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Welcome to the Student Aid Reference Desk

The Student Aid Reference Desk (Ref Desk) was designed to provide trusted advisors and college access professionals with direct links to important financial aid regulations, legislation, research, and other key resources.

Browse by Term

  • Academic Year
  • Administrative Capability
  • Audit and Program Review
  • Cash Management
  • Cohort Default Rate
  • Consumer Information
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Direct Loans
  • Disbursement
  • Enrollment Status
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG)
  • Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
  • Financial Responsibility of Institutions
  • Institutional Eligibility
  • Loan Counseling
  • Misrepresentation
  • Need Analysis
  • Overawards and Overpayments
  • Packaging
  • Payment Period
  • Pell Grant
  • Perkins Loan Program
  • Professional Judgment
  • Program Eligibility
  • Program Participation Agreement (PPA)
  • Recordkeeping
  • Return of Title IV Funds
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Student Eligibility
  • TEACH Grant
  • Third Party Servicers
  • Verification
  • Written Arrangements

Explore Financial Aid Topics & Terms

Looking for something? Find it fast with the Student Aid Reference Desk.

To get started, check out the trending and suggested topics, select a term from the left to browse, or search for a term using the box above.

Trending Topics

  • Direct Loans
  • Verification
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Return of Title IV Funds
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  • Student Eligibility
  • Academic Year
  • Institutional Eligibility

Suggested Topics

  • Consumer Information
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Direct Loans
  • Student Eligibility
  • Verification

Learn more about the Student Aid Reference Desk, or contact us via email. Nonpartisan research may be submitted via form for consideration of inclusion.


Contributing Partners

American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) American Council on Education (ACE) Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) College Board Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
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