| Common
Data Set Definitions |
| ¨
All definitions related to the financial aid
section appear at the end of the Definitions document. |
| ¨
Items preceded by an asterisk (*) represent
definitions agreed to among publishers which do not appear on the CDS
document but may be present on individual publishers’ surveys. |
| ¨ Additional guidance for some terms, particularly those
common with the IPEDS survey, may be found here:
https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/public/glossary |
| *Academic advisement: Plan
under which each student is assigned to a faculty member or a trained
adviser, who, through regular meetings, helps the student plan and implement
immediate and long-term academic and vocational goals. |
| Accelerated program: Completion
of a college program of study in fewer than the usual number of years, most
often by attending summer sessions and carrying extra courses during the
regular academic term. |
| Admitted student: Applicant
who is offered admission to a degree-granting program at your institution. |
| *Adult student services: Admission
assistance, support, orientation, and other services expressly for adults who
have started college for the first time, or who are re-entering after a lapse
of a few years. |
| American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
North and South America (including Central America) and maintaining tribal
affiliation or community attachment. |
| Applicant (first-time, first year): An individual who has fulfilled the institution’s
requirements to be considered for admission (including payment or waiving of
the application fee, if any) and who has been notified of one of the
following actions: admission, nonadmission, placement on waiting list, or
application withdrawn (by applicant or institution). |
| Application fee: That amount
of money that an institution charges for processing a student’s application
for acceptance. This amount is not creditable toward tuition and required fees, nor is it
refundable if the student is not admitted to the institution. |
| Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for
example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the
Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. |
| Associate degree: An award
that normally requires at least two but less than four years of full-time
equivalent college work. |
| Bachelor’s degree: An award
(baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of
full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes ALL bachelor’s degrees
conferred in a five-year cooperative (work-study plan) program. (A
cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in
business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual
work experience with their college studies.) Also, it includes bachelor’s
degrees in which the normal four years of work are completed in three years. |
| Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups
of Africa. |
| Board (charges): Assume
average cost for 19 meals per week or the maximum meal plan. |
| Books and supplies (costs): Average
cost of books and supplies. Do not include unusual costs for special groups
of students (e.g., engineering or art majors), unless they constitute the
majority of students at your institution. |
| Calendar system: The method
by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year. |
| Campus Ministry: Religious
student organizations (denominational or nondenominational) devoted to
fostering religious life on college campuses. May also refer to Campus
Crusade for Christ, an interdenominational Christian organization. |
| *Career and placement services: A range of services, including (often) the following:
coordination of visits of employers to campus; aptitude and vocational
testing; interest inventories, personal counseling; help in resume writing,
interviewing, launching the job search; listings for those students desiring
employment and those seeking permanent positions; establishment of a
permanent reference folder; career resource materials. |
| Carnegie units: One year of
study or the equivalent in a secondary school subject. |
| Certificate: See Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma. |
| Class rank: The relative
numerical position of a student in his or her graduating class, calculated by
the high school on the basis of grade-point average, whether weighted or
unweighted. |
| College-preparatory program: Courses
in academic subjects (English, history and social studies, foreign languages,
mathematics, science, and the arts) that stress preparation for college or
university study. |
| Common Application: The
standard application form distributed by the National Association of
Secondary School Principals for a large number of private colleges who are
members of the Common Application Group. |
| *Community service program: Referral
center for students wishing to perform volunteer work in the community or
participate in volunteer activities coordinated by academic departments. |
| Commuter: A student who
lives off campus in housing that is not owned by, operated by, or affiliated
with the college. This category includes students who commute from home and
students who have moved to the area to attend college. |
| Comprehensive
transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual
disabilities: Programs designed to support
postsecondary students with intellectual disabilities obtain instruction in
academic, career and technical, and independent living subjects in preparation for employment. |
| Clock hour: A unit of
measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students.
Also referred to as contact hour. |
| Continuous basis (for program enrollment): A calendar system classification that is used by
institutions that enroll students at any time during the academic year. For
example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow
students to enroll and begin studies at various times, with no requirement
that classes begin on a certain date. |
| Cooperative education program: A program that provides for alternate class attendance and
employment in business, industry, or government. |
| Cooperative housing: College-owned,
-operated, or -affiliated housing in which students share room and board
expenses and participate in household chores to reduce living expenses. |
| *Counseling service: Activities
designed to assist students in making plans and decisions related to their
education, career, or personal development. |
| Credit: Recognition of
attendance or performance in an instructional activity (course or program)
that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree,
diploma, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential. |
| Credit course: A course
that, if successfully completed, can be applied toward the number of courses
required for achieving a degree, diploma, certificate, or other recognized
postsecondary credential. |
| Credit hour: A unit of
measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15-week
period in a semester or trimester system or a 10-week period in a quarter
system. It is applied toward the total number of hours needed for completing
the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or recognized
postsecondary credential. |
| Cross-registration: A system
whereby students enrolled at one institution may take courses at another
institution without having to apply to the second institution. |
| Deferred admission: The
practice of permitting admitted students to postpone enrollment, usually for
a period of one academic term or one year. |
| Degree: An award conferred
by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as
official recognition for the successful completion of a program of studies. |
| Degree-seeking students: Students
enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized by the institution as
seeking a degree or recognized postsecondary credential. At the undergraduate
level, this is intended to include students enrolled in vocational or
occupational programs. |
| Differs by program (calendar system): A calendar system classification that is used by
institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying length.
These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program
desired. For example, a school might offer a two-month program in January,
March, May, September, and November; and a three-month program in January,
April, and October. |
| Diploma: See Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma. |
| Distance learning: An option
for earning course credit at off-campus locations via cable television,
internet, satellite classes, videotapes, correspondence courses, or other
means. |
| Doctor’s degree-research/scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced
work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a
dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an
original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement.
Some examples of this type of degree may include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A.,
D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution. |
| Doctor’s degree-professional practice: A doctor’s degree that is conferred upon completion of a
program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential,
or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a
period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both
pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least six full-time
equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as
“first-professional” and may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry
(D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (L.L.B. or J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry (O.D.);
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D.,
D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the
awarding institution. |
| Doctor’s degree-other: A
doctor’s degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor’s degree -
research/scholarship or a doctor’s degree - professional practice. |
| Double major: Program in
which students may complete two undergraduate programs of study
simultaneously. |
| Dual enrollment: A program
through which high school students may enroll in college courses while still
enrolled in high school. Students are not required to apply for admission to
the college in order to participate. |
| Early action plan: An
admission plan that allows students to apply and be notified of an admission
decision well in advance of the regular notification dates. If admitted, the
candidate is not committed to enroll; the student may reply to the offer
under the college’s regular reply policy. |
| Early admission: A policy
under which students who have not completed high school are admitted and
enroll full time in college, usually after completion of their junior year. |
| Early decision plan: A plan
that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision (and
financial aid offer if applicable) well in advance of the regular
notification date. Applicants agree to accept an offer of admission and, if
admitted, to withdraw their applications from other colleges. There are three
possible decisions for early decision applicants: admitted, denied, or not
admitted but forwarded for consideration with the regular applicant pool,
without prejudice. |
| English as a Second Language (ESL): A course of study designed specifically for students whose
native language is not English. |
| Exchange student program-domestic: Any arrangement between a student and a college that
permits study for a semester or more at another college in the United States without
extending the amount of time required for a degree. See also Study abroad. |
| External degree program: A
program of study in which students earn credits toward a degree through
independent study, college courses, proficiency examinations, and personal
experience. External degree programs require minimal or no classroom
attendance. |
| Extracurricular activities (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admissions process given for
participation in both school and nonschool-related activities of interest to
the college, such as clubs, hobbies, student government, athletics,
performing arts, etc. |
| First-time student: A
student attending any institution for the first time at the level enrolled.
Includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended a postsecondary
institution for the first time at the same level in the prior summer term.
Also includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credit
earned before graduation from high school). |
| First-time,
first-year student: A student attending any
institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Includes students
enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the
prior summer term. Also includes students who entered with advanced standing
(college credits earned before graduation from high school). |
| First-year student: A
student who has completed less than the equivalent of 1 full year of
undergraduate work; that is, less than 30 semester hours (in a 120-hour
degree program) or less than 900 clock hours. |
| *New
student orientation: Orientation addressing the
academic, social, emotional, and intellectual issues involved in beginning
college. May be a few hours or a few days in length; at some colleges, there
is a fee. |
| Full-time student (undergraduate): A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, 12 or
more quarter credits, or 24 or more clock hours a week each term. |
| Geographical residence (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admission process given to
students from a particular region, state, or country of residence. |
| Grade-point average (academic high school GPA): The sum of grade points a student has earned in secondary
school divided by the number of courses taken. The most common system of
assigning numbers to grades counts four points for an A, three points for a
B, two points for a C, one point for a D, and no points for an E or F.
Unweighted GPA’s assign the same weight to each course. Weighting gives
students additional points for their grades in advanced or honors courses. |
| Graduate student: A student
who holds a bachelor’s or equivalent, and is taking courses at the
post-baccalaureate level. |
| *Health services: Free or
low cost on-campus primary and preventive health care available to students. |
| High school diploma or recognized equivalent: A document certifying the successful completion of a
prescribed secondary school program of studies, or the attainment of
satisfactory scores on the Tests of General Educational Development (GED), or
another state-specified examination. |
| Hispanic or Latino: A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. |
| Honors program: Any special
program for very able students offering the opportunity for educational
enrichment, independent study, acceleration, or some combination of these. |
| Independent study: Academic
work chosen or designed by the student with the approval of the department
concerned, under an instructor’s supervision, and usually undertaken outside
of the regular classroom structure. |
| In-state tuition: The
tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state’s or
institution’s residency requirements. |
| International
student: See
Nonresident. |
| International student group: Student
groups that facilitate cultural dialogue, support a diverse campus, assist
international students in acclimation and creating a social network. |
| Internship: Any short-term,
supervised work experience usually related to a student’s major field, for
which the student earns academic credit. The work can be full- or part-time,
on- or off-campus, paid or unpaid. |
| *Learning center: Center
offering assistance through tutors, workshops, computer programs, or
audiovisual equipment in reading, writing, math, and skills such as taking
notes, managing time, taking tests. |
| *Legal services: Free or low
cost legal advice for a range of issues (personal and other). |
| Liberal arts/career combination: Program in which a student earns undergraduate degrees in
two separate fields, one in a liberal arts major and the other in a
professional or specialized major, whether on campus or through
cross‑registration. |
| Living learning community: Residential
programs that allow students to interact with students who share common
interests. In addition to living together, students may also participate in
shared courses, special events, and group service projects. |
| Master's degree: An award
that requires the successful completion of a program of study of generally
one or two full-time equivalent academic years of work beyond the bachelor's
degree. Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav)
that were formerly classified as "first-professional", may require
more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work. |
| Minority affiliation (as admission factor): Special consideration in the admission process for members
of designated racial/ethnic minority groups. |
| *Minority student center: Center
with programs, activities, and/or services intended to enhance the college
experience of students of color. |
| Model United Nations: A
simulation activity focusing on conflict resolution, globalization, and
diplomacy. Assuming roles as foreign ambassadors and “delegates,” students
conduct research, engage in debate, draft resolutions, and may participate in
a national Model UN conference. |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins
in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific
Islands. |
| Nonresident:
A person who is not a citizen or national of the
United States and who is in this country on a visa or temporary basis and
does not have the right to remain indefinitely. |
| *On-campus day care: Licensed
day care for students’ children (usually age 3 and up); usually for a fee. |
| Open admission: Admission
policy under which virtually all secondary school graduates or students with
GED equivalency diplomas are admitted without regard to academic record, test
scores, or other qualifications. |
| Other expenses (costs): Include
average costs for clothing, laundry, entertainment, medical (if not a
required fee), and furnishings. |
| Out-of-state tuition: The
tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the
institution’s or state’s residency requirements. |
| Part-time student (undergraduate): A student enrolled for fewer than 12 credits per semester
or quarter, or fewer than 24 clock hours a week each term. |
| Permanent Resident or other eligible non-citizen: A person who is not a citizen or national of the United
States and who has been admitted as a legal immigrant for the purpose of
obtaining permanent resident status (and who holds either a registration card
[Form I-551 or I-151], a Temporary Resident Card [Form I-688], or an
Arrival-Departure Record [Form I-94] with a notation that conveys legal
immigrant status, such as Section 207 Refugee, Section 208 Asylee,
Conditional Entrant Parolee or Cuban-Haitian). |
| *Personal counseling:
One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals for students who
want to explore personal, educational, or vocational issues. |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate: An award that requires completion of an organized program
of study requiring 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s; designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree but do not meet the
requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of master. |
| Post-master’s certificate: An
award that requires completion of an organized program of study of 24 credit
hours beyond the master’s degree but does not meet the requirements of
academic degrees at the doctoral level. |
| Postsecondary award, certificate, or
diploma: Includes the following three IPEDS
definitions for postsecondary awards, certificates, and diplomas of varying
durations and credit/contact/clock hour requirements: |
| Less Than 1 Academic Year: Requires completion of an organized program of study at
the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in less than 1
academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) or in less than 900 clock hours by
a student enrolled full-time. |
| At Least 1 But Less Than 2 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at
the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but
less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 credit hours, or in at least 900 but less
than 1,800 clock hours. |
| At Least 2 But Less Than 4 Academic Years: Requires completion of an organized program of study at
the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but
less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 credit hours, or in at least 1,800 but less
than 3,600 clock hours. |
| Private institution: An
educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a
nongovernmental agency, usually supported primarily by other than public
funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. |
| Private for-profit institution: A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency
in control receives compensation, other than wages, rent, or other expenses
for the assumption of risk. |
| Private nonprofit institution: A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency
in control receives no compensation, other than wages, rent, or other
expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent nonprofit
schools and those affiliated with a religious organization. |
| Proprietary institution: See Private for-profit institution. |
| Public institution: An
educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by
publicly elected or appointed school officials, and which is supported
primarily by public funds. |
| Quarter calendar system: A
calendar system in which the academic year consists of three sessions called
quarters of about 12 weeks each. The range may be from 10 to 15 weeks. There
may be an additional quarter in the summer. |
| Race/ethnicity: Category
used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong
in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific
definitions of anthropological origins. A person may be counted in only one
group. |
| Race/ethnicity unknown: Category
used to classify students or employees whose race/ethnicity is not known and
whom institutions are unable to place in one of the specified racial/ethnic
categories. |
| Recognized Postsecondary Credential: Includes both Title IV eligible degrees, certificates, and
other recognized postsecondary credentials. Any credential that is received
after completion of a program that is eligible for Title IV federal student
aid. Credentials that are awarded to recognize an individual’s attainment of
measurable technical or industry/occupational skills necessary to obtain
employment or advance within an industry occupation. (Generally based on
standards developed or endorsed by employers or industry associations). |
| Religious affiliation/commitment (as admission factor): Special consideration given in the admission process for
affiliation with a certain church or faith/religion, commitment to a
religious vocation, or observance of certain religious tenets/lifestyle. |
| *Religious counseling: One-on-one
or group counseling with trained professionals for students who want to
explore religious problems or issues. |
| *Remedial services: Instructional
courses designed for students deficient in the general competencies necessary
for a regular postsecondary curriculum and educational setting. |
| Required fees: Fixed sum
charged to students for items not covered by tuition and required of such a
large proportion of all students that the student who does NOT pay is the
exception. Do not include application fees or optional fees such as lab fees
or parking fees. |
| Room and board (charges)—on campus: Assume double occupancy in institutional housing and 19
meals per week (or maximum meal plan). |
| Secondary school record (as admission factor): Information maintained by the secondary school that may
include such things as the student’s high school transcript, class rank, GPA,
and teacher and counselor recommendations. |
| Semester calendar system: A
calendar system that consists of two semesters during the academic year with
about 16 weeks for each semester of instruction. There may be an additional
summer session. |
| Student-designed major: A
program of study based on individual interests, designed with the assistance
of an adviser. |
| Study abroad: Any
arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying
in another country. Can be at a campus abroad or through a cooperative
agreement with some other U.S. college or an institution of another country. |
| *Summer session: A summer
session is shorter than a regular semester and not considered part of the
academic year. It is not the third term of an institution operating on a
trimester system or the fourth term of an institution operating on a quarter
calendar system. The institution may have 2 or more sessions occurring in the
summer months. Some schools, such as vocational and beauty schools, have
year-round classes with no separate summer session. |
| Talent/ability (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students with demonstrated
talent/abilities in areas of interest to the institution (e.g., sports, the
arts, languages, etc.). |
| Teacher certification program:
Program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for
certification as teachers in elementary, middle/junior high, and secondary
schools. |
| Transfer applicant: An
individual who has fulfilled the institution’s requirements to be considered
for admission (including payment or waiving of the application fee, if any)
and who has previously attended another college or university and earned
college-level credit. |
| Transfer student: A student
entering the institution for the first time but known to have previously
attended a postsecondary institution at the same level (e.g., undergraduate).
The student may transfer with or without credit. |
| Transportation (costs): Assume
two round trips to student’s hometown per year for students in institutional
housing or daily travel to and from your institution for commuter students. |
| Trimester calendar system: An
academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each. |
| Tuition: Amount of money
charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per
term, per course, or per credit. |
| *Tutoring: May range from
one-on-one tutoring in specific subjects to tutoring in an area such as math,
reading, or writing. Most tutors are college students; at some colleges, they
are specially trained and certified. |
| Unit: a standard of
measurement representing hours of academic instruction (e.g., semester
credit, quarter credit, clock hour). |
| Undergraduate: A student
enrolled in a four- or five-year bachelor’s degree program, an associate
degree program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate. |
| Undergraduate
Research: Opportunities offered to undergraduate
students to make original contributions in an academic discipline via the
exploration of a specific research topic. Research opportunities may or may
not be associated with a specific course or earn credit. |
| *Veteran’s counseling: Helps
veterans and their dependents obtain benefits for their selected program and
provides certifications to the Veteran’s Administration. May also provide
personal counseling on the transition from the military to a civilian life. |
| *Visually impaired: Any
person whose sight loss is not correctable and is sufficiently severe as to
adversely affect educational performance. |
| Volunteer work (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students for activity done
on a volunteer basis (e.g., tutoring, hospital care, working with the elderly
or disabled) as a service to the community or the public in general. |
| Wait list: List of students
who meet the admission requirements but will only be offered a place in the
class if space becomes available. |
| Weekend college: A program
that allows students to take a complete course of study and attend classes
only on weekends. |
| White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. |
| *Women’s center: Center with
programs, academic activities, and/or services intended to promote an
understanding of the evolving roles of women. |
| Work experience (as admission factor): Special consideration given to students who have been
employed prior to application, whether for relevance to major, demonstration
of employment-related skills, or as explanation of student’s academic and
extracurricular record. |
|
| Financial
Aid Definitions |
| External scholarships and grants: Scholarships and grants received from outside (private)
sources that students bring with them (e.g., Kiwanis, National Merit
scholarships). The institution may process paperwork to receive the dollars,
but it has no role in determining the recipient or the dollar amount awarded. |
| Financial aid applicant: Any
applicant who submits any one of the institutionally required financial aid
applications/forms, such as the FAFSA. |
| Indebtedness: Aggregate
dollar amount borrowed through any loan program (federal, state, subsidized,
unsubsidized, private, etc.; excluding parent loans) while the student was
enrolled at an institution. Student loans co-signed by a parent are assumed
to be the responsibility of the student and should be included. |
| Institutional scholarships and grants: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded
grants for which the institution determines the recipient. |
| Financial need: As
determined by your institution using the federal methodology and/or your
institution's own standards. |
| Need-based aid: College-funded
or college-administered award from institutional, state, federal, or other
sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify. This
includes both institutional and non-institutional student aid (grants, jobs,
and loans). |
| Need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants from institutional, state, federal,
or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify. |
| Need-based self-help aid: Loans
and jobs from institutional, state, federal, or other sources for which a
student must demonstrate financial need to qualify. |
| Non-need-based scholarship or grant aid: Scholarships and grants, gifts, or merit-based aid from
institutional, state, federal, or other sources (including unrestricted funds
or gifts and endowment income) awarded solely on the basis of academic
achievement, merit, or any other non-need-based reason. When reporting
questions H1 and H2, non-need-based aid that is used to meet need should be
counted as need-based aid. |
| Note:
Suggested order of precedence for counting non-need money as need-based: |
| 1.
Non-need institutional grants |
| 2.
Non-need tuition waivers |
| 3.
Non-need athletic awards |
| 4.
Non-need federal grants |
| 5.
Non-need state grants |
| 6.
Non-need outside grants |
| 7.
Non-need student loans |
| 8.
Non-need parent loans |
| 9.
Non-need work |
| Non-need-based self-help aid: Loans
and jobs from institutional, state, or other sources for which a student need
not demonstrate financial need to qualify. |
| Work study and employment:
Federal and state work study aid, and any employment packaged by your
institution in financial aid awards. |
|