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, our financial aid team is here to serve you. Please connect with us via Zoom, email or phone.
| 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 | For the 2023–24 award year, a dependent student is not born before Jan. 1, 2000; married; a graduate/professional student; a veteran; a member of the armed forces who served a tour of duty; an orphan; a ward of the court; someone with legal dependents (not a spouse); or an emancipated minor. | |
| 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. | |
| Expected Family Contribution (2023-24 and prior) | EFC | Expected Family Contribution is an index number used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. This number results from the information you provide in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). |
| 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. Please note: 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 | For the 2023–24 award year, an independent student is either born before Jan. 1, 2000; married; a graduate/professional student; a veteran; a member of the armed forces who served a tour of duty; an orphan; a ward of the court; someone with legal dependents (not a spouse); or an emancipated minor. | |
| 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. |
