Scholarship Glossary

Academic year

A period comprising at least 30 weeks of instructional time, traditionally August or September through May.

Accredited

Accreditation of U.S. educational institutions is done by regional and specialized accrediting associations. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes accrediting bodies for purposes of institutional financial aid eligibility and other areas in which the federal government has an interest.

Below half-time

A student who is enrolled in 5 or less credits is considered below half-time and may not be eligible for most types of financial aid.

Cost of attendance

The total cost of attending college, including tuition and general fees; room and board; lab fees; books; travel costs; supplies; and sometimes child care. The cost of attendance varies by school and is determined by each academic institution. You can find the annual cost of attendance for each Oregon institution on the Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) website (“Standard Student Budget” document).

Cost of tuition and fees

Tuition and general fees (excluding housing, etc.). You can find the annual tuition and fees for each Oregon institution on the OSAC website (“Standard Student Budget” document)..   

Direct Loan Program

Schools generally participate in the . Under the Direct Loan Program, funds for the loan come directly from the federal government rather than from a private lender. Eligibility rules and loan amounts are determined by the federal Department of Education.

 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The EFC is an index number that is used to determine your eligibility for student financial aid, based on the family income and assets reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). Schools use the EFC to determine your state and/or federal aid eligibility and financial aid award.

*The EFC will change to the Student Aid Index (SAI) in the 2023-24 academic year.

Federal aid

See Title IV funds.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

A federal program offering grants to undergraduate students, with awards dependent on 1) the student's financial need; 2) the availability of funds; and 3) the amount of other aid the student has received. FSEOG is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need to help pay for their education. Awards can range from $100–$4000 and do not need to be repaid.

Financial need

The difference between the cost of attendance at a college and the Expected Family Contribution.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

A form used by the federal government to a) assess students' financial need; b) set an Expected Family Contribution toward educational costs; and c) verify a student's eligibility for aid in the form of federal grants, loans and work study. All applicants for need-based aid must complete this form every year. For the purposes of calculating student need, home equity is not considered part of the family's assets. Within a month of submitting the FAFSA, the student should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The FAFSA asks for income information from two years prior to the academic year in which the student will be enrolled.

Full-time

An undergraduate student who is enrolled for 12 credits or more is generally considered to be attending full-time. A graduate student is generally considered full-time when enrolled for 9 or more credits.

Graduate student

A student who holds a bachelor's degree and is studying for an advanced degree.

Higher education

This term refers to all programs for high school graduates, including vocational and technical schools and programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities.

Hope Scholarship Tax Credit

A federal tax credit (that is, a reduction in the taxes owed by a family) to help low-income families with out-of-pocket tuition expenses, up to $1,500 per student for each of the first two years of post-secondary education. (Note: A family cannot claim this tax credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit for the same student in the same year.) 

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

A federal tax credit (that is, a reduction in the taxes owed by a family) for low-income families equal to 20 percent of the first $10,000 of out-of-pocket tuition expenses, to a maximum of $2,000 per student per year. (Note: A family cannot claim this tax credit and the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit for the same student in the same year.)

OFFICE OF STUDENT ACCESS AND COMPLETION (OSAC)

OSAC is a state office within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. OSAC is responsible for administering statewide scholarships and grants. OSAC works closely with high schools and colleges to ensure that application information is available to students. Also, OSAC provides a single application process for students seeking scholarships from a number of sources (including most of OCF's scholarships).

Oregon Opportunity Grant

The Oregon Opportunity Grant is Oregon’s largest state-funded, need-based grant program for students attending higher education. The program is administered by the Office of Student Access and Completion. It is awarded based on financial need and the student must attend an eligible educational institution in Oregon. Students may receive the grant for up to four years. To apply, students must complete the FAFSA or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).

OREGON PROMISE GRANT

Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps to cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED^® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED^® test completion. Eligibility requirements include (but are not limited to) a 2.5 GPA, immediate enrollment in community college, and completion of the Oregon Promise application and the FAFSA or ORSAA.

OREGON STUDENT AID APPLICATION (ORSAA)

The ORSAA is an alternative to the FAFSA for Oregon residents who have undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The ORSAA opens on (or after) October 1 each year. Eligible students should complete the ORSAA as soon as possible after the application opens each year. The ORSAA is required to apply for state grants (such as the Oregon Opportunity Grant and Oregon Promise Grant) and may also be required for scholarships. The ORSAA generates an Expected Family Contribution for each student, based on the same calculation and data that the FAFSA utilizes.

Part-time

A student who is enrolled for 6 to 8 credits per term is generally considered to be attending part time. Most scholarships do not allow part-time attendance.

Pell Grant

A federal grant awarded to undergraduate students is on based on the Expected Family Contribution, which is determined by the FAFSA. Students do not need to repay Pell Grants if maintains eligibility criteria.

Perkins Loan

A low-interest federal loan offered to students with exceptional financial need, for a maximum of $5,500 per undergraduate year of study or $8,000 per graduate year of study. The total you can borrow as an undergraduate student is $27,500; graduate is $60,000 (includes undergraduate amount).

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

A federal program offering loans to graduate students and to parents of undergraduate students. Under this program, repayment may begin immediately or the borrower may defer payment until the student has finished school.

SAR (Student Aid Report)

A financial aid document generated for a student by the federal application processor. The SAR contains financial aid and other information reported by the student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is printed on the front of the SAR; this is the figure colleges use to determine eligibility for aid.

Scholarships

Funds used to pay for higher education that do not have to be repaid. Scholarships may be awarded based on any number of criteria, such as academic promise or achievements; special talents; participation in particular groups or activities; or career goals.

Stafford loan

A federal loan program that gives students up to 10 years from graduation to pay the balance. For subsidized Stafford loans, the federal government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time. For unsubsidized Stafford loans, the student pays the interest. If the student is enrolled at least half-time, the interest from the unsubsidized will accrue and then be added to the loan amount once the student drops below half-time.

Three quarter-time

An undergraduate student is generally considered three quarter-time when enrolled from 9 to 11 credits for the term.

Title IV funds

Federal financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended), including federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, federal Pell Grants, federal Work-study and  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

Transcripts

A list of all courses that a student has taken at a particular high school or college, with the grades the student earned in each course.

Undergraduate student

A student who has graduated from high school or earned a GED and is studying for an associate’s or bachelor's degree.

Work study

A program centered at a college through which students work part-time to help fund their education. A student's earnings through work-study programs are generally subject to federal and state income tax, but exempt from FICA taxes if the student is enrolled full-time and working less than half-time. Federal work study is supported by federal funds that an academic institution receives to provide on campus job opportunities to high need students as determined by FAFSA. Institutional work study is supported by institutional funds to provide on campus job opportunities, but does not necessarily require high need.