Verification is a requirement from the federal government for Student Financial Services to confirm the information contained on your FAFSA. Thirty percent of Washington University students are select [..]

Unmet need is defined as the difference between your total cost of attendance at a specific institution and your total available resources.

A scholarship is merit- or need-based financial assistance that doesn’t require repayment.

The Student Aid Report is the official notification sent to your school after the Central Processing System (CPS) receives your applicant record. The SAR summarizes your information and Expected Famil [..]

A promissory note is the legal document that binds a borrower to his or her repayment obligations and to other terms and conditions that govern a loan program.

The Renewal FAFSA is prepopulated with prior-year information that may not change on your current or future applications.

Principal is the amount of money you borrow through a loan, excluding interest or other charges unless they’re capitalized.

Need analysis is a system that evaluates and calculates your ability to pay for education expenses, determined by your Expected Family Contribution and the cost of attendance.

Packaging is the process of combining various types of student aid, such as scholarships, loans, and employment income, to try and meet the full amount of your education costs.

A loan is an advance of funds – evidenced by a promissory note – that you repay in specified amounts under prescribed conditions.