Washington and Lee University

Lexington VA 24450-0303

Main phone:                                 540.463.8400

WWW Home Page Address        http://www.wlu.edu

Admissions Phone Number            540.463.8710

Admissions Office Mailing Address, City/State/Zip    Lexington VA 24450-0303

Admissions Fax number:                540.463.8062

Admissions E-mail Address:            admissions@wlu.edu

Is there a separate URL application site on the Internet? If so, please specify:

Private (nonprofit)

Coeducational college

Carnegie classification/AAUP: II-B, National Liberal Arts College

Commission on College, Southern Association of Colleges & Schools: Level V

Undergraduate - Other (4-4-2)

Law - Early semester

A5. Degrees offered by your institution

Bachelor's (BA, BS)

First professional (JD)

Total all undergraduates (IPEDS sum of lines 8 and 22, cols. 15 and 16): _______1,685________
Total all graduate and professional students (IPEDS sum of lines 14 and 28, cols. 15 and 16): ______367_______
GRAND TOTAL ALL STUDENTS (IPEDS line 29, sum of cols. 15 and 16): _____2,052_______
 

B2. Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category.

	FRESHMEN	ALL UNDERGRADUATES	LAW
Non-resident aliens	16	41	1
Black, non-Hispanic	18	46	15
American Indian or Alaskan Native	1	1	3
Asian or Pacific Islander	4	17	13
Hispanic	1	12	3
White, non-Hispanic	408	1,556	330
Multiracial or unknown	6	12	2
Total	454	1,685	367

Persistence

B3. Number of degrees awarded by your institution from July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997

Graduation Rates
For Bachelor's or Equivalent Programs
Report for the cohort of full-time first-time bachelor's (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered in fall 1991.

B4.	Initial 1991 cohort of first-time, full-time bachelor's (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students; total all students: ______421____________
B5.	Of the initial 1991 cohort, how many did not persist and did not graduate for the following reasons: deceased, permanently disabled, armed forces, foreign aid service of the federal government, or official church missions; total allowable exclusions: ________1______________
B6.	Final 1991 cohort, after adjusting for allowable exclusions: ______420_________
B7.	Of the initial 1991 initial cohort, how many completed the program in four years or less (by August 31, 1995): ____354_______
B8.	Of the initial 1991 cohort, how may completed the program in more than four years but in five years or less (after August 31, 1995 and by August 31, 1996): ________13_________
B9.	Of the initial 1991 cohort, how many completed the program in more than five years but in six years or less (after August 31, 1996 and by August 31, 1997): _______1_______
B10.	Total graduating within six years (sum of questions B7, B8, and B9): ______368________
B11.	Six-year graduation rate for 1991 cohort (question B10 divided by question B6): 88%

Retention Rates Report for the cohort of all full-time, first-time bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered in fall 1996 (or the preceding summer term). The initial cohort HAS BEEN adjusted for students who departed for the following reasons: deceased

B21.

For the cohort of all full-time bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduate students who entered your institution as freshmen in fall 1996 (or the preceding summer term), what percentage was enrolled at your institution as of the date your institution calculates it official enrollment in fall 1997?  94%

Applications
C1. First-time, first-year (freshman) students

Total men applied	1,850
Total women applied	1,610
Total men admitted	606
Total women admitted	481
Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men enrolled	240
Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women enrolled	214

C2. Freshman wait-listed students (students who met admission requirements but whose final admission was contingent on space availability)

Do you have a policy of placing students on a waiting list?	Yes
Number of qualified applicants placed on waiting list	750
Number accepting a place on the waiting list	304
Number of wait-listed students admitted	65
Number of wait-listed students enrolled	50

Admission Requirements

C3. High school completion requirement  High school diploma is required and GED is not accepted

C4. Does your institution require or recommend a general college preparatory program for degree-seeking students? Recommended

C5. Distribution of high school units required and/or recommended.Specify the distribution of academic high school course units required and/or recommended of all or most degree-seeking students using Carnegie units (one unit equals one year of study or its equivalent). If you use a different system for calculating units, please convert.

	Units required	Units recommended
Total academic units	16.0 college prep
English	4.0
Mathematics	3.0
Science # of lab units	1.0 1.0	3.0
Foreign language	2.0
Social studies	1.0
History	1.0
Academic electives	4.0
Other (specify)

Basis for Selection

C6. Do you have an open 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? No

C7.  Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in your first-time, first- year (freshman) admission decisions.

very important (VI); important (I); considered (C); not considered (NC)

Nonacademic

SAT and ACT Policies

C8. Entrance exams
a. Does your institution make use of SAT I, SAT II, or ACT scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants? Yes
 
 

	Required
SAT-I
ACT
SAT-I or ACT (no preference)	X
SAT-I or ACT (SAT-I preferred)
SAT-I or ACT (ACT preferred)
SAT-I and SAT-II
SAT-I and SAT-II or ACT
SAT-II	X (writing plus two of applicant's choice)

b. Does your institution use applicants' test scores for placement or counseling? NO

 

Latest date by which SAT I or ACT scores must be received for fall-term admission	January
Latest date by which SAT II scores must be received for fall-term admission	January
If necessary, use this space to clarify your test policies (e.g., if tests recommended for some students, or if tests not required of some students): All students submit the SAT-II writing test results and two other SAT-II results along with SAT-I or ACT results

C9. Percent and number of first-time, first-year (freshman) students enrolled in fall 1997 who submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.

 

Percent submitting SAT scores	87%	Number submitting SAT scores	397
Percent submitting ACT scores	14%	Number submitting ACT scores	62

	25th percentile	75th percentile
SAT I Verbal	630	710
SAT I Math	620	700
ACT Composite	28	31

Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students with scores in each range

	SAT I Verbal	SAT I Math
700-800	35%	31%
600-699	55%	57%
500-599	9%	11%
400-499	1%	1%
300-399	0%	0%
200-299	0%	0%

	ACT Composite
30-36	47%
24-29	53%
18-23	0%
12-17	0%
6-11	0%
below 6	0%

 Average class rank - 93%ile

Percent in top 10th of high school graduating class	78%
Percent in top fifth of high school graduating class	94%
Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class	97%
Percent in top third of high school graduating class	99%
Percent in top half of high school graduating class	100%

Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank:  66%

C12. Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted GPA:  No report

Admission Policies
C13. Application fee
 

C14. Application closing date

Application closing date (fall) - January 15, 1998

Priority date - None

 

C16. Notification to applicants of admission decision sent:  By April 1

C17. Reply policy for admitted applicants:  Must reply by May 1

C18. Deferred admission: Does your institution allow students to postpone enrollment after admission? Yes

C19. Early admission of high school students: Does your institution allow high school students to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) students one year or more before high school graduation? No

C20. Common Application: Will you accept the Common Application distributed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals if submitted? Yes

Early Decision and Early Action Plans

C21. Early decision: Does your institution offer an early decision plan (an admission plan that permits students to apply and be notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date and which asks students to commit to attending if accepted) for first-time, first-year (freshman) applicants for fall enrollment? Yes

Please provide significant details about your early decision plan :
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 

Early action: Do you have a nonbinding early action plan whereby students are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date but do not have to commit to attending your college?
No

Fall Applicants

D1. Does your institution enroll transfer students?  Yes

D2. Provide the number of students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled as degree-seeking transfer students in fall 1997.

 

	Applicants	Admitted applicants	Enrolled applicants
Men	50	10	4
Women	45	7	4
Total	95	17	8

D3. Indicate terms for which transfers may enroll:  Fall, Winter

D4. Must a transfer applicant have a minimum number of credits completed or else must apply as a an entering freshman?  Yes

 If yes, what is the minimum number of credits and the unit of measure?  1 year of collegiate study

 

	Required of all	Recommended for all	Recommended for some	Required for some	Not required
High school transcript	X
College transcript(s)	X
Essay or personal statement	X
Interview		X
Standardized test scores	X
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)	X

D7. If a minimum college grade point average is required of transfer applicants, specify (on a 4.0 scale):   2.000

D8. List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:  Provide copy of current college catalog

D9. List application priority, closing, notification, and candidate reply dates for transfer students.

 

	Priority date	Closing date	Notification date	Reply date	Rolling admission
Fall		April 1	rolling	2 weeks after acceptance
Winter		November 1	rolling	2 weeks after acceptance
Spring
Summer

D11. Describe additional requirements for transfer admission, if applicable:  Not applicable

Transfer Credit Policies

D12. Report the lowest grade earned for any course that may be transferred for credit:  C (2.0)
D13. Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a two-year institution: 87 semester hours
D14. Maximum number of credits or courses that may be transferred from a four-year institution: 87 semester hours
D15. Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn an associate’s degree: Not applicable
D16. Minimum number of credits that transfers must complete at your institution to earn a bachelor’s degree: Two years full-time enrollment (usually 60 credits)
D17. Describe other transfer credit policies:

E. ACADEMIC OFFERINGS AND POLICIES

Majors (by CIP Code):
 
 
 
 

E1. Special study options: Identify those programs available at your institution. Refer to definitions.

 

NO Accelerated program	YES  Honors program
NO Cooperative (work-study) program	YES Independent study
NO Cross-registration	YES  Internships
NO Distance learning	YES  Liberal arts/career combination
YES Double major	YES  Student-designed major
NO Dual enrollment	YES  Study abroad
NO English as a Second Language	YES Teacher certification program (on exchange)
YES U.S. exchange student program	NO Weekend college
NO External degree program
Other (specify):	YES International exchange student program

E3. Areas in which all or most students are required to complete some course work prior to graduation.
        (See General Education requirements.)

 

Arts/fine arts	YES  Humanities
YES  Computer literacy	YES  Mathematics
YES English (including composition)	Philosophy
YES  Foreign languages	YES  Sciences (biological or physical)
History	YES  Social science
Other (describe):	YES Physical education

E4. Books, serial backfiles, and government documents (titles) that are accessible through the library’s catalog – include bound periodicals and newspapers and exclude microforms: 683,376

E5. Current serials (titles): - include periodicals, newspapers, and government documents: 6,490

E6. Microforms (titles): 81,940

E7. Video and audio (titles): 7,925

 

	% FR	% ALL
Percent who are from out of state (exclude internat’l/nonresident aliens)	89%	88%
Percent of men who join fraternities (pledging begins in January)	NA	81.5%
Percent of women who join sororities (pledging begins in January)	NA	69.7%
Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing	100%	61%
Percent who live off campus or commute	0%	39%
Percent of students age 25 and older	0%	0.2%
Average age of full-time students (as of October 1)	18.0	19.5
Average age of all students (full- and part-time)	18.0	19.5

 

Choral groups YES	Marching band  NO	Student government YES
Concert band YES	Music ensembles YES	Student newspaper YES
Dance YES	Musical theaterNO	Student-run film society YES
Drama/theater YES	OperaNO	Symphony orchestra YES
Jazz band YES	Pep bandNO	Television station YES
Literary magazine YES	Radio station YES	Yearbook YES

Army ROTC is offered:

 

On campus  NO

At cooperating institution (name): Virginia Military Institute

F4. Housing: Check all types of college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing available for undergraduates at your institution.

 

Coed dorms  YES	Special housing for disabled students NO
Men’s dorms  NO	Special housing for international students YES
Women’s dorms  NO	Fraternity/sorority housing  YES
Apartments for married students  NO	Cooperative housing    NO
Apartments for single students   NO
Other housing options (specify):	Outing Club House, Panhellenic House

Provide 1997-98 academic year costs for the following categories that are applicable to your institution.

G1. Undergraduate full-time tuition, required fees, room and board List the typical tuition, required fees, and room and board for a full-time undergraduate student for the FULL 1997-98 academic year. A full academic year refers to the period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a four-one-four plan. Required fees include only charges that all full-time students must pay that are not included in tuition (e.g., registration, health, or activity fees.) Do not include optional fees (e.g., parking, laboratory use).

 

	FIRST-YEAR	UNDERGRADUATES	Anticipated 1998-99 charges
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS:	$ 16,040	$16,040	$16,470
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS In-district:
In-state (out-of-district):
Out-of-state:
NONRESIDENT ALIENS:	$16,040	$16,040	$16,470
REQUIRED FEES:	$    155	$     155	$    155
ROOM AND BOARD: (on-campus)	$ 5,096	$ 5, 096	$ 5,388
ROOM ONLY: (on-campus)
BOARD ONLY: (on-campus meal plan)

G3. Do tuition and fees vary by year of study (e.g., sophomore, junior, senior)? No

G4. If tuition and fees vary by undergraduate instructional program, describe briefly: Not applicable

G5. Provide the estimated expenses for a typical full-time undergraduate student:

 

	Residents	Commuters (living at home)	Commuters (not living at home)	Anticipated 1998-99 charges
Books and supplies:	$  800		$  800	$   875
Room only:	$2,469		$2,469	$2,528
Board only:	$2,800		$2,800	$2,860
Transportation:
Other expenses:	$1,257		$1,257	$1,292

Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates

H1. Enter total dollar amount awarded in the 1997-98 academic year to full-time and part-time degree-seeking undergraduates (using the same cohort reported in CDS Question B1, "total degree-seeking" undergraduates)in the following categories. Include aid awarded to international students (i.e., those not qualifying for federal aid). Do not include non-need-based athletically related aid or tuition waivers that are personnel benefits. Number of Undergraduates (U): Please provide the number of degree-seeking undergraduates who were awarded aid. Number of First-year students (F) : Please provide the number of degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who were awarded aid. Include the first-year students in the undergraduate count. Students may be counted in more than one row. Aid that is non-need-based but is used to meet need should be counted as need-based aid.

 

	Need-based aid			Non-need-based aid
	$	#U	#F	$	#U	#F
Scholarships/Grants
Federal	$  155,300	80	30	$   21,090	19	1
State	$  135,670	64	16	$  217,000	109	31
Other external scholarships/grants administered by college	$  298,805	127	61	$  246,339	85	41
Institutional	$3,583,455	319	96	$1,488,109	166	38
Total Scholarships/Grants	$4,173,230	370	115	$1,972,538	316	92
Self-Help
Student loans	$1,548,212	377	102	$   681,393	99	21
Federal Work Study	$   421,350	296	89
State and other work study/employment	$   129,233	74	34	$   190,132	73	12
Total Self-Help	$2,098,795	432	134	$   871,525	136	31
Parent Loans	-0-	0	0	$2,629,236	211	54

H2. If need-based gift aid is awarded based on additional criteria, check off all other criteria used in making award decisions.

 

Academics  YES	Job skills  NO	Religious affiliation  NO
Alumni affiliation  NO	Leadership  NO	State/district residency  NO
Art  NO	Minority status  NO	Other:  NO
Athletics  NO	Music/drama  NO

H3. List the number of degree-seeking students who applied for and received financial aid. Note: In the chart below, students may be counted in more than one row, and full-time freshmen should also be counted as full-time undergraduates.

 

	First-time Full-time Freshmen	Full-time Undergrad	Less than Full-time
a. Number of degree-seeking students (CDS Item B1)	454	1,681
b. Number of students in line a who were financial aid applicants	208	615
c. Number of students in line b who were determined to have financial need	144	478
Number of students in line c who received any need-based gift aid	115	370
Number of students in line c who received any need-based self-help aid	134	432
Number of students in line c who received any non-need-based gift aid	36	77
Number of students in line c who received any non-need-based self-help aid	32	71
Number of students in line c whose need was fully met	137	405
On average, the percentage of need that was met of students who received any need-based aid. Exclude any resources that were awarded to replace EFC.	97%	93%
The average financial aid package of those in line c. Exclude any resources that were awarded to replace EFC.	$13,079	$13,048

H5. Average per-student cumulative undergraduate indebtedness of those in line H4: $13,935

Aid to Undergraduate International Students

H6. Indicate your institution's policy regarding financial aid for undergraduate international (nonresident alien) students:

College-administered need-based financial aid is available for international students

College-administered non-need-based financial aid is available for international students

Process for First-Year/freshman Students

H7. All financial aid forms domestic first-year (freshman) financial aid applicants must submit:

FAFSA

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

Noncustodial (Divorced/Separated) Parent’s Statement

Business/Farm Supplement

Institution’s own financial aid form

Foreign Student’s Certification of Finances

 

Priority date for filing required financial aid forms:	February 1
Deadline for filing required financial aid forms:
No deadline for filing required forms  (applications processed on a rolling basis):

H11. Indicate reply dates:
Students must reply by (date): May 1

Types of Aid Available

Please check off all types of aid available at your institution:

H12. Loans

FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM (FFEL)

FFEL Subsidized Stafford Loans

FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

FFEL PLUS Loans

Federal Perkins Loans

College/university loans from institutional funds

Need-based:

Federal Pell

SEOG

State scholarships/grants

Private

College/university gift aid from institutional

Non-need based (college-administered):

Academic

Special characteristics

ROTC

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Number awarded: 275    Average: $1,700

Part-time jobs (other than FWS) on campus

Number awarded:  50

*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 America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
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 actio ns: 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 or Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or Pacific Islands. This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, American Samoa, India, and Vietnam.
Associate’s 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, U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at least four years but not more than five years of full-time equivalent college-level wor k. 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 act ual 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, non-Hispanic: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa (except those of Hispanic origin).
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.
*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 desiring students 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 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.
Contact hour: A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock 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 (work-study plan) 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.
Core curriculum: A specified number of courses or credits in the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and/or physical sciences required of all students, regardless of major, to ensure a basic set of learning experiences.
*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 other formal award.
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 formal award.
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 t he requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
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 formal award. At the undergraduate level, this is intended to include students enrolled in vocational or occupational pro grams.
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.
Doctoral degree: The highest award a student can earn for graduate study. The doctoral degree classification includes such degrees as Doctor of Education, Doctor of Juridical Science, Doctor of Public Health, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in any field such as agronomy, food technology, education, engineering, public administration, ophthalmology, or radiology. For the Doctor of Public Health degree, the prior degree is generally earned in the closely related field of medicine or in sanitary engineering.
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 your 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 offe r 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 Stud y 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 atten dance.
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, athle tics, performing arts, etc.
First professional certificate (postdegree): An award that requires completion of an organized program of study designed for persons who have completed the first professional degree. Examples could be refresher courses or additional units of study in a specialty or subspecialty.
First professional degree: An award in one of the following fields: Chiropractic (DC, DCM), dentistry (DDS, DMD), medicine (MD), optometry (OD), osteopathic medicine (DO), rabbinical and Talmudic studies (MHL, Rav), Pharmacy (B.Pharm, Pharm.D), po diatry (PodD, DP, DPM), veterinary medicine (DVM), law (LLB, JD), divinity/ministry (BD, MDiv).
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. A lso includes students who entered with advanced standing (college credit earned before graduation from high school).
First-time, first-year (freshman) 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 includ es 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 contact hours.
Freshman: A first-year undergraduate student.
*Freshman/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, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact 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 point s 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 first professional degree, 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 an other state specified examination.
Hispanic: A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South 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 alien.
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.
Master’s degree: An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of one but not more than two academic years of work beyond the bachelor’s degree.
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.
  Nonresident alien: 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 children of students (usually 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 less than 12 credits per semester or quarter, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term.
*Personal counseling: One-on-one or group counseling with trained professionals for student who want to explore personal, educational, or vocational problems.
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.
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 title of master.
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma (at least one but less than two academic years): Requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least one but less than two full-t ime 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 contact 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 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 a nd those affiliated with a religious organization.
Proprietary institution: See Private nonprofit 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 on e group.
Race/ethnicity unreported: 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 category.
Religious affiliation/commitment (as admission factor): 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 student who want to 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, registration fees, student activity, or health fees.
Resident alien or other eligible noncitizen: 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 alien status (and who holds either an alien 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 o r Cuban-Haitian).
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 county. 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 quart er 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 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 earne d 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.
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, contact hour).
Undergraduate: A student enrolled in a four- or five-year bachelor’s degree program, an associate’s degree program, or a vocational or technical program below the baccalaureate.
*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 civili an life.
*Visually impaired: Any person whose sight loss is sufficiently severe and not correctable, and adversely affects 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, non-Hispanic: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin).
*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 ext racurricular record.
 

Common Data Set Financial Aid Definitions

Financial aid applicant: Any applicant who submits the institutionally required financial aid application/form, such as the FAFSA.
Indebtedness: Aggregate dollar amount borrowed by the student.
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 noninstitutional student aid (grants, j obs, and loans).
Need-based gift aid: Scholarships and grants from institutional, state, federal or other sources for which a student must have financial need to qualify. Do not include athletic scholarships, outside awards, or awards construed as personnel benef its, i.e., scholarships to children of faculty and staff.
Non-need-based gift 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, meri t, or any other non-need-based reason. Exclude athletic scholarships, awards construed as personnel benefits, i.e., scholarships to children of faculty and staff.
Self-help aid: Need-based loans and jobs up to the level of institutionally determined need.