Federal Student Aid’s Oversight of Schools’ Compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress Regulations

The objectives of our audit were to determine (1) whether Federal Student Aid (FSA) ensured completion of corrective actions in response to audit and program review findings related to satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and (2) what actions FSA has taken to assist schools with compliance with SAP requirements. We found that FSA did not always ensure schools completed corrective actions related to the SAP findings identified in compliance audits and program reviews. This occurred because FSA’s Program Compliance office did not always perform the required resolution activities or address all SAP-related findings in the final determination letters. FSA’s failure to resolve SAP-related findings could result in (1) schools with repeated SAP findings, (2) ineligible students receiving Title IV program funds, (3) noncompliant schools continuing to participate in Title IV programs, or (4) FSA not establishing liabilities payable from schools that disbursed Title IV program funds to students who did not meet SAP requirements.