filing-the-fafsa-2015-2016-edition

Filing the FAFSA 168
Gift Aid
Gift aid is money that does not need to be repaid, such as grants, scholarships and tuition waivers.
Grade Point Average
A student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is a measure of the student’s academic performance, typically
reported on a 4.0 scale. An ‘A’ grade corresponds to a 4.0, a ‘B’ grade to a 3.0, a ‘C’ grade to a 2.0. Students
must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA to retain eligibility for federal student aid.
Graduate Student
A graduate student pursues a higher-level education, such as a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree, after
receiving a Bachelor’s degree.
Graduation Rate
The graduation rate is the percentage of students receiving a degree or certificate within 150% of the
normal timeframe for attaining a degree or certificate (e.g., 6 years for a 4-year program).
Grant
A grant is a type of gift aid, money that does not need to be repaid. Grants are usually awarded based on
demonstrated financial need.
Guardian
See Legal Guardian.
Half-Time
A half-time student carries half of the academic workload of a full-time student. Recipients of federal
education loans must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Recipients of the Federal Pell Grant,
TEACH grant and campus-based aid may be enrolled less than half-time.
Homeless
A homeless student does not have a fixed, regular and adequate place of nighttime residence.
Homemaker
A homemaker is a stay-at-home parent who manages the household and cares for the children.
Household
A household is a group of people who live together as a family. The federal need analysis methodology
includes children in a parent’s household if they receive more than half their support from a parent even
if they don’t live with the parent.
Incarceration
An incarcerated student is serving a prison sentence. Incarcerated students may have more limited
eligibility for federal student aid. Incarcerated students are not eligible for federal student loans. Students
imprisoned in a federal or state penal institution are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, while students
imprisoned in other penal institutions are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. These eligibility restrictions