Cost of Attendance (COA): Generally, this includes the tuition and fees normally assessed a student, together with the institution's estimate of the cost of, food and housing, transportation and commuting costs, books and supplies and miscellaneous personal expenses. In addition, student loan fees, dependent care, reasonable costs for a study abroad or cooperative education program, and/or costs related to a disability might be included, when appropriate. Also referred to as "cost of education" or "budget."
Commuter Student: A student who does not live on campus; typically, "commuter" refers to a student living at home with his or her parents.
Dependent Student: A student who does not qualify as an independent student and whose parental income and asset information is used in calculating an Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index (depending on year).
Direct Costs: Educational costs billed by the university to the student and paid directly to the university, such as tuition, fees, on-campus housing and meal plans.
Enrollment Status: Indication of total credits scheduled for an enrollment period and whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time. Some financial aid is reduced or not available at less than full-time enrollment.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): The amount a student and his or her family are expected to pay toward the student's cost of attendance, as calculated by a Congressionally-mandated formula known as Federal Methodology. The EFC is used to determine a student's eligibility for the student financial assistance programs. EFC is only applicable for years 2023-24 and earlier. For 2024-25 calculations, see Student Aid Index (SAI).
Federal Direct Loan: Long term, low-interest loans administered by the Department of Education and institutions. There are two forms, subsidized and unsubsidized. Unsubsidized loans can be used to replace EFC or SAI (depending on year) and they require students to pay interest on these loans, whereas the government pays the interest on a subsidized loan while the student is in school, during a six-month grace period after graduation and during any deferment periods.
Fees: The price charged by a university to all of its students for various services, other than general rendering of educational services, at the time of registration or through the normal billing process. Included in this category are activity fees, student union fees, academic support fees, instructional equipment fees, etc.
Financial Aid Offer Notification: A means of notifying successful financial aid applicants of the assistance being offered. The notification usually provides information on the types and amounts of aid offered, as well as specific program information, student responsibilities and the conditions that govern the award. Award information also is available on each university’s Student Self-Service web site.
Financial Aid Package: Includes any aid such as grants, scholarships, loans and work-study offered to the student to assist in the funding of his/her education.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The financial aid application document completed by the student, and the student's parents if applicable, that collects household and financial information. The FAFSA is the foundation document for all federal need analysis, as well as for determination for eligibility for the Pennsylvania State Grant.
FAFSA Submission Summary: The official notification of the results of processing the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.). Provides basic information about the applicant’s eligibility for federal financial aid. The FAFSA Submission Summary replaced the Student Aid Report (SAR) beginning in the 2024-25 year.
Gift Aid: Financial aid that is not repaid, such as scholarships and grants.
Grant: A type of financial aid that does not have to be repaid; usually awarded on the basis of need, possibly combined with some skills or characteristics the student possesses.
Housing: The charges for living in university housing. Rates might vary based on occupancy and style of housing.
Independent Student: A student who qualifies as an independent student and whose parental income and asset information is not used in calculating an Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index (depending on year). The FAFSA provides detailed information on what constitutes an independent student.
Indirect Costs: Educational costs incurred by the student not paid directly to the university, such as books, transportation and personal expenses.
Loan: An advance of funds requiring the recipient to repay the specified amount(s) under prescribed conditions.
Master Promissory Note (MPN): A legally binding document required to be signed by all federal student loan recipients, by which the borrower promises to repay the student loan. It also explains the rights and responsibilities of the borrower. A student completes an MPN only once: prior to receiving his/her first loan.
Meal Plan: The charge for meals provided through university dining services, for a specified number of days or meals per week. The student chooses the most appropriate meal plan for his/her needs. Most meal plans include a specified amount of dollars (“flex” dollars) that can be spent in nontraditional dining venues.
Need: The difference between the Cost of Attendance and the Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index (depending on year).
Pennsylvania Resident: A person domiciled—where one intends to reside permanently or indefinitely and does in fact so reside—in Pennsylvania; thus, eligible for in-state tuition.
Private/Alternative Loans: Banks, credit unions and other private lending institutions might have a variety of loan options available to students and/or their families that do not rely on completion of the FAFSA or that provide additional lending capabilities beyond the limits of the federal loan programs.
Student Aid Index: The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that is used in the federal need analysis calculation on the FAFSA to determine how much financial aid an applicant is eligible for. The SAI replaced the EFC beginning with the 2024-25 year. The change in name from ‘Expected Family Contribution’ to ‘Student Aid Index’ helps to clarify that the number is an eligibility index, not an actual determination of the total amount that an applicant will need to pay to attend college.
Student Aid Report (SAR): The official notification of the results of processing the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.). The Student Aid Report is only applicable for years 2023-24 and earlier. For 2024-25 information, see FAFSA Submission Summary.
Scholarship: Gift aid that might or might not be based on need but is awarded typically through a competitive process that might include other factors such as academic performance, athletic ability, special talents or affiliation with a particular organization or group. Scholarships are not repaid.
Title IV School Code: When you fill out the FAFSA you need to supply the Title IV Code for each school to which you are applying.
Tuition: The price charged or listed for rendering educational services.
Unmet Need: The Cost of Attendance, less Expected Family Contribution or Student Aid Index (depending on year), less all awarded financial aid that does not need to be repaid.