- About Financial Aid Documents
- About the Office of Student Financial Aid
- Applying for Financial Aid
- Cost of Attendance
- Financial Aid Eligibility
- Financial Aid Glossary
- Financial Aid Resources
- Financial Aid Review Request Process
- Your "Responsibilites" Related to Financial Aid
- Your "Rights" Related to Financial Aid
Glossary
Academic Year
A period of at least 30 weeks of instructional time during which a full-time student is expected to complete at least 24 semester or trimester hours, or at least 36 quarter hours, at an institution that measures program length in credit hours; or at least 900 clock hours at an institution that measures program length in clock hours.
Accrual DateThe date on which interest charges for a loan begin to accrue.
Cancellation
Some loan programs provide for cancellation of the loan under certain circumstances. For example, if the student becomes a teacher in certain national shortage areas, they may be eligible for cancellation of all or part of the balance of their educational loans.
CapitalizationThe practice of adding unpaid interest charges to the principal, increasing the size of the loan principal.
Citizen/Eligible NoncitizenYou must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:
- U.S. Citizen
- U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
- U.S. permanent resident with an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)
- Refugee
- Asylum Granted
- Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
- Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
- Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
- Other eligible non-citizen with a Temporary Resident Card (I-688)
Permanent residents of the Trust Territory of the Pacific (Palau) may be eligible for federal student aid. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are eligible for Pell Grants, FSEOG, or Work Study only. You are NOT eligible for federal financial aid if you only have a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464A), or if you are in the U.S. on an F1, F2, J1, J2, or G series visa. COA (Cost of Attendance)
The cost of attendance (COA) is the total cost of education for the student, including tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. COA is school-specific and is determined by the financial aid offices at each school. Look here for GMU's Cost of Attendance figures.
Consolidation LoanA consolidation loan combines several loans into one bigger loan. This sometimes results in a lower interest rate, as when a consumer loan is used to pay off credit card balances. Such loans often reduce the size of the monthly payment by extending the term of the loan. An extension of the term of the loan may also increase the overall cost of the loan. Consolidation loans also simplify the repayment process by allowing a single payment instead of several. More information about Direct Consolidation Loans is available on the Department of Education's Direct Consolidation Loan site.
CSAP (College Scholarship Assistance Program)A Virginia state-sponsored grant program for undergraduate students. For more information about CSAP see the our Financial Aid Programs Page.
Default
A loan is in default when the borrower fails to pay a regular installment on time or otherwise fails to meet the terms and conditions of the loan. If you default on a loan, the university, the holder of the loan, and the government can take legal action to recover the money, including garnishing your wages. Defaulting on a government loan will make you ineligible for future federal financial aid. This ineligibility for financial aid remains in effect until such time as the defaulted loan is paid in full or until you have made at least 6 consecutive on-time reasonable monthly payments as determined by the holder of the loan.
DefermentDeferment occurs when a borrower is allowed to postpone repayment of a student loan. For example, some federal loan programs allow students to defer their loans while they are in school. Other loan programs allow the student to defer the interest payments by capitalizing the interest.
Dependency StatusA student's dependency status determines to what degree the student is expected to have access to parental financial resources. An independent student is one who is 24 years old as of January 1 (e.g., born before January 1, 1980 for academic year 2003-04), is married, is a graduate or professional student, has legal dependents other than a spouse, is a veteran, or is an orphan or ward of the court. All other students are considered dependent and, as such, must provide parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Direct LendingDirect Lending is a new federal student loan program where the school lends money on behalf of the Federal government. George Mason University is participated in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program and the Federal Direct Parent Loan Program from 1995-1996 through 2003-2004.
DisbursementThe date on which the loan funds are released to the university for payment.
EFC (Expected Family Contribution)
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money the federal government expects the family to be able to contribute to the student's education. The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by Congress. The difference between the COA and the EFC is the student's financial need.
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)Electronic Funds Transfer is used by lenders to wire funds directly to participating schools without requiring an intermediate check for the student to endorse.
ESAR (Electronic Student Aid Report)An ESAR is an electronic reproduction of a Student Aid Report, usually produced locally by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Once the ESAR is signed, it is just as valid as a regular SAR.
Exit InterviewStudents with educational loans are required to meet with a financial aid administrator before they graduate or leave school or stop attending on at least a half-time basis. During this exit interview, the OSFA reviews the repayment terms of the loan and the repayment schedule with the student.
FAA
A FAA is a Financial Aid Administrator, a university employee who is involved in the financial aid process.
FAFSAThe FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is the first step in the financial aid application process and is the only financial aid application required at George Mason University.
FellowshipA form of financial aid given to graduate students to help support their education. Some fellowships include a tuition waiver or a payment to the university in lieu of tuition. Most fellowships include a stipend to cover reasonable living expenses (e.g., just above the poverty line). Fellowships are granted to students by the individual graduate school departments.
FFELPThe FFELP is the Federal Family Education Loan Program, and includes the Federal Stafford Loans and the Federal PLUS loans. George Mason University resumed its participation in FFELP effective with the 2004-2005 academic year after leaving the Federal Direct Student/Parent Loan Programs.
Financial Aid PackageThe financial aid package is the complete collection of grants, fellowships, scholarships, loans, and work-study employment offered to a student to financially enable them to attend the university.
ForbearanceA forbearance is a condition where the lender allows the borrower to postpone repaying the principal of their loan, but requires the borrower to continue paying the interest charges.
FWS (Federal Work Study)The Federal Work-Study program is a form of cooperative education which provides students with on and off-campus employment while in school that is theoretically career-oriented (but general office and clerical positions are not uncommon).. Eligibility is based on need. Essentially FWS pays a portion of the student's salary while the hiring departments and business pay the remainder.
Garnish
The practice of withholding a portion of a borrower's wages to repay his or her loan, often without their consent.
Grace PeriodA short time period after graduation during which the borrower is not required to begin regular repayment of their student loan. The typical grace period is six or nine months depending on the type of loan program.
GrantA grant is a kind of financial aid that the student does not have to repay.
Guarantee AgencyA guarantee agency agrees to pay back a loan if the borrower should default. For example, the federal government guarantees the Federal Direct Student Loans. Each state has a different guarantee agency that administers the Federal Stafford and PLUS loans under the FFELP programs for students in that state. A guarantee fee is a small percentage of the loan that is paid to the guarantee agency as a form of insurance against default. For the name, address, and telephone number of your state's guarantee agency, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4-FED-AID).
Interest
Interest is an amount charged to the borrower for the privilege of using the lender's money. Interest is usually calculated as a percentage of the principal. The percentage rate may be fixed for the life of the loan, or it may be variable, depending on the terms of the loan. All new Federal Stafford and PLUS loans use variable interest rates that are tied to the rates for federal treasury bills.
Lender
The bank or lending institution that provides the money to the borrower for the loan. For Federal Direct Loans, the lender is the federal government.
Need
The difference between the COA and the EFC is the student's financial need - the gap between the student's resources and the cost of attending the school. The financial aid package is often based on the amount of financial need. The process of determining a student's need is known as the need analysis.
Origination Fee
The origination fee is an upfront charge deducted from the loan to pay part of the loan's administrative costs.
OSFAThe Office of Student Financial Aid as George Mason University responsible for the administration of various financial aid programs. The OSFA is located in the South Chesapeake Module behind Fenwick Library.
Pell Grant
The Pell grant is a federal grant that provides funds of up to $4,050 based on the student's financial need. For more information about the Federal Pell Grant see the Financial Aid Programs Page.
Perkins LoanFormerly the National Direct Student Loan Program, the Perkins Loan is a low interest loan that allows undergraduate students to borrow up to $3,000/year (5 year max) for undergraduate study and $5,000/year for graduate school (6 year max).
Professional Judgment (PJ)In some federal aid programs the financial aid administrator can override the amount of aid granted when extenuating circumstances exist. For more information see the page on Financial Aid Review Process.
PrincipalPrincipal is the amount of money borrowed under the loan. Interest is charged as a percentage of the principal.
Promissory NoteA promissory note is the binding legal document signed by the student borrower before loan funds are disbursed by the lender. The promissory note states the terms and conditions of the loan, including repayment schedule, interest rate, deferment policy, and cancellations. The student should keep this document until the loan has been repaid.
PLUS LoansParent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are federal loans available to parents of undergraduate students to help finance the student's education. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of their children's education, less the amount of any other financial aid received.
Research Assistantship
A form of financial aid given to graduate students to help support their education. Research assistantships usually provide the graduate student with a waiver of all or part of tuition, plus a small stipend for living expenses. As the name implies, a research assistant is required to perform research duties. Sometimes these duties are strongly tied to the student's eventual thesis topic.
SAR (Student Aid Report)
A SAR or Student Aid Report is an acknowledgement sent to the student after filing a FAFSA. The SAR summarizes the information included in the FAFSA and may be requested by your school's OSFA. The SAR will also indicate the amount of Pell Grant eligibility, if any.
Satisfactory Academic ProgressA student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to continue receiving federal aid. If a student fails to maintain an academic standing consistent with the school's SAP policy, they are unlikely to meet the school's graduation requirements. The Office of Student Financial Aid has established the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for financial aid eligibility at George Mason University:
Undergraduate Students - Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 and must have successfully completed at least 75% of all hours attempted at GMU. Failure to meet either of these cumulative requirements results in a warning after the first occurrence and suspension of financial aid eligibility if the requirements are not met for two consecutive yearly evaluations.
For the cumulative completion rate requirement, please note that withdrawals after add/drop, courses for which "no credit" is given, and incomplete courses all count as courses attempted but not successfully completed.
In addition to the above grade point average and completion rate requirements, all students must complete their programs of study by attempting no more than 150% of the hours normally required for completion. For example, if a program of study is normally completed with 120 credit hours, financial aid eligibility will be suspended once a student has attempted 180 credit hours or more.
Any student whose aid eligibility is suspended for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards has the right to submit a written appeal if there are mitigating circumstances.
Graduate and doctoral students - Graduate and doctoral students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 and must have successfully completed at least 75% of all hours attempted at GMU. Failure to meet either of these cumulative requirements will result in a warning after the first occurrence and suspension of financial aid eligibility if the requirements are not met for two consecutive terms.
For the cumulative completion rate requirement, please note that withdrawals after add/drop, courses for which "no credit" is given, and incomplete courses all count as courses attempted but not successfully completed.
Any student whose aid eligibility is suspended for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards has the right to submit a written appeal if there are mitigating circumstances.
Law students - Law students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.15 and must have successfully completed at least 75% of all hours attempted at GMU. Failure to meet either of these cumulative requirements will result in a warning after the first occurrence and suspension of financial aid eligibility if the requirements are not met for two consecutive terms.
For the cumulative completion rate requirement, please note that withdrawals after add/drop, courses for which "no credit" is given, and incomplete courses all count as courses attempted but not successfully completed.
Any student whose aid eligibility is suspended for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards has the right to submit a written appeal if there are mitigating circumstances.
A form of financial aid given to undergraduate students to help pay for their education. Most scholarships are restricted to paying all or part of tuition expenses, though some scholarships also cover room and board.
Secondary MarketLoans are often bought and sold on the secondary market. Thus the bank you make your payments to may change during the lifetime of the loan. The terms of your loan do not change when it is sold to another lender.
SEOGThe Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a federal grant program for undergraduate students with exceptional need. SEOG grants are awarded by the school's financial aid office. For more information about the SEOG Program at GMU see the Financial Aid Programs Page.
Stafford LoansFederal Direct Stafford Loans are federally guaranteed student loans that come in two forms, subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are based on demonstrated financial need; unsubsidized loans are not.
Subsidized LoanWith a subsidized loan, the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school at least half-time, during the grace period, and during any approved deferment periods.
Teaching Assistantship (TA)
A form of financial aid given to graduate students to help support their education. Teaching assistantships usually provide the graduate student with a waiver of all or part of tuition, plus a small stipend for living expenses. As the name implies, a TA is required to perform teaching duties.
Unmet Need
In an ideal world, the OSFA would be able to provide each student with the full difference between their ability to pay and the cost of education. Due to funding constraints the OSFA may provide the student with less than the student's demonstrated financial need (as determined by the OSFA). This gap is known as the unmet need.
Unsubsidized LoanAn unsubsidized loan is a loan for which the government does not pay the interest. The borrower is responsible for the interest on an unsubsidized loan from the date the loan is disbursed. The borrower may be eligible to choose to have the interest deferred and capitalized into the loan principal.
Verification
Verification is a review process in which the OSFA determines the accuracy of the information provided on the student's financial aid application. During verification the student will be required to submit documentation to support the information listed (or not listed) on the financial aid application.