The 2024-25 FAFSA will be released in December 2023 (not in October as it usually is) Changes to the FAFSA include: -Anyone providing information on the FAFSA will need an FSA ID - Contributors to the FAFSA will need to provide consent to have federal tax information directly transferred to the FAFSA. -Students can add up to 20 colleges on the application. Up to 10 on the PDF/paper application Start preparing and if you do not have one create your FSA ID by visiting Create Account | Federal Student Aid The links below will take you to the FSA (Federal Student Aid) off the USDE. You can find more information on the updates and the PowerPoint, which walks you through the FAFSA changes and pages to help you prepare for filling out the FAFSA. FAFSA Updates | Federal Student Aid - Financial Aid Toolkit 2024–25 FAFSA Form Preview Presentation | Knowledge Center

When talking with colleges, you may hear the phrase Aid Year. The Aid Year starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. For example, July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022, is considered the 21-22 AY. July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023, is considered the 22-23 AY. On July 1st of each year, FAFSA begins using the next FAFSA application. · If a student is starting classes in September of 2023, the student will want to complete the 22-23 FAFSA. · If a student is starting classes in June of 2022, the student will use the 21-22 FAFSA results to assist with funding options. The 22-23 FAFSA is usually available to fill out by January. For example, in January of 2022, a student will be able to complete the 22-23 FAFSA application. An Academic Year (also AY) usually runs from July 1st to June 30th as well.

Financial Aid is any form of funding that you are not paying for yourself. Examples: Federal financial aid, employer tuition reimbursement, military benefits, scholarships, grants FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the application to apply for federal financial aid There is no fee to apply for financial aid (“FREE” is right in the title). Many websites exist to assist students with applying for FAFSA, and they often charge a fee, you can complete FAFSA without these services. The correct web page is www.FAFSA.gov. Completing the FAFSA does NOT mean that you have accepted and are taking out a student loan or accepting a grant. The FAFSA application is used to determine if and what you are eligible for relating to financial aid. Helpful hints (Common Mistakes): · COMPLETE THE ENTIRE APPLICATION · Get your FSA ID in advance · Fill out your FAFSA with or without your completed taxes · Check for FAFSA deadlines within the state, school, and FAFSA · Read the question and answer what is being asked, if you are not sure the question is asking for ASK · List more than one college · Use the IRS Retrieval Tool if available to you · SIGN THE FAFSA Use the DRT - IRS Data Retrieval Took to transfer your tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA application. This is an opportunity that most students are eligible to use and may reduce the amount of paperwork you will need to submit to a school. Using this tool will also ensure that the right information makes it into the correct answer boxes. USE THIS IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE! 8 Steps to Completing the FAFSA® Form – Federal Student Aid Eligibility Requirements | Federal Student Aid 15 Myths We’re Busting About the FAFSA® Process – Federal Student Aid

Yes, you need to get an FSA ID. Your FSA ID is used to access your financial aid information, including completing/signing the FAFSA. Page for FSA ID: Create an FSA ID – Create Account | FSA ID Make sure to save your FSA ID because you will use it again. Your FSA ID replaced the pin number used to sign your FAFSA. This is linked to your social security number, name, and DOB. If you are a dependent student and your parent's information is required on the FAFSA, they will need their own FSA ID. Create your FSA ID before you complete the FAFSA to give your FSA ID time to become active (it generally takes 3-5 days).

FAFSA will ask a series of questions to determine if a student is a dependent or independent student. An example of an independent student is if a student is over the age of 24, married, has a child or children, or was a ward of the court at age 13 or older, military status (active/veteran) An independent student does not require a parent/guardian to answer questions on the FAFSA application. A dependent student will need a parent/guardian to complete the information on the FAFSA application. The amount of student loans and grant information can also vary based on dependency status. Completing the dependency section of the FAFSA is required each time you complete the FAFSA and will be the determining factor. Dependency Status | Federal Student Aid

Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans (DSL), UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY** - For Undergraduate students ONLY with financial need - DOES NOT ACCRUE INTEREST WHILE IN SCHOOL, DEFERMENT, or GRACE PERIOD - When interest is accruing, it will continue to accrue until the loan is paid off Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (DUL) - For Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students - INEREST BEGINS TO ACCRUE ONCE LOAN IS DISBURSED - Interest continually accrues until the loan is paid off Both DSL and DUL Loans - Loan fee determined by the amount of the loan - Borrower (the student) is responsible to pay off the interest accrued on all loans - The HEI determines the borrowing amount allowed based on FAFSA results and COA Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans | Federal Student Aid Graduate students are eligible for Direct PLUS loans - May assist with paying remaining COA Grad PLUS loans | Federal Student Aid

Military funding, eligibility, and transferability will vary by individual. Below you will find some resources to help identify different types of funding. First is the link for the VA education and training benefits page. You will want to refer to your VA account to find out what you are eligible. For specific questions you will want to talk with someone at the VA to address your questions. VA Education And Training Benefits | Veterans Affairs The resources below may help answering additional questions about military funding and military tuition assistance programs. Aid for Military Families | Federal Student Aid Military Tuition Assistance Programs (igrad.com) Remember to check or ask the HEI you are interested in attending to find out if they offer any type of military tuition discount. Thank you for your service! (Photo from Microsoft Bing)

Am I eligible for the Pell Grant? Pell grant eligibility is for undergraduate students who meet the financial need. Completing the FAFSA determines if you are eligible for the Pell grant. Do you have to repay the Pell grant? Repay any grant? If you complete your academic year, you should not have to repay a Pell grant. There are situations when you could be required to pay back a grant. Example: Withdraw from school before completing the expectations of the grant (i.e. Completing expected course work/semester) Other grants and work study options are available to help with tuition costs. Each one will involve its own expectations so be sure to read about the funding prior to accepting and make sure you understand the long-term expectations. How much will I get in Pell funding? The Expected Family Contribution, EFC, (found at the end of the completed FAFSA) will determine how much you are eligible in Pell funding. If the EFC is over $6,656 you will not be eligible for Pell funding. 2023-2024 Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules | Knowledge Center What is the maximum amount of Pell I can receive? One of the hardest things to understand about federal funding is that it can be different for each student. Every student’s journey in college is different and the financial path is no different. I will do my best to explain. The maximum amount of Pell funding a student can receive is 600%, yes I said percent. I mentioned this can be confusing right? Hopefully, the example below will help. I am going to use round numbers to make this a little easier to understand. (Maximum Pell for one year is $7,395. And remember an AY is Aid Year/Academic Year) When a student accepts all the Pell grant offered for one AY, $7,395, the student has used 100% of the Pell grant offering. 2023-2024 Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules | Knowledge Center If this student uses 100% of the Pell grant offering every year of his/her undergraduate degree if the student completes the undergraduate degree program (ex: Bachelor’s degree) in 4 years, the student will use 400% of the Pell he/she is offered. Calculating Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used | Federal Student Aid

Scholarships are another form of college funding that does not have to be paid back. However, every scholarship is different and therefore could have different expectations. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scholarship scams out there so be careful what type of information you give out. iGrad has a ton of information and videos to help identify scholarship and financial aid scams, might be worth it to sign up! iGrad: Financial Literacy and Career Resources Scholarship web pages · Paying for school just got easier | Fastweb Scholarships.com Search Free College Scholarships Financial Aid Grants Scholarships College Scholarship Free Scholarships

FAFSA Yes, parents will complete and use the FSA ID to sign each FAFSA completed for their child/children. HOWEVER, once the parent completes the FAFSA for one child (using the FSA ID) parents will be eligible to transfer the input information to another child/children’s FAFSA. The FAFSA confirmation page will provide a parent with the opportunity for this transfer. Therefore, parents will use the parent’s option on the FAFSA to sign in, fill in the information (including tax information), use the FSA ID to sign the FAFSA for your child/children. 8 Easy Steps for Parents Completing the FAFSA® Form – Federal Student Aid Parent PLUS loan Parents, if your child/children are not offered enough to assist with covering the cost of attendance (COA) you may apply for a Parent PLUS loan. This loan would only be enough to cover the outstanding costs of the COA. Approved: You decide if you want to accept this loan, or you can decide not to take out the loan. Denied: If you are denied the Parent PLUS loan your child may be eligible for additional funding equal to the loan amount of an independent student. Federal Student Loans Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents (studentaid.gov) Parents | Federal Student Aid - Financial Aid Toolkit (USDE) Do Parent PLUS Loans Affect Your Credit Score? - Experian Why You Should Apply For A Parent PLUS Loan, Even If You Have Poor Credit – Forbes Advisor

Do I have to replay my student loans? YES! YES! YES! If you are going to be taking out any type of student loan, you will be required to pay this back. After you complete the FAFSA and have identified your eligibility, if you decide to accept a loan, you will complete entrance counseling (EC) and sign a master promissory note (MPN). Entrance counseling will review loan and repayment information, and the MPN is the document you will sign to identify that you understand you will be repaying this loan. And, YES, you must pay back student loans! To learn more about student loans and repayments, visit: Manage Loans | Federal Student Aid Just in case you missed it…YES, you must pay back student loans!😉

Deciding to attend college or higher education is the first step. For most deciding on higher education is related to the career that the individual wants to have. Identifying which higher education institution offers the program, you will need is a big part of the decision on where to attend school. Unfortunately, there is not one specific order to assist in deciding where to attend college. There are many different steps you can start with. Make a list of all the topics and questions you have and start asking. Example of Considerations for deciding on Higher Education: finance (FAFSA), room/board, tuition costs, graduation rates, transfer credits (returning students), online vs. ground campus

Many of these questions can be asked for all students regardless of the type of institution, student, or degree program you are interested in. However, some questions will be more specific based on these same criteria? If you decide to take a tour of the campus, remember that the tour guide will likely not be able to answer EVERY question that you have. What this individual may be able to do is point you in the direction of who can answer your questions. HEI Questions Overall What is your graduation rate? What are the average class sizes? Can I take ground and online classes? Can I double major at your institution? What are your career services like? What is your accreditation? Is there an opportunity for internships or research programs? Does the HEI provide guidance on if and when I should look into applying for internships? Is there/what is the Wi-Fi like on campus? What are the hours of facilities on campus? Library? Dining hall? IT center? Administration building? Advisors? What makes this college different? Why is it unique? What is the role of the SAT scores? What is the role of the GPA? Can you provide any advice for the admissions process? Financial Questions Does your institution accept financial aid? If so, what is the average amount of funding per student? Does your HEI offer scholarship opportunities? Where would I find them? What types of scholarships/grants does your HEI accept? Is there a work-study option? What does the average rate of tuition increase look like over the last few years? How often does tuition increase? Is there anything needed other than to complete the FAFSA? What is the average balance owed after a student graduates? What types of need-based financial aid is offered? Academic Questions What is the interaction like between student and faculty? Are classes all large or small? What they of academic support for retention (classroom success) is offered? Do faculty members offer office hours? Is it easy to speak with faculty members? Is there a tutoring center on campus? Is there help to get a tutor? How difficult is it to schedule the courses needed/wanted for my major? Is there a capstone course or exam during my senior year? Are there group projects in every class? What is the average amount of group projects? Do the classroom structures reflect lecture or discussion-based environments? Do all students have an advisor assigned? (academic? finance? career?) What is the expectation of student and coursework outside the classroom? Do I have to write a thesis or complete a senior project? Graduation & Career Outlook What is the 4-year graduation rate? 5-year graduation rate? 6-year graduation rate? Beyond? What are the expectations if I want to complete my program within 4 years? Is there a trend to factors that would keep me from completing my program in 4 years? What are the career services offered on campus? Is there job placement available? If so, what is the job placement rate? How many students graduate with the bachelor's and move on for a graduate/doctorate program? What is the percentage of students who work in their field of study? Living on Campus What are the dorms like? Shared bathrooms? Lounges? Dining halls? What is the percentage of students living on campus? Freshman? Sophomore? Junior? Senior? Are dorms specifically assigned for a specific class of student? For example is a dorm only for freshmen? Are there RA's (resident advisor) for each floor? How are roommates assigned? Can I request a roommate? What is the food like and what type of food is served in the dining hall? How do I pay for this? Do students usually get along with their assigned roommates? If not, can I request a change? What is the expectation for food when dietary restrictions are involved? Are there any social events planned for freshmen? Or throughout the campus? Do Not be afraid to ask personal questions! Here are some examples to get you started! How do they like the college? What was the most helpful resource during their first year at the HEI? What is surprising about the campus? If you could change anything about the HEI what would it be? Where do you find the best place to study is? What is your advice for a student transitioning to this HEI?

If you are unsure which major, you want to study start with identifying what career path you are on. If you want to be a counselor, then you would not major in economics. Just as if you wanted to work in the finance field you would not take counseling classes. Career searching can be difficult if you do not have any idea where to start. Here are some ideas to get you started. ONET Online ONET is a job searching web page that allows you to view many facts about different career directions. You can read information about salary, hours, work environment, what type of technology you might use daily, and much more. You can do searches by occupation, job type, they even have a section called “I want to be a…” this will take you to 3 options: I want to be a…, I’ll know it when I see it…, and I’m not really sure which takes you to a career test that might help point you in the right direction. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) This is a great career shopping web page! A lot of similar information found on ONET; however, it is more descriptive. Even has a section for jobs called “how to become one” which provides background information on what educational and professional backgrounds needed for that career. If you need a certificate, you can locate more information on that as well.

Job placement is when a higher educational institution assists students in connections with employers. Recruitment for certain companies, the basis is to help a student find employment after graduation. Career Tools are tools that HEI's provide to assist students with finding employment upon graduation. **Not all HEI's offer job placement or career tools. **

The most basic answer is that accreditation is the quality assurance review of higher education institutions to ensure that the education being provided by an institution meets acceptable standards and quality. The accreditation process involves both self-review and peer review for institutions to account for academic quality and public accountability. The USDE (U.S. Department of Education) and CHEA (Council for Higher Education and Accreditation) are great resources to learn more about accreditation, accrediting bodies, and which higher educational institutions are accredited. What College Accreditation Changes Mean for Students (USDE) About Accreditation | Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) The higher education institution (HEI) is accredited by an accreditation agency/commission and the accrediting agency/commission is then recognized by the USDE and/or CHEA. Example: Arizona State University (ASU) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the HLC is recognized by USDE and CHEA. Beware of Diploma Mills and Accreditation. Diploma Mills and Accreditation - Diploma Mills (USDE) Degree & Accreditation Mills | Council for Higher Education Accreditation (chea.org) ***If an institution is not accredited find out why to ensure the quality of education, transferability, and ability to gain employment with a diploma issued from the institution. ***

Institutional Accreditation - is a comprehensive quality assurance review that reviews and accredits an entire institution, including regional and national accrediting agencies. Regional Accreditation - is a comprehensive quality assurance review that accredits an institution found within a specific region of the United States. Oftentimes state universities, colleges, and community/junior colleges. (see 'What are the regional accrediting bodies for colleges?' to see the 7 regional accrediting bodies) National Accreditation - is a comprehensive quality assurance review that accredits institutions focused on career or faith-based programs. Programmatic Accreditation - is an accreditation of a specific program at an accredited institution. The programs are oftentimes professional fields that look positively on specific programs in a field of study. Example: If you want to become a licensed counselor or therapist the job description &/or required qualifications might state that the individual must have completed the counseling coursework through a CACREP accredited program. CHEA - Find Accredited Higher Education Institutions & Programs (Database and Directories of higher educational institutions, programs, and accrediting agencies) Do not be surprised if someone states that their institution has regional &/or institutional accreditation. These terms can often be substituted for each other.

If you want to attend an accredited institution for college, you want to make sure your institution is accredited by one of the regional accrediting bodies below. Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Middle States Commissions of Higher Education (MSCHE) New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) Norwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) The USDE and CHEA provide links to further confirm the validity of accreditation for the institution and recognition for the accrediting agency. DAPIP | Homepage (ed.gov) (USDE search link) CHEA - Find Accredited Higher Education Institutions & Programs (search link)

It is STRONGLY recommended that a student attends a college, university, or higher education institution that is accredited. For universities this often means regional accreditation. Certain career fields, such as counseling, often require a student to attend an accredited institution that also has programmatic accreditation. To identify if you need to have programmatic accreditation it is best to research jobs and identify the requirements for that position. Using career searching tools, such as BLS and ONet can also assist with identify specific requirements for specific positions. Example: If you want to become a counselor/therapist, you will likely need to attend a college that is regionally accredited and a program that is accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). Example: If you want to become a physical therapist, you may need to attend a regionally accredited college and graduate from a program that is accredited by the ASPA (Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors).

1. MAKE IT TO CLASS - SET YOUR ALARM Setting your alarm likely seems pretty obvious, but the most important part about the alarm is to NOT HIT SNOOZE. Yes, hitting snooze once is ok, but do not get into the habit of hitting snooze 2, 3, 6 times. Do not shut off your alarm unless you are out of bed. You do not want to turn it off and then wake up 4 hours later having missed 2 classes. 2. HOW DO I STUDY BEST Everyone learns differently and that applies to studying as well. Some people have to study in the silence of the library. Some people study outside under the perfect tree. Some people want to be in their room with the music blaring (not recommended for maximum retention of material). For some people it is a combination of all three or maybe something completely different. Figure out the way you study best and manage your time accordingly. Just remember to be respectful of all the other students who are also studying. 3. STUDY BUDDY OR GROUP Finding a study buddy or group is a great way to remain accountable for your studying. What is great about both of these options is that you do not all have to be studying the same topic or in the same classes. Perhaps you hit it off with someone in the cafeteria, but you do not have any of the same classes, or different instructors. That's ok, figure out times to set aside during the week, meet up and study. Studying does not have to be solitary, yes you will be studying different topics, but you can still enjoy the company and the peace of mind knowing you are not the only one hitting the books. This the perfect person(s) to quiz you when your test is coming up and remind you that "You got this". 4. CALENDAR You might be taking 4, 5, or 6 classes, some might be taking more than that. You are not expected to remember every due date. This is the reason for a syllabus. Each course should have a syllabus that provides you with the breakdown of each week during your course/semester. Most syllabi will provide you with all your readings, assignments, descriptions, and due dates. Take this information, for each class, and put them in one place like a calendar. If you like a day planner great, if you want a monthly calendar perfect, and if you want to add all this into your phone calendar that works too. Whatever works best for you to keep track. Whatever you decide to do make sure that you are up to date and check this calendar often. 5. MANAGE YOUR TIME When you are on campus, especially during your first year, you are the one setting your schedule. No one is reminding you to do your homework, or to get up. It is time for you to take responsibility for your schedule. Set aside time during the week for classes and studying, this is why you are attending college. Stick to your schedule, it is very easy to find something else to do, especially if you are living on campus. But stick to your schedule so you do not find yourself pulling all-nighters all the time. If you manage your time well, you should have time to complete all your work and have some fun along the way. 6. GET HELP WHEN NEEDED If you find that you are NEVER willing to speak up during class or answer any questions, why is that? Are your assignments taking an extraordinarily long time to complete? Perhaps you need additional help. Speak with your instructors for recommendations or reach out to your advisors and inquire about a tutor. You do not want to fall behind. If you can stay on top of your work, you can find yourself completing a successful semester. 7. SLEEP, RELAX, AND HAVE FUN Some of you might be thinking this is a typo, it is not. Sleep is SO important to anyone's success. Your mind needs to shut down and rest. Sleep can help with alleviating stress and keep your mind sharp and ready to take in even more information. And yes, having fun. Set time aside to enjoy the football game, or meeting your friends for dinner, or playing sand volleyball. Find activities that you enjoy and give yourself a chance to clear your mind. Put this time on your calendar if you need to so that you get the most of your years on the college campus.

1. SHOWING UP! Yes, you need to SHOW UP FOR CLASS. Yes, you are in college now and getting your first glimpse into independence, but you still need to make it to class. Do not snooze your alarm (maybe once), get up and hit campus and make it to class. It is true that many classes may not take attendance, do not see this as an invitation to miss class. This is your first test to responsibility. 2. PARTICIPATE IN CLASS What better way to show that you understand the material than to take part in the classroom conversation. When your instructor asks for thoughts share yours! Do not be afraid to speak up and share your interpretations and inspire others to do the same. Class will bring so much more meaning when you begin to understand the material and discuss how it affects each of you. 3. TAKE NOTES It is very common for people to say they are going to remember what was said during class, it is very rare to remember everything. Take notes that help you understand the material being discussed. Take notes in a way that allows you retain and study later. If color helps you, try some colored highlighters or pens. If you prefer to have notecards to separate your topics, then bring those with you. If you would rather record the lecture so you can focus on the here-and-now, make sure your instructor is ok with that. Just ensure that you are keeping track of the topics and information obtained, it is something you could see again on a test or when you are writing a paper. 4. ASK QUESTIONS Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you are feeling information overload and you need something repeated to ensure that you are notating this correctly, ask. Chances are there is at least one other person in class who will be happy you did. 5. FIND A GOOD SEAT The best seat is not always in the back, it might not be in the front, it is where you can concentrate on the material being presented during class. Find a seat that allows you to focus on the instructor and what is occurring in the class. If you find yourself sitting next to someone(s) who tends to be a bit chatty and distracting during class, change your seat next time. 6. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SYLLABUS Consider your syllabus your lifeline. It has all the important due dates, instructor contact information, reading materials, and office hours. Print this out and keep it handy. Mark completed assignments off when you complete them and turn them in. Always know what is coming next so that you can plan your day, weeks, months, and semesters. Yes, you might run into to some pop-quizzes, but the syllabus gives you all the answers to the question: When is my next assignment due or when is my next test. 7. REVIEW YOUR RETURNED ASSIGNMENTS When you get your work back review the test, paper, or homework and make sure that you understand your grade. Identify what you could have done differently to ensure that you make the changes needed moving forward. If you are struggling to understand the errors on the assignment schedule a time with your instructor during office hours to review your work and see what you can do better next time. Never give up! You can do this! Set yourself up for success and take advantage of the classroom environment!

This is self-explanatory. DO NOT PUT YOUR WORK OFF. Yes, you need to manage your time, but do not find yourself with one day to study for a test or write a paper. The syllabus is your key to the semester. Use your calendar to track everything and STICK TO YOUR SCHEDULE. If you make mistakes on a paper, you might lose some points, but if you do not turn it in, you are guaranteed to lose all the points. You have a syllabus with all the due dates therefore you should not expect a lot of empathy if you do not turn anything in. If you are in a club or have a part-time job managing your time well and not procrastinating can help you balance your time successfully.

A career HEI often focuses on technical, vocational, and licensure programs. Career HEI’s can be an institution that only offers the career focused certificate or licensure. Universities, colleges, and community colleges may also offer programs that lead to certificates or licensure. The programs can be part of a university’s degree program or can be an independent certificate or licensure allowing an individual to focus only on the one area of focus instead of an entire degree program. Oftentimes (not always) career focused HEI’s do not offer degree programs at the bachelor, master, or doctoral levels. Examples of Career focused programs include: · IT Certifications (CompTIA A+, CCNA, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Java Script) · Cosmetology (Nail technician, Barber, Cosmetologist, Beautician) · HVAC · Project Management Professional (PMP) · Healthcare Technician (EKG, Radiological, CMA, CNA, Pharmacy) · Medical Coding and Billing To review the steps for a specific role remember to visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), search the BLS for the career you are interested in and review the Occupational Outlook Handbook Section titled “How to Become One”.

AY (Award or Academic Year) – An AY begins July 1st and ends on June 30th of every year. Ex: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, is the 22-23 AY. Award Year – a 12-month period during which a student uses financial aid. Traditionally this starts on July 1st and ends on June 30th. COA (Cost of Attendance) – expenses related to attending an HEI, including tuition, books, fees, supplies, room/board, and other expenses. Deferment – A student loan deferment allows a student to pause making payments on their student loans while they are attending a HEI. Dependent Student - is a student that does not qualify for independent status and will include parental information when completing the FAFSA. EFC (Expected Family Contribution) – is determined by FAFSA and is the measure used to understand what a student’s family can contribute to the student’s education. The EFC is used to determine what the student is eligible for in financial aid (including Pell grant). FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – the application a student will complete to identify if and what a student is eligible for in federal financial aid (including federal student loans, Pell & state grants, and eligible scholarships). Federal Financial Aid – federal financial aid is funding that students use to pay for school that is issued after completing a FAFSA and is issued from the government. FA (Federal Financial Aid) – FA is any form of funding that assists a student with paying for a HEI, this does not include funding that the student has personally contributed. FSA ID (Federal Student Aid Identification) – FSA ID is the username and password that an individual will create to log into federal funding web pages such as FAFSA and studentaid.gov. Grace period – the grace period is the timeframe in which a student does not have to make payments on their student loans and is not in school. Ex: when a student completes a degree the student will have a 6-month grace period before they need to begin making payments. Check the Blog for more examples. Graduate or Professional Student– a student who has earned a bachelor’s degree and is working towards additional education in a specific field of study. A professional student is often a student who is attending law school or business school and a graduate student will oftentimes require a thesis to be completed in the program. HEI (Higher Education Institution) – an institution that offers education programs after completing a high school degree. Ex: College, University, Technical school, trade school, etc. In-School – represents a student who is currently attending classes at least part-time. Independent Student – a student who only needs to report their own information (if married, will also include spousal information). SAR (Student Aid Report) – the SAR’s document allows a student to see the information that was provided on the FAFSA and will reflect a student’s EFC number and eligibility. Undergraduate Student – A student who is working towards their bachelor’s degree.