Adjusted Gross Income. Most financial aid forms require parents or students to state their taxable AGI based on income minus maximum allowable adjustments.

These private student loans from banks or other lending institutions are not federally supported or guaranteed. Students must be enrolled to apply for these loans.

Unpaid interest that is added to the original amount of a loan. Capitalized interest increases the size of a loan, because the borrower is paying interest on their interest.

Cost of Attendance. This is the total cost of attending a college or university, including tuition, room and board, books, lab fees, transportation and basic living expenses.

The College Scholarship Service Profile is a financial aid form that many colleges and universities use to determine how much non-federal financial aid a student may be eligible for.

Sometimes called junior college or two-year college. Students can take classes, and then transfer to a four-year school, or they can earn certificates, diplomas or associate's degrees.

Credit hours are units of value given to classes. Some classes may be worth two or three credits, while others are worth four credits. Credits vary by class and by school. Many schools base tuition co [..]

A deferment is an approved pause in repaying a student loan. For example, students may seek a deferment on undergraduate loan payments while in graduate school.

This government agency administers several federal student financial aid programs.

The U.S. Department of Education's loan program. See FDSLP.