Scholarship Glossary
Here are some terms that you will encounter when exploring scholarships and financial aid for your postsecondary education. The Federal Student Aid website also offers an in-depth glossary of financial aid terminology.
ACADEMIC YEAR
A period of at least 30 weeks of instructional time, traditionally August or September through May or June
ACCESS TO STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN REACH OF EVERYONE (ASPIRE)
ASPIRE is a state program in which volunteer mentors guide students toward post-secondary education and training opportunities
BELOW HALF-TIME ENROLLMENT
A student who is enrolled in 5 or fewer credits is considered below half-time and may not be eligible for most types of financial aid
COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
A National Center for Education Statistics resource developed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others find information about post-secondary institutions, including programs, retention and graduation rates, costs, available aid, and degrees awarded
COST OF ATTENDANCE
The total cost of attending college, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and sometimes childcare
DEFERRAL
A formal request to delay the use of an awarded scholarship. Common reasons for requesting a deferral include medical conditions, taking a gap year to travel or work, or missionary trips
DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA)
Under DACA, a student who came to the United States as a child and meets certain guidelines can contact US Citizenship and Immigration Services to request consideration of deferred action (two years of protection from removal) and a work permit. DACA students are eligible to apply for Oregon state aid and for OCF scholarships not requiring US citizenship. DACA students are also eligible to fill out the ORSAA.
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
FAFSA is a federal form designed to assess financial need, set an amount for parents and students to contribute from their own resources, and verify student eligibility for aid. Most applicants for need-based scholarships must complete this form.
FINANCIAL AID
Money that helps students cover the cost of college, such as tuition, books, housing, and other expenses. This includes loans from government or private lenders; scholarships from institutions or private providers; and grants from institutions or the state/federal government.
FINANCIAL NEED
The difference between the cost of attendance at a postsecondary institution and the Student Aid Index (SAI), as determined by the FAFSA
FEDERAL STUDENT AID ESTIMATOR
An online calculator used by students and their families to estimate the type and amount of government aid they may receive for postsecondary education
FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT
An undergraduate student who is enrolled in 12 credits or more is generally considered to be attending full-time. A graduate student is generally considered full-time when enrolled in 9 or more credits.
INSTITUTIONAL AID
Financial assistance offered by an educational institution, usually in the form of a scholarship or grant. This is common at private institutions, as well as at public colleges and universities with significant endowments.
OREGON OPPORTUNITY GRANT
A state-funded program that supports Oregon students living with low or moderate income attending college in the state. It is administered by Oregon’s Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) and completing the federal FAFSA or Oregon State Aid Application (ORSAA) constitutes the application. Students may receive the grant for multiple academic years.
OREGON PROMISE GRANT
A state-funded program that supports high school graduates who start community college in Oregon within six months of graduation. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and complete the FAFSA or ORSAA. The application is administered by OSAC. Students may receive the grant for multiple academic years.
OREGON STATE AID APPLICATION (ORSAA)
ORSAA is an alternative form for students not eligible to complete the FAFSA, including DACA and undocumented students. It follows the same format as the FAFSA and is administered by the state. Students can use this form when applying for state aid, OCF scholarships, and other private scholarships.
OFFICE OF STUDENT ACCESS AND COMPLETION (OSAC)
Started in 1959, OSAC administers the statewide scholarship program. OSAC works with high schools and colleges to make application information available to students; allows students to seek scholarships from multiple sources through a single application process; shares applications with selection committees; and disburses scholarship funds to institutions.
PART-TIME ENROLLMENT
A student who is enrolled in 6 to 8 credits per term is generally considered to be attending part-time
PELL GRANT
A federal grant awarded to undergraduate students based on financial need. Pell grants do not need to be repaid.
REMAINING FINANCIAL NEED
The total cost of college minus federal and state aid, and minus the Student Aid Index (SAI) determined by the FAFSA.
STUDENT AID INDEX (SAI)
SAI is a figure provided by the FAFSA and used in determining federal financial student aid, resulting from a need-based analysis of the income and assets of the student, spouse, and their parents, if applicable.
TRANSCRIPT
A list of all courses that a student has taken at a high school or college, with the grades earned in each course
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
A student who graduated from high school, or earned a GED, and is studying for a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree at a college or university
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
Students who are not US citizens, US nationals or “eligible noncitizens” (as defined by the federal government). Undocumented students and their families come from all over the world. Undocumented students are eligible to apply for some Oregon state aid and for OCF scholarships not requiring US citizenship. They are also eligible to complete the ORSAA.
UNWEIGHTED GPA
The calculation of a student’s academic performance on a 4.0 scale where each letter grade is converted to a number, then averaged across classes. Unlike a weighted GPA, an unweighted GPA treats all courses the same, regardless of difficulty
WEIGHTED GPA
A grade point average calculation that assigns more points to more challenging classes like advanced placement (AP), international baccalaureate (IB), or honors courses to reflect their higher academic difficulty