At HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, we know the right mix of financial aid is vital to YOUR success at HACC and beyond. We encourage you to use this webpage to learn more about and understand the financial-aid terminology that is used at the College.
If you have any questions, please submit a Financial Aid Inquiry Form.
| Term | Abbreviation If applicable | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Attendance | COA | Cost of attendance is the estimated total cost when you add the: a. Costs billed by HACC, including tuition, fees, etc. |
| Dependent Student | A dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents, so the parents’ information must be assessed along with the student’s information to get a full picture of the family’s financial resources. If you’re a dependent student, it doesn’t mean your parents are required to pay anything toward your education; this information is simply used to determine your maximum eligibility for federal student aid. | |
| Direct Educational Cost | Direct educational costs are those, including tuition and fees, directly related to your attendance at HACC. | |
| Estimated Annual Offer | The Estimated Annual Offer is the estimated financial aid amount and types of financial aid available for the aid year based on the student’s eligibility. Please note that this offer may differ from the aid a student is ultimately awarded. | |
| Student Aid Index (24-25 and after) | SAI | Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. |
| Federal Pell Grant | Pell | The Federal Pell Grant is money the federal government gives to undergraduate students who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree. a. This money does not have to be paid back. |
| Federal Work Study Program | FWS | Federal Work Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education expenses. |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid | FAFSA® | The FAFSA® is the free application for federal student aid. Please note that United States citizens, permanent residents and other eligible noncitizens must complete this application every year to apply for financial aid from the federal government to assist with post-secondary education. |
| Full Time | FT | A student is considered full time if they are enrolled in 12 credits or more per semester. |
| 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, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. | |
| Indirect Educational Cost | Indirect educational costs are those, including room, meals, personal expenses, transportation, mileage, books and supplies (laptops and pens) that you may have and vary based on your program of study/major. | |
| Part Time | PT | A student is considered part time if they are enrolled in one to 11 credits per semester. Please note that a minimum of six eligible credits are required for federal loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS) and the Pennsylvania State Grant. |
| Preliminary Award Notification | The Preliminary Award Notification: a. Breaks down different costs a future student may incur while attending HACC. | |
| Program of Study | A Program of Study, also referred to as a major, is the program you have officially selected to pursue at HACC. Your program of study will show on your account. | |
| Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant | SEOG | The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federal grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | SAI | The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that your college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended the school. This number results from the information that you provide on your FAFSA® form. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need. |
| Undergraduate | A student at a college or university who has not yet earned a bachelor's or equivalent degree. |