Glossary
Students that fail to make satisfactory academic progress and are placed on financial aid suspension can appeal for reinstatement of their eligibility. If granted, they are placed on an academic plan.
In subsequent terms, they will continue to be eligible for aid as long as they meet the conditions of the academic plan or come back into compliance with the SAP standards.
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.
A limit on the total amount of subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans that you may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study. 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. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit.
Alternative student loans are private, nonfederal student loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or a school.
Federal student loans include many benefits (such as fixed interest rates and income-based repayment plans) not typically offered with alternative loans.
Generally, it is in a student's best interest to exhaust eligibility for federal student loans before pursing an alternative student loan.
An offer from a college or career school that states the type and amount of financial aid the school is willing to provide if you accept admission and register to take classes at that school.
An allowance for the cost of housing and food while attending college or career school.
This Cost of Attendance (budget) category now encompasses costs for rental or purchase of equipment, materials, or supplies previously classified under "tuition and fees." It includes all necessary expenses for students in the same course of study, including allowances for personal computer rentals or purchases.
The estimated amount of money the student will need to cover their cost of attendance, which reflects their enrollment status. For undergraduates, 12 or more credits is full time, 9 to 11 credits is ¾ time, 6 to 8 credits is ½ time, or 1 to 5 credits is less than ½ time. For graduate students, 9 or more credits is full time, 7-8 credits is ¾ time, 5-6 credits is ½ time, 1-4 credits is less than ½ time.
Unpaid interest that is added to the principal of a loan. For student loans, interest is capitalized whenever a deferment, forbearance, or grace period ends. Capitalization increases the principal amount of the loan, and since interest is then charged on that higher balance, the overall cost of your loan can increase.
Expenses charged on defaulted federal student loans that are added to the outstanding principal balance of the loan. These expenses can be up to 18.5 percent of the principal and interest for defaulted Direct Loans or FFEL Program loans and may exceed 18.5 percent for defaulted Federal Perkins Loans and Health and Human Service (HHS) loans.
The process of combining one or more loans into a single new loan.
An agreement of multiple collegiate institutions to allow a student to enroll in multiple campuses simultaneously.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) encompasses various expenses that a student may incur while pursuing their education. A regular COA typically includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. These components are essential for calculating the overall financial needs of a student attending the university. In addition to these standard components, certain expenses may be added to the COA under specific circumstances. For example, transportation expenses might include commuting between campus, residences, and a student’s place of work. Special circumstances, such as disability-related expenses or costs associated with obtaining professional licenses or certifications, may also be considered and included in the COA.
“Contributor” is a new term on the 2024–25 FAFSA form. It refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) who’s asked to provide their information, consent, and approval to have their federal tax information transferred automatically from the IRS into the FAFSA form (more on that later) and signature on your FAFSA form.
The Profile is an aid application that is secondary to the FAFSA that some colleges use to determine eligibility for institutional grants and scholarships.
UM does not require the CSS profile.
Failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed upon in the promissory note. For most federal student loans, you will default if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days. You may experience serious legal consequences if you default.
A postponement of payment on a loan that is allowed under certain conditions and during which interest does not accrue on Direct Subsidized Loans. All other federal student loans that are deferred will continue to accrue interest. Any unpaid interest that accrued during the deferment period may be added to the principal balance (capitalized) of the loan(s).
Failure to make a scheduled loan payment. A loan remains delinquent until the borrower makes up the missed payment(s) through payment, deferment, or forbearance. If the borrower is unable to make payments, the borrower should contact their loan servicer to discuss options to keep the loan in good standing.
A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student. An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor, or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Action taken by a financial aid administrator (FAA) to indicate to the CPS that an application submitted by a dependent student should be processed as an independent student. In unusual circumstances, the application of a student who does not meet any of the criteria of an independent student may be processed as an independent applicant and will not reject because of missing parent information. A financial aid administrator uses professional judgment to make this decision and must document the decision.
A student’s dependency status determines the degree to which the student has access to parent financial resources. An independent student is at least 24 years old as of January 1, 2001, is married, is a graduate of professional student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a U.S. Armed Forces veteran or is/was an orphan or ward of the court.
Fixed charges owed to UM which may include tuition, fees, room, and board.
A loan for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status. Interest on Unsubsidized Loans accrues from the date of disbursement and continues throughout the life of the loan. If an Unsubsidized Loan is in an In-School Deferment, no payment is required; however, interest will still accumulate. Any interest not paid by the end of a deferment or grace period will be added to the loan’s principal balance (i.e., capitalized). The grace period for Unsubsidized Loans is 6 months.
The process by which financial aid funds are made available to students for use in meeting educational and related living expenses.
(23-24 academic years and prior) The number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. This number results from the financial information you provide in your application for federal student aid (FAFSA). Your EFC is reported to you on your Student Aid Report. For 24-25, this is now replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI).
Upon request, when aid is delayed in being disbursed, the financial aid office can provide a short-term loan to a student for emergency purposes (books, food, etc.). The loan is then repaid when the student's aid arrives.
Emergency loans are only provided as an advance on the next semester's aid when a student needs to make travel arrangements for study abroad. Otherwise, emergency loans are not approved until after the semester has started.
Students apply for emergency loans through Cyberbear. The program is based on availability. Loan amounts and funding vary.
Reported by the school the student attended, indicating whether the student is (or was) full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated, etc. For undergraduates, 12 or more credits is full time, 9 to 11 credits is ¾ time, 6 to 8 credits is ½ time, or 1 to 5 credits is less than ½ time. For graduate students, 9 or more credits is full time, 7-8 credits is ¾ time, 5-6 credits is ½ time, 1-4 credits is less than ½ time.
A mandatory information session that takes place before you receive your first federal student loan, explaining your responsibilities and rights as a student borrower.
A mandatory information session that takes place when you graduate or drop below half-time, explaining your responsibilities and rights as a borrower, the repayment options available, and information about the repayment process in general.
Extenuating circumstances, when referencing the FAFSA, are anything out of the ordinary. They come into play in three main areas: dependency status, income information on the FAFSA and amounts allocated in the Cost of Attendance.
In the case of an SAP appeal, an extenuating circumstance is something unanticipated and out of a student's control. The student must have an extenuating circumstance to have the appeal approved.
This application is the first step in receiving federal aid including Pell Grant, Direct Loans, and Work-Study. The FAFSA application provides schools with the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for 23/24 or Student Aid Index (SAI) for 24/25 which is used to determine the types and amounts of financial aid to be offered.
Set by the Board of Regents and added into the Cost of Attendance.
The last review of an aid package or appeal before it is set to the student.
The total amount of financial aid (federal and nonfederal) a student is offered by UM. Financial Aid staff combine various forms of aid into a “package” to help students meet their education costs.
A period during which your monthly loan payments are temporarily suspended or reduced. Your lender may grant you a forbearance if you are willing but unable to make loan payments due to certain types of financial hardships. During forbearance, principal payments are postponed but interest continues to accrue. Unpaid interest that accrues during the forbearance will be added to the principal balance (capitalized) of your loan(s), increasing the total amount you owe.
The FSA ID (FSA stands for Federal Student Aid) is used used as an electronic signature on the FAFSA, on MPN's and to provide access to studentloans.gov and NSLDS.
The person requesting the ID creates a username and password and provides their legal name, social security number and date of birth.
For undergraduates with exceptional financial need; Federal Pell Grant recipients take priority; funds depend on availability at school.
For financial aid purposes, full-time is enrollment in 12 or more credits.
To be eligible for federal student loans a student only needs to be registered half-time (6 credits).
Students can receive a Federal Pell Grant when they are enrolled part-time, but the amount they will receive will be prorated from the full-time amount.
All initial award estimates for undergraduates and law students are made on the assumption that they will be enrolled full-time. Initial award estimates for graduate students are made on the assumption that they will be enrolled in 9 credits per term.
The period of time after you graduate, leave school, or fall below half-time status in which you are not required to make payments on your loan. You only receive your grace period once. Federal loans have 6 months of grace.
A student who is studying for a degree that is higher than the one received after four years of study at a college or university.
For financial aid purposes, half-time is enrollment in 6 to 8.5 credits.
To be eligible for federal student loans, or to keep student loans in deferment, a student only needs to be registered half-time.
Students can receive a Federal Pell Grant when they are enrolled half-time, but the amount they will receive will be prorated from the full-time amount.
An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor, or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Estimates of what is needed for incidental expenses such as transportation and books.
A period of time where repayment of a loan is not required while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Interest may accrue at this time but payment is not required.
A loan expense charged for the use of borrowed money. Interest is paid by a borrower to a lender. The expense is calculated as a percentage of the unpaid principal amount of the loan.
(23/24 and prior years) - The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is an easy and secure way to access and transfer tax return information directly onto the electronic Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request, saving time and improving accuracy for the 2023/24 and prior years.
This system allows for the direct exchange of tax information between the IRS and the FAFSA form, streamlining the financial aid application process.
The organization that made the loan initially; the lender could be the borrower’s school; a bank, credit union, or other lending institution; or the U.S. Department of Education.
A fee charged to cover the administrative expenses of processing a loan. This fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive while enrolled in school.
The entity that holds the loan promissory note and has the right to collect from the borrower.
The Ombudsman Group is a neutral, informal, and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about your federal student loans.
The process of bringing a loan out of default and removing the default notation from a borrower's credit report. To rehabilitate a Direct or an FFEL Loan, the borrower must make at least 9 full payments of an agreed amount within 20 days of their monthly due dates over a 10-month period. To rehabilitate a Perkins Loan, a borrower must make nine on-time, consecutive monthly payments of an agreed-upon amount. Rehabilitation terms and conditions vary for other loan types and can be obtained directly from loan holders.
A company that collects payments, responds to customer service inquiries, and performs other administrative tasks associated with maintaining a federal student loan on behalf of a lender.
As a condition of receiving federal financial aid, students must be making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a degree/certificate. One way that is measured is by the imposition of a maximum time-frame for degree completion. At UM it is referred to as the max credit policy.
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.
The National Student Clearinghouse is the nation's trusted source for degree verification and enrollment verification and student educational outcomes research.
In determining eligibility for federal aid, need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the cost of attendance (COA). If the resulting number is greater than zero then the student is said to have need.
The amount of need a student has is then used to determine eligibility for various aid programs.
Aid is designated as being either need-based or non-need based. If aid is need-based, then a student must show some level of financial neediness to qualify for that aid program. In most cases, the amount of aid a student receives from that program is limited to covering the student’s remaining unmet need when other aid is taken into consideration.
For example: A student with $6,534 of calculated need is receiving a $1000 scholarship and $3000 of Federal Work-Study. The maximum need-based loan the student could then receive would be $2,534.
The Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan and Subsidized Federal Direct Student Loan are all need-based aid programs.
The TEACH Grant, Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan and the Federal Direct PLUS Loan are all non-need-based aid programs.
An estimate of the actual cost that a student and their family need to pay in a given year to cover education expenses for the student to attend a particular school. Net price is determined by taking the institution's cost of attendance and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible.
The central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, and other Department of Education databases. Any Title IV grant or loan you receive will be included in NSLDS.
All Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal PLUS loans are subject to origination fees. Therefore, the amount disbursed will be less than the award amounts shown.
All students must pass at least 67% of cumulative attempted credits. Only courses receiving grades of A, B, C, D, N, or CR will count as completed courses. Courses with all other grades, including withdrawals and incompletes, will not count towards progress. Remedial courses, whether they are passed or failed, are not counted in the Pace calculation. However, no student may receive aid for more than 30 attempted remedial credits.
For financial aid purposes, and for the assessing of tuition, any student enrolled in 0.5 - 11.5 credits is enrolled part-time, even at the graduate level.
A federal grant for undergraduate students seeking their first degree who have financial need. This loan is a federal entitlement. Eligible students are offered the Pell Grant based on enrollment status. For 24/25, the Pell Grant is awarded per credit.
This loan is no longer offered; however, students may be in repayment.
A loan available to graduate students and parents of dependent undergraduate students for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status. An In-School Deferment can be requested as long as the individual for whom the loan was borrowed is in school at least half time.
If you have earned a bachelor's degree from another institution or UM and want to pursue another undergraduate degree, then you are considered a post-baccalaureate student. Note: Post-baccalaureate students must be degree-seeking students.
The total sum of money borrowed plus any interest that has been capitalized.
Historically, the FAFSA has required tax data from the most recently completed calendar year, prior to the upcoming fall term (prior year).
Starting with the 17-18 FAFSA, tax data from two years previous is required. This shift to "prior-prior-year" allows most people to complete the FAFSA without having to estimate income, as the deadline for filing taxes (even for those filing extensions) has already come and gone.
These loans are nonfederal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or a school. Federal student loans include many benefits (such as fixed interest rates and income-based repayment plans) not typically offered with private loans. In contrast, private loans are generally more expensive than federal student loans.
A student enrolled in a professional program of study. At UM, the professional programs are the Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Law programs.
Fees associated with a specific course of study or program that the student is pursuing.
A promissory note is a legal contract in which the borrower of a loan promises to repay the debt under the conditions detailed in the document.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) used when a student takes out a student loan is signed electronically using the borrowers FSA ID. It is called a master note because additional loans can be added to the note in subsequent years (up to ten years) without a new promissory note needing to be endorsed.
If you have financial aid funds that exceed the charges on your student account at the time of disbursement, you will receive a refund, which may be used to pay other educationally related expenses.
Once registration bills are posted, students are responsible for reviewing and paying for their bill. If this is not done by the semester’s posted deadline, the student will be dropped from all of their courses and must re-register. Additionally, late fees may be assessed for those who miss posted deadlines.
The Montana University System classifies all students as either in-state or out-of-state. This classification affects admissions decisions and fee determinations.
An allowance for the cost of housing and food while attending college or career school. This is now known as Housing (24/25).
Students receiving federal financial aid are required to make timely progress towards the completion of their degree/certificate. This policy, knows as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), looks at a student’s grade point average (GPA), the percentage of credits they have successfully completed, and at the maximum time frame in which the degree/certificate must be completed. Students that fail to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) may be places on warning or financial aid suspension. SAP regulations require that a student’s complete academic record be considered regardless of whether the student received aid each term they were enrolled.
The Student Aid Index is used to determine a student's expected family contribution (EFC) for federal student aid. The SAI replaces the EFC for the 2024–25 award year. The SAI is determined using information reported on the FAFSA form and takes into account factors such as income, family size, and number of family members attending college.
An award of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid.
A loan based on financial need for which the federal government pays the interest that accrues while the borrower is in an in-school, grace, or deferment status, and during certain periods of repayment under certain income-driven repayment plans.
Non-resident graduate students who secure a teaching or research assistantship are given TARA standing each term they are a TA or RA.
Although still considered non-residents, tuition charges for TARA students are the same as resident students. If in a later term a student ceases to be a TA or RA, then their tuition charges will revert to those of a non-resident student.
Shows most line items from your tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. This transcript doesn’t show account changes made after the return is processed. A return transcript usually meets the requirements of lending institutions offering mortgages and student loans.
The federal TEACH Grant is an aid program for students who plan to teach a high-need subject at a low income school. Though called a grant, it is really a forgivable loan.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements (need is not a requirement) must sign an Agreement to Serve (ATS). The ATS is a legal contract, similar to a promissory note, that outlines the conditions of receiving the grant. Failure to complete the agreed upon service will result in the grant being converted to a loan with interest retroactive to the time of disbursement.
The sum of money charged for attending school.
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a generic name for any aid program provided by an external governmental agency (e.g. vocational rehabilitation) where the agency makes payments directly to the university.
To be tuition designated means that the specific aid program can be used to pay tuition charges, but nothing else (e.g. fees, room, board, books). Most aid is not tuition designated and can be used to pay for any educational expense included in the cost of attendance (COA).
If a student receives aid from two or more tuition designated programs, the combined total cannot exceed the cost of tuition. If a student receives aid from a tuition designated program and also aid from non-tuition designated programs, the tuition designated award will be up to the cost of tuition and the rest of the aid, combined with the tuition designated award, will be up to the COA.
Tuition waivers provide a credit equivalent to a percentage of a student's tuition charges. They do not cover other charges, including program fees (e.g. assessed to business majors) which are sometimes referred to as super tuition or program related tuition.
Tuition waivers are tuition designated, so in combination with other tuition designated aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
A student's financial aid award will not show tuition waivers, but they will appear on a student's registration bill as a pending credit.
The difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Student Aid Index (SAI). Unmet need represents the amount of financial need that is not covered by financial aid and must be met through other resources, such as personal savings, private scholarships, or alternative loans.
Students who receive all failing or non-passing grades for a semester are assumed to have ceased attendance and are considered an “unofficial withdrawal.” Further attendance will not be permitted until all federal funds are repaid in full unless the student can provide documentation from the faculty proving their attendance during the previous semester. Students receiving all non-passing grades for a semester should contact the Financial Aid Office immediately for assistance.
A loan for which the borrower is fully responsible for paying the interest regardless of the loan status. Interest on unsubsidized loans accrues from the date of disbursement and continues throughout the life of the loan. If the interest is not paid, it will be capitalized when the loan enters repayment.
Circumstances that can be taken into consideration when a Dependent student requests that they be put in Independent Status. These circumstances could include an abusive, detrimental or non-existent relationship with both parents. Circumstances that would not warrant a change to independent status would include • Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education • Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification • Parents do not claim student as a dependent for income tax purposes • Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency
The process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. Your school has the authority to contact you for documentation that supports income and other information that you reported.
Voc Rehab’s mission is to promote work and independence for Montanans with disabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation provides a broad range of services to assist, find or maintain employment for eligible individuals with disabilities.
A W-2 is a tax document given to the employees of a company that lists the amount of wages earned and taxes withheld.
Some students who are selected for verification will be asked to supply copies of W-2 forms for themselves, their spouse or their parents.
A Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS is a document that provides a summary of income reported to the IRS by employers, financial institutions, and other payers. It includes information such as wages, salaries, tips, and other income reported on forms like W-2, 1099, and 1098. This transcript is useful for taxpayers who need to verify their income when applying for loans, mortgages, or financial aid, or when preparing their tax returns. It helps ensure accurate reporting and compliance with tax laws.
Tuition waivers eliminate tuition costs charged to qualifying students; tuition waivers do not waive any other chargers. Only one type of tuition waiver can be used during a semester. Tuition waiver applications must be received by the end of the third week of classes and may reduce your federal aid package. Retroactive awards are not made.
As a condition of receiving federal financial aid, students must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward the completion of a degree/certificate.
When a student falls out of compliance with the SAP policy (because they do not have the required GPA or Pace completion percentage), they are placed on warning. While on warning, a student is still eligible for financial aid. If a student is not back in compliance with the SAP standards after the next semester they are enrolled, then they become ineligible for federal aid.
When a student leaves school before the end of the term and officially withdraws through the University’s Registrar’s Office. Federal loans will be cancelled for future terms if students withdraw from the University at any time during a semester. Repayment of federal aid received for the current term may be required in accordance with federal rules and regulations. Students must appeal to have financial aid reinstated for the next term, even if financial aid was not received. Reinstatement of aid is granted only if there are exceptional reasons for withdrawal.
A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay your education expenses. Work Study jobs are typically on-campus or with approved off-campus employers and are intended to provide students with valuable work experience related to their course of study. The amount you earn through Work-Study is determined by your financial need, the level of funding available at your school, and the number of hours you work.
Scholarship at the University of Montana that is awards as a merit based scholarship. You do not need to apply for the WUE, you will be automatically considered based on the academic information on your admission application. The WUE is valued at 150% of in-state tuition rather than out-of-state tuition. It will be reflected as a reduced tuition on a student’s bill. If you are awarded the WUE, you are not eligible to receive any additional non-resident entering student scholarship. Must be from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.