Student Financial Aid Related-Terms

This page outlines important Student Financial Aid (SFA) related terms and definitions in alphabetical order to help navigate the federal student aid process. Contact the Student Financial Aid Office for more information.

Accident Fund: This fund covers expenses for any accidents and injuries for all students at any campus event or program. Services include hospitalization, intensive care, in-patient physician fees and diagnostic services, and surgical expenses. Students must file a report with Public Safety to initiate this process.

Average Other Costs: Include books, course materials, supplies and equipment, personal expenses, and transportation costs. 

Campus Activities Fee: This fee supports the overall student experience. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) (a student-led organization) designs and coordinates comprehensive social, recreational, and cultural programs and related services within the framework of the commitments of Berea College. These programs promote interaction and participation by all members of the campus community through service-learning and outreach.

Campus Activities Fee: This fee supports the overall student experience. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) (a student-led organization) designs and coordinates comprehensive social, recreational, and cultural programs and related services within the framework of the commitments of Berea College. These programs promote interaction and participation by all members of the campus community through service-learning and outreach.

Cost of Attendance: Total of all direct and indirect expenses expected to be incurred by students attending Berea College.

Dependent Students: A student who relies on their parents for financial support and who must report financial information for their parents on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for aid.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC): A number used to determine a student's eligibility for federal student aid. This number results from the financial information the student provides on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The EFC is reported on the Student Aid Report (SAR). Financial aid administrators determine an applicant's need for federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education and other sources of assistance by subtracting the EFC from the student's cost of attendance. The formula changed to a Student Aid Index (SAI) starting in the Academic Year 2024-25.

Federal Grants: Grants provided by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education that do not need to be repaid. These include Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). Need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers may be provided by other federal agencies such as the Veteran's Administration, Department of Labor, etc.).

Federal Loans: Include Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans as well as Parents PLUS loans awarded primarily for term bill balances and education abroad opportunities.

Financial Aid: Any form of funding intended to help individuals cover or partially cover overall educational costs or specialized training (I.e. grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs).

Health and Dental Fees: College Health Service (CHS) is available to all degree-seeking students irrespective of their health insurance status. College Health Service is located in the White House Clinic.

Independent Student: A student who meets one or more 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.

Institutional Grants: Scholarships and other awards granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution (i.e., for instruction, research, public service) that may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. Includes scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence, major field of study, athletic team participation) for which the institution designates the recipient.

Institutional Loans: Includes all Berea College student loans. These loans are used for a variety of reasons: term bills, medical/dental/optical expenses, education abroad, etc.

Loan Funds: Funds are available for additional assistance when needed for educational expenses.

Need-Based Loans: Includes Federal Direct Subsidized, Perkins, and all institutional loans awarded to students for a variety of reasons: term bills, medical/dental/optical expenses, education abroad, etc.

Non-Need-Based Loans: Includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, and alternative student loans. These loans are used primarily to replace Student Aid Index (SAI) for term bill balances and education abroad opportunities.

Other Loans: Other loans (not subsidized Stafford or unsubsidized) are used for needy students to help meet basic expenses such as medical/dental/optical expenses and education abroad opportunities.

Pell Grant Program: (Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart I, as amended.) Provides grant assistance to eligible undergraduate postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need to help meet education expenses. State and Local Government Grants - State and local monies awarded to the institution under state and local student aid programs, including the state portion of State Student Incentives Grants (SSIG).

Student Aid Index: A number used to determine a student's eligibility for federal student aid. This number results from the financial information the student provides on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAI is reported on the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). Financial aid administrators determine an applicant's need for federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education and other sources of assistance by subtracting the SAI from the student's cost of attendance.

Student Financial Aid: Need/Merit-based funding to support expenses contributing to those in secondary education or post-secondary education. This may include the following:

Technology Fee: This fee supports the EDGE (Empowering a Dynamic Generation through Education) program. This is the name given to the College's program, which provides a laptop computer to every student. In addition to the laptops, the EDGE program provides access to the campus network and the Internet from many locations, including classrooms and residence hall rooms, as well as access to software, classroom multimedia technology, technical support, and training. Graduates from Berea College receive ownership of their laptop computers.

Tuition and fees: Paid by the college using various sources of funds (federal and/or state grants, the endowment, gifts, private scholarships, etc.). No student pays this cost. Tuition covers expenses related to the faculty and staff, library, support services, etc.; it does not include costs of development and alums (alumni) programs. Fees include: