Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll encounter on your financial journey.
A student who is considered financially reliant on their parents for the purposes of calculating financial aid eligibility on the FAFSA.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the official form students must fill out to see if they qualify for government money to help pay for college. Think of it as a master key that unlocks doors to grants, loans, and work-study programs to make higher education more affordable.
A Flexible Spending Account is a special account where you put pre-tax money from your paycheck to pay for medical or dependent care expenses. It is like a tax-advantaged debit card for your doctor visits or prescription costs, which helps you save money by lowering your total tax bill.
A summary document sent to students after they submit the FAFSA, detailing their financial information and aid eligibility.