College Glossary

2+2 Pipelines: Partnerships between 2-year and 4-year colleges allowing for a student to complete their  Associate’s degree at one college then transfer to a 4-year college to earn a Bachelor’s degree. These pipelines can help students save thousands on tuition while providing strong academic supports!

College Fit: A college that meets a student’s social, academic, and financial preferences. College fit may include class size, majors, student activities, diversity, setting (urban/rural), and affordability, among other components.

College Match: A college or university that is likely to admit a student because their grades and standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) are similar to those of typical accepted students.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): A form completed by current and prospective college students to determine their eligibility for federal student financial aid. Colleges and scholarship organizations also use the FAFSA to award aid.

Financial Aid: Any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student pay for their college expenses. A completed FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for federal financial aid as well as aid from many colleges and scholarship organizations.

Graduation Rate: The percentage of a college’s undergraduate students who earn a Bachelor’s degree within 6 years or an Associate’s degree within 4 years.

Reach, Match, Likely for Admission: 

Reach: A school where, based on the student’s GPA and (P)SAT scores, they may not be competitive for admission. Students can increase their GPA and test scores to increase their likelihood of admission!

Match: A school where, based the student’s GPA and (P)SAT scores, they are competitive for admission. The student’s grades and scores are similar to admitted students at this school.

Likely: A school where, based on the student’s (P)SAT scores and GPA, they have a high likelihood of admission. Some counselors and programs may use the term “safety” school for this category.

Unmet Need: The cost of college that is not covered by the financial aid package received. Usually, this amount is covered out of pocket or through loans.