’re enrolled. This usually means keeping a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher and successfully completing a certain percentage of your attempted credits. Falling below your school’s SAP standards can result in losing access to future federal aid.

Private student loans generally don’t have specific GPA requirements either, but loan disbursement depends on school certification, which may be blocked if you’re not meeting SAP. Many students with low GPAs still qualify—especially with a creditworthy cosigner.

How we chose the best student loans for low GPA

LendEDU evaluates student loan lenders to help readers find the best student loans. Our latest analysis reviewed 725 data points from 25 lenders and financial institutions, with 29 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Recap of student loans for low GPA