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Federal Student Aid Standards of
Satisfactory Academic Progress 

Federal Student Aid recipients are required to meet quality and quantity academic standards to remain eligible for federal student aid. Quality standards are measured by the cumulative grade point average. Quantity standards are measured by the percentage of credit hours earned divided by credit hours attempted. 

Another quantity measurement is the total credit hours attempted, which cannot exceed 150% of the total required to complete a program of study. 

The following final course grades are considered as credits earned: A, B, C, D and S. These final course grades are not considered as credits earned: F, U, W, I and AU.  

The following scale is used as the standard for quality and quantity for associate degree programs: 

* Completion Rate is defined as the minimum percentage of credit hours earned divided by attempted credit hours. The quantity minimums are prorated for certificate programs to insure that the 150% maximum is not exceeded. Course withdrawals (W) count as credit hours attempted for federal student aid standards even though W’s do not count in the college’s calculation of cumulative grade point average. 

Students may not receive federal student aid for credit hours in excess of 150% of the total credit hour requirements to complete a degree or certificate program. Because associate degree programs at Terra vary from 90 to 108 credit hours, the maximum ranges from 135 to 162 credit hours. 

Students working toward multiple degrees are allowed a maximum of 200 credit hours attempted for federal student aid eligibility.

Certificate programs at Terra also have various credit hour requirements and similar 150% maximums. 

Students’ academic progress is monitored before awarding federal student aid and also at the end of each quarter. Students are notified in writing if they are ineligible for student aid. Students may regain eligibility by completing courses without receiving federal student aid while improving their academic progress. 

Terra recommends that students at or near the minimum standards work with their advisor to make enrollment plans that will maintain their federal student aid eligibility. If extenuating circumstances cause students not to meet the minimum standards, they may present appropriate proof and an improvement plan to the college’s Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee may act to reinstate a student’s eligibility. 

This eligibility plan applies to the Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Student Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) and Federal Parents Loans for Undergraduate Students. It does not apply to student aid through the state of Ohio or institutional scholarships.