Our Lady of the Lake College

Financial Aid - Glossary of Terms

    Search | A-Z Index  |  OLOLC Home  
Terms You Should Know!

DEPENDENT STUDENT - student not meeting at least one of the criteria listed under the definition of an independent student.

INDEPENDENT STUDENT - student who meets one of the following criteria:

  • At least 24 years of age
  • Veteran of U.S. armed forces
  • Graduate or professional student
  • Married when applying for aid
  • Orphan of ward of the court, or you were a ward of the court until age 18
  • Have legal dependents (other than spouse)

ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC) - Number located on the SAR used to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid.

FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE - Combination of different types of financial support to help meet the financial need of a family, typically consisting of grants, loans, college work-study, and/or scholarships.

FINANCIAL NEED - The difference between the cost of attendance at OLOL College and what you and your family can contribute.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) - Used to provide the College with an estimate of a family's capacity to contribute toward educational expenses.

FULL-TIME STUDENT - Students registering and maintaining at least 12 credit hours each semester.

THREE-QUARTERS-TIME STUDENT - Students registering and maintaining at least 9-11 credit hours each semester.

HALF-TIME STUDENT - Students registering and maintaining at least 6-8 credit hours each semester.

GRANTS - Funds based on financial need, which do not need to be repaid.

LOANS - Borrowed funds, which must be repaid with, interest.

OVERAWARDS - If a student receives another form of financial assistance such as a scholarship or vocational rehabilitation after having been awarded assistance by the OLOL College, the student is responsible for reporting the new award to the Office of Financial Aid. This may result in a reduction of the original aid award, and if so, it may be necessary for the student to pay back a portion or all of a particular financial aid award.

PARENT'S CONTRIBUTION - The amount your parents are expected to contribute to your educational expenses, based on income and net assets as determined through the FAFSA. If you are an independent student, this will not apply to you.

REINSTATEMENT - Any student who has been disqualified from participating in the student financial aid programs because of academic reasons may re-apply to the Office of Financial Aid once the standards for satisfactory progress have been met.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS- 

  • GRADE REQUIREMENT: The student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  • LOAD REQUIREMENT: Those registered will be expected to earn at least 75 percent of all courses attempted.

SCHOLARSHIPS - Funds awarded by the university, state, or private sources, based on merit, need, service, leadership, or some combination thereof.

STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR) - Your official notification of eligibility for a Pell Grant or other type of federal aid (Title IV).

STUDENT'S CONTRIBUTION - The amount you are expected to contribute to the cost of your education.

TITLE IV AID - Federally funded assistance, which consists of grants, loans, and work-study.


 Back to Financial Aid Page