A period of time used to measure a unit of enrollment. Most often including the fall
and spring terms. For our undergraduates, one academic year can include the summer
following the fall and spring semesters.
A limit on the total amount of subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans that you may borrow
for your studies. If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education
reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans.
If you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan
limit, however, you could then borrow again, up to your remaining eligibility under
the aggregate loan limit.
The maximum federal student loan eligibility per academic year. These amounts vary
by type of loan and grade level. Your school will tell you how much you are eligible
to receive each academic year, and specific amounts can be found at
studentaid.gov.
Capitalized Interest (Capitalization)
Unpaid interest that is added to the principal balance of a federal student loan.
Future interest is charged on the increased principal balance, which may increase
your monthly payment amount and the total amount you repay over the life of the federal
student loan.
The process of combining one or more loans into a single, new loan.
The total cost to attend school for the academic year, included actual charges (tuition,
fees, housing and food), as well as estimated additional costs (transportation, books
and personal expenses).
Failure to repay a loan according to the agreed-upon terms. For the Direct Loan program,
your loan is typically in default if you fail to make a payment for 270 days. Your
lender is required to report the default to at least one national credit bureau.
Allows you to temporarily stop making payments on your federal student loans. You
are not charged interest on subsidized loans during deferment. Interest will continue
to be charged on your unsubsidized loans and PLUS loans. Students enrolled at least
half-time are eligible for in-school deferment.
Charges, including tuition and fees, that are set and billed by the university. For
residential students, these also include housing and food.
A federal student loan for which, in some cases, a borrower is not responsible for
paying the interest while in an in-school period, a grace period or a deferment period.
A federal student loan for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the
interest, regardless of the loan status.
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
A measure of your family's financial strength that is used by schools to calculate
the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive. EFC is calculated according
to a formula established by law and considers factors such as your family's income,
assets and benefits, as well as family size and the number of family members enrolled
in college. The EFC is provided to colleges by the FAFSA. Your EFC is not the amount
of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal
student aid you will receive.
The cost of attendance (COA) minus your expected family contribution (EFC).
A period of time that generally begins on the day after a borrower graduates, leaves
school or drops below half-time enrollment and ends on the day before the repayment
period begins. Grace periods for subsidized and unsubsidized loans made under the
Direct Loan program are six months.
Student grants are gifts to people who are pursuing higher education. Unlike student
loans, grants do not require repayment.
The cost to borrow money. Interest is calculated as a percentage of the outstanding
(unpaid) principal balance.
Money that you borrow and repay with interest.
Loan Fee (Origination Fee)
A fee charged for each federal student loan you receive that is a percentage of the
total loan amount you are borrowing (gross amount). The loan fee is deducted proportionately
from each disbursement of your loan. This reduces the actual loan amount you receive
(net amount). The specific loan fee that you are charged is included in the disclosure
statement you receive after the first disbursement of your federal student loan. You
will be required to repay the gross amount.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
A legal document in which you promise to repay your federal student loan(s) and any
accrued interest and fees to your lender or loan holder. There is one MPN for direct
subsidized/unsubsidized loans and a different MPN for direct PLUS loans. Most schools
are authorized to make multiple federal student loans under one MPN for up to 10 years.
Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities: The MPN contains a Borrower's Rights and Responsibilities
Statement that explains the terms and conditions of the loan(s) you receive.
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
The central database for student aid where you can see any Title IV grant (i.e. Pell)
or loan (i.e. subsidized or unsubsidized loan) you receive. This website has been
incorporated into the Federal Student Aid site, studentaid.gov. Log into
studentaid.gov with your FSA ID to view your federal grant and loan information.
Direct Parent PLUS loans are loans for eligible parents of dependent undergraduate
students to help pay for the cost of the students' education. Students' loan information
does not include PLUS loan taken out by parents on their behalf.
The loan amount you borrowed plus any capitalized interest.
To pay back money you borrowed by making scheduled payments to a loan holder or servicer.
The repayment period may range for 10 to 30 years, depending on loan amount, loan
type and repayment plan (which is the plan between a borrower and lender that determines
the amount you pay each month and the number of payments you must make).
A summary of the information you submit on your FAFSA that provides you with your
expected family contribution (EFC).
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Student loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education to enable a student to
pay for education after high school. Eligible students borrow directly from the U.S.
Department of Education at participating schools. Direct loans include the following
types of federal student loans: direct subsidized loans, direct unsubsidized loans,
direct PLUS loans and direct consolidation loans.
This need-based program is neither a grant nor a loan, but an opportunity to earn
a certain amount of money each semester directly through employment in approved Federal
Work Study (FWS) positions. To receive funds, you will need to be awarded work study
and secure a work study job. Awarded funds will NOT show on your student account.
Students receive pay for actual hours worked; the funds are not applied directly to
your tuition.