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Financial Aid Dictionary
Student Aid Index (SAI)
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is an index number used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid.
Cost of attendance (COA)
COA is the amount it will cost a student to go to school.
Without Lawful Immigration Status
Living in the U.S. unlawfully either because lawful status never existed (including those with DACA status) or has ended.
U-Visa
Allows for the granting of lawful status to noncitizen crime victims who suffered significant physical or mental abuse (and their immediate family members) who assist in the prosecution of the crime. It allows people to remain and work temporarily in the U.S.
T-Visa
Allows the granting of lawful status to noncitizen victims of human trafficking, as well as their immediate family members, who assist in the prosecution of the trafficking. It allows people to remain and work temporarily in the U.S.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Allows foreign nationals to remain in the U.S. if during the time they were in the U.S. something catastrophic happened in their country of origin preventing their safe return – for example war, famine, natural disaster, or epidemic. TPS allows people to work legally and be protected from deportation.