GLOSSARY | grantmegraduation

Glossary and Terms

Expected Family Contribution: This is the number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. This number results from the financial information you provide in your FAFSA®, the application for federal student aid. Your EFC is reported to you on your Student Aid Report (SAR)
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Federal Pell Grant: A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.
Merit-based (Aid): Based on a student's skill or ability. Example: A merit-based scholarship might be awarded based on a student's high grades.
Need-based (Aid): Based on a student's financial need. Example: A need-based grant might be awarded based on a student's low income.
Federal Work-Study: A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay your education expenses.

Low-Income students The Population Reference Bureau defines working families "as those earning less than twice the federal poverty line. In 2011, the low-income threshold for a family of four with two children was $45,622. Between 2007 and 2011, the share of working families who are low-income increased from 28 percent to 32.1 percent."