Glossary Terms

Accredited College/University
Any college or university that is accredited through the United States Department of Education.  www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp

Associate Degree
Degree given upon completion of two years of full-time study or the equivalent. Most associate degrees are awarded by two-year colleges, although some four-year universities also offer associate degrees. Some associate degrees transfer to four-year universities; others are for career preparation.

Bachelor's Degree
Degree given upon completion of four years of full-time study or the equivalent.

Concurrent Enrollment
A program that allows eligible high school students (juniors and seniors) to take credit-earning college

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
A measure of your family’s financial strength based on income, assets, family size and etc., based on the FAFSA.

FAFSA – (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The formed used to determine the amount of federal and state aid for which you are eligible.   www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Full-Time Student
An undergraduate student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours or a graduate student enrolled in at least nine credit hours, or the equivalent, in one semester or academic term.

Graduate Student
A student working toward a master's or doctoral degree.

OTAG (Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant) – This is a need-based grant program for Oklahoma residents who attend eligible colleges, universities and career technology centers in Oklahoma.  Awards are approved for full-time or part-time undergraduate students.  www.okhighered.org/student-center/financial-aid/otag.shtml

OTEG (Oklahoma Tuition Equilization Grant)
A grant is given by the State of Oklahoma to an Oklahoma resident student attending a private college in Oklahoma provided the student's parental income does not exceed $50,000. www.oicu.org/OTAG.htm

Part-Time Student
A student who is enrolled in a certain number of course credits or hours which are less than full-time. For an undergraduate student, this is usually less than 12 credits or hours. For a graduate student, it is usually less than nine credits or hours.

Pell Grant
Gift aid that is given based on financial need.  How much aid you will be eligible to receive is based on your EFC.  Current maximum per year is $4,050.

Student Aid Report (SAR)
The official notification sent to students after the FAFSA is received.  This document will state your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Standardized Test (ACT or SAT)
Test used by colleges and universities to evaluate an applicant's academic skills and abilities. The standardized tests most widely used by colleges and universities are the ACT and SAT. Oklahoma state colleges and universities rely primarily on the ACT.

Undergraduate Student
A student working toward an associate or a bachelor's degree or a certificate.