- All definitions related to the Financial Aid Section can be found on the
Financial Aid Definition's Page.
- Items preceded by an asterisk (*) represent definitions agreed
to among publishers which do not appear on the CDS document but
may be present on individual publisher’s surveys.
- *Academic advisement:
- Plan under which each student is assigned to a faculty member
or a trained adviser, who, through regular meetings, helps the
student plan and implement immediate and long-term academic and
vocational goals.
- Accelerated program:
- Completion of a college program of study in fewer than the
usual number of years, most often by attending summer sessions
and carrying extra courses during the regular academic term.
- Admitted student:
- Applicant who is offered admission to a degree-granting program
at your institution.
- *Adult student services:
- Admission assistance, support, orientation, and other services
expressly for adults who have started college for the first time,
or who are re-entering after a lapse of a few years.
- American Indian or Alaska native:
- A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
North America and who maintains cultural identification through
tribal affiliation or community recognition.
- Applicant (first-time, first year):
- An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements
to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving
of the application fee, if any) and who has been notified of
one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement
on waiting list, or application withdrawn (by applicant or institution).
- Application fee:
- That amount of money that an institution charges for processing
a student’s application for acceptance. This amount is not
creditable toward tuition and required fees, nor is it refundable
if the student is not admitted to the institution.
- Asian or Pacific Islander:
- A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or Pacific
Islands. This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine
Islands, American Samoa, India, and Vietnam.
- Associate degree:
- An award that normally requires at least two but less than
four years of full-time equivalent college work.
- Bachelor’s degree:
- An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined
by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that normally
requires at least four years but not more than five years
of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes ALL
bachelor’s degrees conferred in a five-year cooperative
(work-study plan) program. (A cooperative plan provides for alternate
class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government;
thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with
their college studies.) Also, it includes bachelor’s degrees
in which the normal four years of work are completed in three
years.
- Black, non-Hispanic:
- A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups
of Africa (except those of Hispanic origin).
- Board (charges):
- Assume average cost for 19 meals per week or the maximum
meal plan.
- Books and supplies (costs):
- Average cost of books and supplies. Do not include unusual
costs for special groups of students (e.g., engineering or art
majors), unless they constitute the majority of students at your
institution.
- Calendar system:
- The method by which an institution structures most of its
courses for the academic year.
- *Career and placement services:
- A range of services, including (often) the following: coordination
of visits of employers to campus; aptitude and vocational testing;
interest inventories, personal counseling; help in resume writing,
interviewing, launching the job search; listings for those students
desiring employment and those seeking permanent positions; establishment
of a permanent reference folder; career resource materials
- Carnegie units:
- One year of study or the equivalent in a secondary school
subject.
- Certificate:
- See Postsecondary award, certificate,
or diploma.
- Class rank:
- The relative numerical position of a student in his or her
graduating class, calculated by the high school on the basis
of grade-point average, whether weighted or unweighted.
- College-preparatory program:
- Courses in academic subjects (English, history and social
studies, foreign languages, mathematics, science, and the arts)
that stress preparation for college or university study.
- Common Application:
- The standard application form distributed by the National
Association of Secondary School Principals for a large number
of private colleges who are members of the Common Application
Group.
- *Community service program:
- Referral center for students wishing to perform volunteer
work in the community or participate in volunteer activities
coordinated by academic departments.
- Commuter:
- A student who lives off campus in housing that is not owned
by, operated by, or affiliated with the college. This category
includes students who commute from home and students who have
moved to the area to attend college.
- Contact hour:
- A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction
given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
- Continuous basis (for program enrollment):
- A calendar system classification that is used by institutions
that enroll students at any time during the academic year. For
example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might
allow students to enroll and begin studies at various times,
with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
- Cooperative housing:
- College-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing in which
students share room and board expenses and participate in household
chores to reduce living expenses.
- Cooperative (work-study plan) program:
- A program that provides for alternate class attendance and
employment in business, industry, or government.
- *Counseling service:
- Activities designed to assist students in making plans and
decisions related to their education, career, or personal development.
- Credit:
- Recognition of attendance or performance in an instructional
activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient
toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or
other formal award.
- Credit course:
- A course that, if successfully completed, can be applied
toward the number of courses required for achieving a degree,
diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
- Credit hour:
- A unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction
over a 15-week period in a semester or trimester system or a
10-week period in a quarter system. It is applied toward the
total number of hours needed for completing the requirements
of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
- Cross-registration:
- A system whereby students enrolled at one institution may
take courses at another institution without having to apply to
the second institution.
- Deferred admission:
- The practice of permitting admitted students to postpone
enrollment, usually for a period of one academic term or one
year.
- Degree:
- An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary
education institution as official recognition for the successful
completion of a program of studies.
- Degree-seeking students:
- Students enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized
by the institution as seeking a degree or formal award. At the
undergraduate level, this is intended to include students enrolled
in vocational or occupational programs.
- Differs by program (calendar system):
- A calendar system classification that is used by institutions
that have occupational/vocational programs of varying length.
These schools may enroll students at specific times depending
on the program desired. For example, a school might offer a two-month
program in January, March, May, September, and November; and
a three-month program in January, April, and October.
- Diploma:
- See Postsecondary award, certificate,
or diploma.
- Distance learning:
- An option for earning course credit at off-campus locations
via cable television, internet, satellite classes, videotapes,
correspondence courses, or other means.
- Doctoral degree:
- The highest award a student can earn for graduate study.
The doctoral degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor
of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Public Health,
and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in any field such as agronomy,
food technology, education, engineering, public administration,
ophthalmology, or radiology. For the Doctor of Public Health
degree, the prior degree is generally earned in the closely related
field of medicine or in sanitary engineering.
- Double major:
- Program in which students may complete two undergraduate
programs of study simultaneously.
- Dual enrollment:
- A program through which high school students may enroll in
college courses while still enrolled in high school. Students
are not required to apply for admission to the college in order
to participate.
- Early action plan:
- An admission plan that allows students to apply and be notified
of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification
dates. If admitted, the candidate is not committed to enroll;
the student may reply to the offer under the college’s regular
reply policy.
- Early admission:
- A policy under which students who have not completed high
school are admitted and enroll full time in college, usually
after completion of their junior year.
- Early decision plan:
- A plan that permits students to apply and be notified of
an admission decision (and financial aid offer, if applicable)
well in advance of the regular notification date. Applicants
agree to accept an offer of admission and, if admitted, to withdraw
their applications from other colleges. There are three possible
decisions for early decision applicants: admitted, denied, or
not admitted but forwarded for consideration with the regular
applicant pool, without prejudice.
- English as a Second Language (ESL):
- A course of study designed specifically for students whose
native language is not English.
- Exchange student program-domestic:
- Any arrangement between a student and a college that permits
study for a semester or more at another college in the United
States without extending the amount of time required for
a degree. See also Study abroad.
- External degree program:
- A program of study in which students earn credits toward
a degree through independent study, college courses, proficiency
examinations, and personal experience. External degree programs
require minimal or no classroom attendance.
- Extracurricular activities (as admission factor):
- Special consideration in the admissions process given for
participation in both school and nonschool-related activities
of interest to the college, such as clubs, hobbies, student government,
athletics, performing arts, etc.
- First professional certificate (postdegree):
- An award that requires completion of an organized program
of study designed for persons who have completed the first professional
degree. Examples could be refresher courses or additional units
of study in a specialty or subspecialty.
- First professional degree:
- An award in one of the following fields: Chiropractic (DC,
DCM), dentistry (DDS, DMD), medicine (MD), optometry (OD), osteopathic
medicine (DO), rabbinical and Talmudic studies (MHL, Rav), Pharmacy
(B.Pharm, Pharm.D), podiatry (PodD, DP, DPM), veterinary medicine
(DVM), law (LLB, JD), divinity/ministry (BD, MDiv).
- First-time student:
- A student attending any institution for the first time at
the level enrolled. Includes students enrolled in the Fall term
who attended a postsecondary institution for the first time at
the same level in the prior Summer term. Also includes students
who entered with advanced standing (college credit earned before
graduation from high school).
- First-time, first-year (freshman) student:
- A student attending any institution for the first time at
the undergraduate level. Includes students enrolled in the Fall
term who attended college for the first time in the prior Summer
term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing
(college credits earned before graduation from high school).
- First-year student:
- A student who has completed fewer than the equivalent of
1 full year of undergraduate work; that is, less than 30 semester
hours (in a 120-hour degree program) or less than 900 contact
hours.
- Freshman:
- A first-year undergraduate student.
- *Freshman/new student orientation:
- Orientation addressing the academic, social, emotional, and
intellectual issues involved in beginning college. May be a few
hours or a few days in length; at some colleges, there is a fee.
- Full-time student (undergraduate):
- A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12
or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week each
term.
- Geographical residence (as admission factor):
- Special consideration in the admission process given to students
from a particular region, state, or country of residence.
- Grade-point average (academic high school GPA):
- The sum of grade points a student has earned in secondary
school divided by the number of courses taken. The most common
system of assigning numbers to grades counts four points for
an A, three points for a B, two points for a C, one point for
a D, and no points for an E or F. Unweighted GPA’s assign
the same weight to each course. Weighting gives students additional
points for their grades in advanced or honors courses.
- Graduate student:
- A student who holds a bachelor’s or first professional
degree, or equivalent, and is taking courses at the post-baccalaureate
level.
- *Health services:
- Free or low cost on-campus primary and preventive health
care available to students.
- High school diploma or recognized equivalent:
- A document certifying the successful completion of a prescribed
secondary school program of studies, or the attainment of satisfactory
scores on the Tests of General Educational Development (GED),
or another state-specified examination.
- Hispanic:
- A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
- Honors program:
- Any special program for very able students offering the opportunity
for educational enrichment, independent study, acceleration,
or some combination of these.
- Independent study:
- Academic work chosen or designed by the student with the
approval of the department concerned, under an instructor’s
supervision, and usually undertaken outside of the regular classroom
structure.
- In-state tuition:
- The tuition charged by institutions to those students who
meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements.
- International student:
- See Nonresident alien.
- Internship:
- Any short-term, supervised work experience usually related
to a student’s major field, for which the student earns
academic credit. The work can be full- or part-time, on- or off-campus,
paid or unpaid.
- *Learning center:
- Center offering assistance through tutors, workshops, computer
programs, or audiovisual equipment in reading, writing, math,
and skills such as taking notes, managing time, and taking tests.
- *Legal services:
- Free or low cost legal advice for a range of issues (personal
and other).
- Liberal arts/career combination:
- Program in which a student earns undergraduate degrees in
two separate fields, one in a liberal arts major and the other
in a professional or specialized major, whether on-campus or
through cross-registration.
- Master’s degree:
- An award that requires the successful completion of a program
of study of at least the full-time equivalent of one but not
more than two academic years of work beyond the bachelor’s
degree.
- Minority affiliation (as admission factor):
- Special consideration in the admission process for members
of designated racial/ethnic minority groups.
- *Minority student center:
- Center with programs, activities, and/or services intended
to enhance the college experience of students of color.
- Nonresident alien:
- A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States
and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and does
not have the right to remain indefinitely.
- *On-campus day care:
- Licensed day care for students' children (usually 3 and up);
usually for a fee.
- Open admission:
- Admission policy under which virtually all secondary school
graduates or students with GED equivalency diplomas are admitted
without regard to academic record, test scores, or other qualifications.
- Other expenses (costs):
- Include average costs for clothing, laundry, entertainment,
medical (if not a required fee), and furnishings.
- Out-of-state tuition:
- The tuition charged by institutions to those students who
do not meet the institution’s or state’s residency
requirements.
- Part-time student (undergraduate):
- A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credits per semester
or quarter, or fewer than 24 contact hours a week each term.
- *Personal counseling:
- One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals
for students who want to explore personal, educational, or vocational
issues.
- Post-baccalaureate certificate:
- An award that requires completion of an organized program
of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s;
designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree
but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying
title of master.
- Post-master’s certificate:
- An award that requires completion of an organized program
of study of 24 credit hours beyond the master’s degree but
does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral
level.
- Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma (at least
one but less than two academic years):
- Requires completion of an organized program of study at the
postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least
one but less than two full-time equivalent academic years, or
designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact hours.
- Private institution:
- An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s)
or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported primarily by
other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly
elected or appointed officials.
- Private for-profit institution:
- A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency
in control receives compensation, other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
- Private nonprofit institution:
- A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency
in control receives no compensation, other than wages, rent,
or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both
independent nonprofit schools and those affiliated with a religious
organization.
- Proprietary institution:
- See Private for-profit institution.
- Public institution:
- An educational institution whose programs and activities
are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials,
and which is supported primarily by public funds.
- Quarter calendar system:
- A calendar system in which the academic year consists of
three sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The range
may be from 10 to 15 weeks. There may be an additional quarter
in the summer.
- Race/ethnicity:
- Category used to describe groups to which individuals belong,
identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories
do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins.
A person may be counted in only one group.
- Race/ethnicity unknown:
- Category used to classify students or employees whose race/ethnicity
is not known and whom institutions are unable to place in one
of the specified racial/ethnic categories.
- Religious affiliation/commitment (as admission factor):
- Special consideration given in the admission process for
affiliation with a certain church or faith/religion, commitment
to a religious vocation, or observance of certain religious tenets/lifestyle.
- *Religious counseling:
- One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals
for studens who want to explore religious problems or issues.
- *Remedial services:
- Instructional courses designed for students deficient in
the general competencies necessary for a regular postsecondary
curriculum and educational setting.
- Required fees:
- Fixed sum charged to students for items not covered by tuition
and required of such a large proportion of all students that
the student who does NOT pay is the exception. Do not include
application fees or optional fees such as lab fees or parking
fees.
- Resident alien or other eligible noncitizen:
- A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States
and who has been admitted as a legal immigrant for the purpose
of obtaining permanent resident alien status (and who holds either
an alien registration card [Form I-551 or I-151], a Temporary
Resident Card [Form I-688], or an Arrival-Departure Record [Form
I-94] with a notation that conveys legal immigrant status, such
as Section 207 Refugee, Section 208 Asylee, Conditional Entrant
Parolee or Cuban-Haitian).
- Room and board (charges)—on campus:
- Assume double occupancy in institutional housing and 19 meals
per week (or maximum meal plan).
- Secondary school record (as admission factor):
- Information maintained by the secondary school that may include
such things as the student’s high school transcript, class
rank, GPA, and teacher and counselor recommendations.
- Semester calendar system:
- A calendar system that consists of two semesters during the
academic year with about 16 weeks for each semester of instruction.
There may be an additional summer session.
- Student-designed major.
- A program of study based on individual interests, designed
with the assistance of an adviser.
- Study abroad:
- Any arrangement by which a student completes part of the
college program studying in another county. Can be at a campus
abroad or through a cooperative agreement with some other U.S.
college or an institution of another country.
- *Summer session:
- A summer session is shorter than a regular semester and not
considered part of the academic year. It is not the third term
of an institution operating on a trimester system or the fourth
term of an institution operating on a quarter calendar system.
The institution may have 2 or more sessions occurring in the
summer months. Some schools, such as vocational and beauty schools,
have year-round classes with no separate summer session.
- Talent/ability (as admission factor):
- Special consideration given to students with demonstrated
talent/abilities in areas of interest to the institution (e.g.,
sports, the arts, languages, etc.).
- Teacher certification program:
- Program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements
for certification as teachers in elementary, middle\junior high,
and secondary schools.
- Transfer applicant:
- An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements
to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving
of the application fee, if any) and who has previously attended
another college or university and earned college-level credit.
- Transfer student:
- A student entering the institution for the first time but
known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution
at the same level (e.g., undergraduate). The student may transfer
with or without credit.
- Transportation (costs):
- Assume two round trips to student’s hometown per year
for students in institutional housing or daily travel to and
from your institution for commuter students.
- Trimester calendar system:
- An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks
each.
- Tuition:
- Amount of money charged to students for instructional services.
Tuition may be charged per term, per course, or per credit.
- *Tutoring:
- May range from one-on-one tutoring in specific subjects to
tutoring in an area such as math, reading, or writing. Most tutors
are college students; at some colleges, they are specially trained
and certified.
- Unit:
- A standard of measurement representing hours of academic
instruction (e.g., semester credit, quarter credit, contact hour).
- Undergraduate:
- A student enrolled in a four- or five-year bachelor degree
program, an associate degree program, or a vocational or technical
program below the baccalaureate.
- *Veteran’s counseling:
- Helps veterans and their dependents obtain benefits for their
selected program and provides certifications to the Veteran’s
Administration. May also provide personal counseling on the transition
from the military to a civilian life.
- *Visually impaired:
- Any person whose sight loss is not correctable and is sufficiently
severe as to adversely affect educational performance.
- Volunteer work (as admission factor):
- Special consideration given to students for activity done
on a volunteer basis (e.g., tutoring, hospital care, working
with the elderly or disabled) as a service to the community or
the public in general.
- Wait list:
- List of students who meet the admission requirements but
will be offered a place in the class only if
space becomes available.
- Weekend college:
- A program that allows students to take a complete course
of study and attend classes only on weekends.
- White, non-Hispanic:
- A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic
origin).
- *Women’s center:
- Center with programs, academic activities, and/or services
intended to promote an understanding of the evolving roles of
women.
- Work experience (as admission factor):
- Special consideration given to students who have been employed
prior to application, whether for relevance to major, demonstration
of employment-related skills, or as explanation of student’s
academic and extracurricular record.
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