Standard Definitions

Cost of Attendance (COA)
The estimated cost of attending Tri-County Technical College for one academic year. This amount includes:

• Tuition: charges for classes
• Fees: charges for other college services
• Living Expenses: allowance for rent, utilities, and food
• Estimated Transportation Expense
• Estimated Books and Supplies Expense
• Estimated Personal or Miscellaneous Costs

Direct Costs
Expenses the student and his/her family pays to the college

Educational Loans 
A form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest.

• Federal Direct Student Loan: Loan funds provided to a student by the U.S. Department of Education via Tri-County Technical College. The application for a loan is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Acceptance is confirmed by completing and submitting a Federal Direct Student Loan Affirmation form. There are two types of Federal Direct Student Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.
  • Students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA can qualify for subsidized loans. The government pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school at least half-time.
  • Students who do not demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA qualify for unsubsidized loans and interest accrues while the student is in school once it is disbursed.
• Federal Parent Loan (PLUS): Federal loan program that allows parents to borrow loan funds through the U.S. Department of Education. Parents who have no adverse credit history can borrow up to the cost of attendance each year, less any financial aid. Acceptance is confirmed by completing the online PLUS application. PLUS loans must be repaid with interest.

Private (Alternative) Loan: A loan from an institutional lender used to pay for up to the annual cost of attendance, less any financial aid received. Private loans typically require borrowers to be creditworthy or have a co-signer. These loans carry varying interest rates, fees, and repayment options. Repayment of interest (and often principal) generally begins immediately, with some lenders offering the options to defer for in-school periods.

Enrollment Level
Basic levels of enrollment - Undergraduate (students seeking an associate's degree, a certificate, a diploma, or a baccalaureate degree). Tri-County Technical College offers associate's degrees, certificates, and diplomas. The amounts and types of financial aid a student is eligible for is determined, partially, by their enrollment level.

Enrollment Status 
Academic workload that a student is attempting for an academic period. This relates to the number of credit hours taken by a student during a given semester.

• Full-time status: at least 12 credit hours

• Three-quarter time status: 9-11 credit hours

• Half-time status: 6-8 credit hours

• Less than half-time status: 1-5 credit hours

Student Aid Index (SAI)
A measure of how much a student and his/her family can be expected to contribute towards the student's education for the academic year. The SAI is calculated according to a formula specified in the law. It is based on the information provided on the FAFSA by the student and his/her family.

Federal Pell Grant
A grant provided by the federal government to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. These students have a Student Aid Index (SAI) below a threshold designated annually by the U.S. Department of Education, based on the amount of program funds appropriated by Congress.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
A grant provided by the federal government to qualified students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Priority is given to Pell grant recipients and funds must be awarded by the school in lowest SAI order. (Limited amount appropriated and awarded by priority.)

Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Program that provides part-time employment to students who need the earnings to help meet their cost of postsecondary education. Program provides monthly wage to students and encourages students to participate in community service activities.

Grant
Aid awarded to a student that does not need to be repaid. Grants are typically based on financial need.

Indirect Costs
Expenses incurred that the student and/or family may pay to a third party other than the college (landlord, business, etc.)

Net Cost
The amount of direct and indirect costs remaining after all grants and scholarships are subtracted.

Out-of-pocket Cost
Difference between the cost of attendance and all grants and scholarships. Out-of-pocket cost can be covered through a variety of sources - savings, income, and educational loans.

Scholarship
Aid awarded to the student that does not need to be repaid. Scholarship awards are typically based on merit or a combination of merit and need, such as academic distinction, talent, affiliation with various groups, or career goals.

Self-Help
Financial aid in the form of loans or student employment. Loans are used to help pay the remaining net cost after all other aid is deducted. Student employment earnings (including Work-Study) are generally not deducted from billed costs. Earnings can be used to help cover indirect costs and are paid in the form of monthly wages to the student.

Verification
The process to confirm the accuracy of data provided by the student on the FAFSA. In order to complete the verification process, students are required to provide certain documents to the school for review.