Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Accreditation
Confirms that the college or career school meets certain minimum academic standards, as defined by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools must be accredited to be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your or your family's wages, salaries, interest, dividends, etc., minus certain deductions from income as reported on a federal income tax return. Commonly referred to as AGI.
Adverse Credit History
A credit history is a summary of your financial strength, including your history of paying bills and your ability to repay future loans. To qualify for a PLUS loan, you cannot have an adverse credit history. Your credit history may be considered adverse if you are experiencing any of the following credit conditions:
· Bankruptcy discharge within the past five years.
· Repossession of collateral within the last five years.
· Foreclosure proceedings started.
· Foreclosure within the last five years.
· Accounts currently 90 days or more delinquent.
· Unpaid collection accounts.
· Charge-offs/write-offs of federal student loans.
· Wage garnishment within the last five years.
· Defaulting on a loan, even if the claim has been paid.
· Lease or contract terminated by default.
· County/state/federal tax lien within the past five years.
Approved Drug Rehabilitation Program
A drug rehabilitation program that is:
(1) qualified to receive funds from a federal, state or local government or from a federally or state-licensed insurance company; or
(2) administered or recognized by a federal, state or local government agency or court, or a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor.
Award Amount
Amount of aid a school expects to pay a student based on the student’s current grant and loan eligibility, enrollment, Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and the school's cost of attendance.
Award Letter
An offer from a college or career school that states the type and amount of financial aid the school is willing to provide if you accept admission and register to take classes at that school.
Award Year
School year for which financial aid is used to fund a student’s education. Generally, this is the 12-month period that begins on July 1 of one year and ends on June 30 of the following year.
B
Budget
A financial plan that helps you track your money, make informed spending decisions, and plan for your financial goals.
C
Cancellation
The release of the borrower's obligation to repay all or a designated portion of principal and interest on a student loan. Also called discharge or forgiveness of a loan.
Capitalization
The addition of unpaid interest to the principal balance of a loan. When the interest is not paid as it accrues during periods of in-school status, the grace period, deferment, or forbearance, your lender may capitalize the interest. This increases the outstanding principal amount due on the loan and may cause your monthly payment amount to increase. Interest is then charged on that higher principal balance, increasing the overall cost of the loan.
Collection Agency
An entity that recovers unpaid debt from borrowers who have defaulted on their loans.
Collection Charges
See collection costs.
Collection Costs
Expenses charged on defaulted federal student loans that are added to the outstanding principal balance of the loan. These expenses can be up to 18.5 percent of the principal and interest for defaulted Direct Loans or FFEL Program loans and may exceed 18.5 percent for defaulted Federal Perkins Loans and Health and Human Service (HHS) loans.
College Aid
Financial aid from your college or career school.
Consolidation
The process of combining one or more loans into a single new loan.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The total amount it will cost you to go to school—usually stated as a yearly figure. COA includes direct costs: tuition and fees; room and board (or a housing and food allowance); and indirect cost: allowances for books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous and personal expenses.
Credit Bureau
An organization that tracks and reports your credit, including your history of paying bills and calculates your ability to repay future loans. For example, if you default on a student loan, it is reported to a credit bureau, and other lenders may be less likely to extend credit to you in the future.
D
Data Release Number (DRN)
The four-digit number assigned to your FAFSA that allows you to release your FAFSA data to schools you did not list on your original FAFSA. You need this number if you contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center to make corrections to your mailing address or the schools you listed on your FAFSA. You find this number below the confirmation number on your FAFSA submission confirmation page or in the top right-hand corner of your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Default
Failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed to in the promissory note. For most federal student loans, you will default if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days. You may experience serious legal consequences if you default.
Default Rate
The percentage of borrowers who fail to repay their loans according to the terms of their promissory notes.
Deferment
A postponement of payment on a loan that is allowed under certain conditions and during which interest does not accrue on Direct Subsidized Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. All other federal student loans that are deferred will continue to accrue interest. Any unpaid interest that accrued during the deferment period may be added to the principal balance (capitalized) of the loan(s).
Delinquent
A loan is delinquent when loan payments are not received by the due dates. A loan remains delinquent until the borrower makes up the missed payment(s) through payment, deferment, or forbearance. If the borrower is unable to make payments, he or she should contact his or her loan servicer to discuss options to keep the loan in good standing.
Dependency Status
The determination of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant as dependent or independent.
Dependent Student
A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student. An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Direct Consolidation Loan
A federal loan made by the U.S. Department of Education that allows you to combine one or more federal student loans into one new loan. As a result of consolidation, you will have to make only one payment each month on your federal loans, and the amount of time you have to repay your loan will be extended.
Direct Loan
A federal student loan, made through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, for which eligible students and parents borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education at participating schools. Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans are types of Direct Loans.
Direct PLUS Loan
A loan made by the U.S. Department of Education to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status.
Disbursed Amount
The quantity of federal student aid funds disbursed (paid out) to a student by the school. Generally, federal student aid funds are made in two or more disbursements.
Disbursement
Payment of federal student aid funds to the borrower by the school. Students generally receive their federal student loan in two or more disbursements.
Disbursement Amount
The quantity of federal student aid funds disbursed (paid out) to a student by the school. Generally, federal student aid funds are made in two or more disbursements.
Disbursement Date
Date federal student aid funds were credited to a student's account at a school or paid to the student or borrower directly, as reported by the school.
E
Electronic Debit
A service that allows your lender or servicer to electronically deduct your monthly loan payments from your checking or savings account.
Eligible Noncitizen
A U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island), U.S. permanent resident (who has an I-151, I-551 or I-551C [Permanent Resident Card]), or an individual who has an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the following designations:
· "Refugee"
· "Asylum Granted"
· "Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)"
· "Conditional Entrant" (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
· Victims of human trafficking, T-visa (T-2, T-3, or T-4, etc.) holder
· "Parolee" (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and that you intend to become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.)
If you meet the noncitizen criteria above, you are eligible to receive federal student aid. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please check with your school's financial aid office for more information.
Eligible Program
A program of organized instruction or study of a certain length that leads to an academic, professional, or vocational degree or certificate, or other recognized education credential.
Emancipated Minor
An individual (under the age of 18) who has legally been determined to be an adult by a court in his or her state of legal residence.
Endorser
An endorser is someone who does not have an adverse credit history and agrees to repay the loan if the borrower does not repay it.
Enrollment Status
Reported by the school the student attended, indicates whether the student is (or was) full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated, etc.
Entrance Counseling
A mandatory information session which takes place before you receive your first federal student loan that explains your responsibilities and rights as a student borrower.
Exit Counseling
A mandatory information session which takes place when you graduate or attend school less than half-time that explains your loan repayment responsibilities and when repayment begins.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
This is the number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. This number results from the financial information you provide in your FAFSA®, the application for federal student aid. Your EFC is reported to you on your Student Aid Report (SAR).
F
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FAFSA4caster
An online tool that provides an early estimate of your federal student aid eligibility to help you financially plan for college.
Federal School Code
An identifier that the U.S. Department of Education assigns to each college or career school that participates in the federal student aid programs. In order to send your FAFSA information to a school, you must list the school's Federal School Code on your application. A list of Federal School Codes is available at www.fafsa.gov.
Federal Student Aid
Financial aid from the federal government to help you pay for education expenses at an eligible college or career school. Grants, loans and work-study are types of federal student aid. You must complete the FAFSA to apply for this aid.
Federal Student Aid Programs
The programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that provide grants, loans and work-study funds from the federal government to eligible students enrolled in college or career school.
Federal Student Loan
A loan funded by the federal government to help pay for your education. A federal student loan is borrowed money you must repay with interest.
Federal Work-Study
A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay your education expenses.
Financial Aid Offer
The total amount of financial aid (federal and nonfederal) a student is offered by a college or career school. The school's financial aid staff combines various forms of aid into a “package” to help meet a student’s education costs.
Financial Aid Office
The office at a college or career school that is responsible for preparing and communicating information on financial aid. This office helps students apply for and receive student loans, grants, scholarships and other types of financial aid.
Financial Aid Package
The total amount of financial aid (federal and nonfederal) a student is offered by a college or career school. The school's financial aid staff combines various forms of aid into a “package” to help meet a student’s education costs.
Financial Need
The difference between the cost of attendance (COA) at a school and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). While COA varies from school to school, your EFC does not change based on the school you attend.
Forbearance
A period during which your monthly loan payments are temporarily suspended or reduced. Your lender may grant you a forbearance if you are willing but unable to make loan payments due to certain types of financial hardships. During forbearance, principal payments are postponed but interest continues to accrue. Unpaid interest that accrues during the forbearance will be added to the principal balance (capitalized) of your loan(s), increasing the total amount you owe.
Foster Care
A temporary living arrangement for dependent children when their parent(s) or another relative cannot take care of them.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FREE application used to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, loans, and work-study.
FSA ID
The FSA ID is a username and password combination that serves as a student’s or parent’s identifier to allow access to personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems and acts as a digital signature on some online forms.
G
Grace Period
A period of time after borrowers graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment where they are not required to make payments on certain federal student loans. Some federal student loans will accrue interest during the grace period, and if the interest is unpaid, it will be added to the principal balance of the loan when the repayment period begins.
Grant
Financial aid, often based on financial need, that does not need to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund).
H
Homeless
An individual is considered homeless if he or she lacks fixed, regular and adequate housing. You may be homeless if you are living in a shelter, park, motel or car, or temporarily living with other people because you have nowhere else to go. Also, if you are living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive parent you may be considered homeless when completing your FAFSA even if your parent would provide support and a place to live.
I
Independent Student
An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.Get additional information to determine your dependency status.
Interest
A loan expense charged for the use of borrowed money. Interest is paid by a borrower to a lender. The expense is calculated as a percentage of the unpaid principal amount of the loan.
Interest Rate
The percentage at which interest is calculated on your loan(s).
J
K
L
Legal Guardianship
A relationship created by court order, through which the court appoints an individual other than a minor's parent to take care of the minor. A legal guardian is not considered a parent on the student's FAFSA. In fact, a student in legal guardianship does not need to report parent information on the FAFSA because he or she is considered anindependent student.
Lender
The organization that made the loan initially; the lender could be the borrower's school; a bank, credit union, or other lending institution; or the U.S. Department of Education.
Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)
The amount of all Federal Pell Grant aid (in percentage) awarded to you, divided by the amount of Pell Grant aid you would have been eligible to receive based on full-time enrollment. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding.
Loan Date
For Direct Loans and Perkins Loans, the loan date (as listed in a student’s My Federal Student Aid record) is the date of the first disbursement. For Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, the loan date is usually the date the loan was guaranteed, or backed, by a guaranty agency.
Loan Forgiveness
The cancellation of all or some portion of your remaining federal student loan balance. If your loan is forgiven, you are no longer responsible for repaying that remaining portion of the loan.
Loan Holder
The entity that holds the loan promissory note and has the right to collect from the borrower.
Loan Period Begin Date
Date classes are (or were) scheduled to begin for the period covered by a federal student loan.
Loan Period End Date
Date classes are (or were) scheduled to end for the period covered by a federal student loan.
Loan Rehabilitation
The process of bringing a loan out of default and removing the default notation from a borrower's credit report. To rehabilitate a Direct or a FFEL Loan, the borrower must make at least nine full payments of an agreed amount within 20 days of their monthly due dates over a 10-month period. To rehabilitate a Perkins Loan, a borrower must make nine on-time, consecutive monthly payments of an agreed-upon amount. Rehabilitation terms and conditions vary for other loan types and can be obtained directly from loan holders.
Loan Servicer
A company that collects payments, responds to customer service inquiries, and performs other administrative tasks associated with maintaining a federal student loan on behalf of a lender. If you're unsure of who your federal student loan servicer is, you can look it up inMy Federal Student Aid.
M
Master Promissory Note
A binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. The MPN can be used to make one or more loans for one or more academic years (up to 10 years). It lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
N
Need-based
Based on a student's financial need. Example: A need-based grant might be awarded based on a student's low income.
Net Price
An estimate of the actual cost that a student and his family need to pay in a given year to cover education expenses for the student to attend a particular school. Net price is determined by taking the institution's cost of attendance and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible.
Net Price Calculator
A tool that allows current and prospective students, families, and other consumers to estimate the net price of attending a particular college or career school.
New Borrower
Someone who has no outstanding balance on a Direct Loan or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loan when he or she receives a Direct Loan or FFEL Program loan on or after a specific date.
O
Out-of-state Student
A student who is attending a college or career school outside of his or her state of legal residence.
Outstanding Interest
Interest is a loan expense charged for the use of borrowed money. Interest is paid by a borrower to a lender. (Generally, a loan servicer collects payment for the lender.) The expense is calculated as a percentage of the unpaid principal amount of the loan. Outstanding interest is the dollar value of the accrued interest balance on a loan.
Outstanding Principal
The remaining portion of the original loan amount, plus any interest that has been capitalized, that is still owed. Interest accrues on the outstanding principal balance.
Overpayment
The disbursement of more federal student aid funds to a student than he or she is eligible to receive. A student’s overpayment alert inMy Federal Student Aid will let him or her know whom to contact to resolve the aid overpayment.
P
PLUS Loan
A loan available to graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status.
Principal
The total sum of money borrowed plus any interest that has been capitalized.
Private Loan
A nonfederal loan made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or school.
Promissory Note
The binding legal document that you must sign when you get a federal student loan. It lists the terms and conditions under which you agree to repay the loan and explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
Q
R
Regular Student
A student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an institution for the purpose of obtaining a degree, certificate, or other recognized education credential offered by that institution. To be eligible for federal student aid, you must generally be a regular student.
Remaining Amount
The portion of a grant that a school expects to disburse to a student for the remainder of the year.
Repayment Date
Date an overpayment is fully paid back.
Room and Board
An allowance for the cost of housing and food while attending college or career school.
S
Satisfactory Academic Progress
A school’s standards for satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate offered by that institution. Check with your school to find out its standards.
State Aid
Financial aid from a student's state of legal residence.
Status Effective Date
The date a current loan status became effective.
Student Aid Report (SAR)
A summary of the information you submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You receive this report (often called the SAR) via e-mail a few days after your FAFSA has been processed or by mail within 7-10 days if you did not provide an e-mail address. If there are no corrections or additional information you must provide, the SAR will contain your EFC, which is the number that's used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid.
Subsidized Loan
A loan based on financial need for which the federal government pays the interest that accrues while the borrower is in an in-school, grace, or deferment status. For Direct Subsidized Loans first disbursed between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2014, the borrower will be responsible for paying any interest that accrues during the grace period. If the interest is not paid during the grace period, the interest will be added to the loan’s principal balance.
T
Total Borrowed
The total amount of a loan that was disbursed (paid out) to a borrower.
Transfer Rate
The percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.
U
Unsubsidized Loan
A loan for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status. Interest on unsubsidized loans accrues from the date of disbursement and continues throughout the life of the loan.
V
Verification
The process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA is accurate. Your school has the authority to contact you for documentation that supports income and other information that you reported.
W
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
The federal program that provides loans to eligible student and parent borrowers under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Funds are provided by the federal government to eligible borrowers through participating schools.
Work-Study
A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay your education expenses.
X
Y
Z
