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College and Student Loan Glossary

Key terms and definitions for understanding college costs, financial aid, and student loans.

A C D E F G I L M N P R S T U

A

Accreditation Act

C

College scorecard Completion rate Cost of attendance

D

Default rate Deferment

E

Enrollment Expected family contribution

F

Fafsa Forbearance

G

Gpa Grace period

I

Income driven repayment

L

Loan consolidation Loan refinancing Loan servicer

M

N

Need based aid Net price

P

Pell grant Plus loan

R

Retention rate Return on investment roi Room and board

S

Sat Subsidized loan

T

Transfer credit Tuition

U

Unsubsidized loan

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DegreeMath is not a financial advisor, college counselor, or admissions consultant. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. College outcomes vary significantly by individual circumstances including major, location, career choices, and economic conditions. All data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and other federal agencies.

© 2026 DegreeMath. Data sources: College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics