FAFSA Questions & Key Terms
Financial aid has its own language. Here’s a breakdown of common terms and answers to frequent questions.
Glossary of Terms
Student Aid Index (SAI)
The index number that determines eligibility for federal student aid. It replaces the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Contributor
Anyone required to provide information on the FAFSA (student, spouse, parent, stepparent).
FA-DDX (Future Act Direct Data Exchange)
The secure system that directly transfers tax data from the IRS to the FAFSA.
FSA ID
The username and password used to log in and sign the FAFSA electronically.
FSS (FAFSA Submission Summary)
The official document you receive after your FAFSA is processed.
Verification
A process where a college's financial aid office asks for extra documents to confirm your FAFSA information.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The total estimated cost to attend a college for one year, including tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and supplies.