Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2019-20 through 2021-22

1

Student Financial Aid
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2019-20 to 2021-22

There are no changes for 2019-20 through 2021-22 collection.

Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid for public institutions reporting on a fall cohort (academic reporters)

Overview 
IPEDS Student Financial Aid Component Overview
Public Academic Reporters
Welcome to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component. The purpose of the SFA component is to collect information about financial aid
provided to various groups of undergraduate students and military/veteran educational benefits for all students at your institution.
Changes to This Year’s SFA Component
T
Data Reporting Reminders
Undergraduate Student Groups
You will be asked to report information for different groups of students.
•
Group 1: All undergraduate students
•
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students (FTFT)
•
Group 3: Of Group 2, FTFT students who paid the in-state/in-district tuition rate and were awarded any
grant/scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
•
Group 4: Of Group 2, FTFT students who paid the in-state/in-district tuition rate and were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid
Image description. SFA Overview End of image description.

COA Revisions
Revisions to Cost of Attendance (COA) used to calculate the net price of attendance can be made in this component.
Consult the instructions and screens to make sure you are reporting the correct aid amounts for the correct groups of students.

College Affordability and Transparency Lists
Net price amounts calculated in SFA will be used to populate the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency
lists.
Interactive Edits and Error Messages
SFA contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside expected ranges. Some error
messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error messages are fatal and will require you to contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 for resolution.
Context Boxes
You will find optional text boxes throughout SFA. Context boxes allow you to provide more information about the data you enter. Some of
these context boxes may be made available to the public on College Navigator, so make sure that the information you enter can be
understood easily by students, parents, and the general public.

Resources
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data

Section 1: Part A 
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the numbers on this screen will be carried forward to other parts of the
Student Financial Aid component.
In the fields below, report the number of students in each of the following groups.
Fall 2017 YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
Fall 2016
01 Group 1
All undergraduate students
02 Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
02a Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, or other sources
known to the institution
02b Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution
03 Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
04 Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid

Section 1: Part B 
Part B - Enter Information About Group 1
Group 1 students are ALL undergraduate students (including first-time students) enrolled in Fall 2017.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
•
•
•
All undergraduate
Grant or scholarship aid from:
students enrolled in
◦ federal government
Fall 2017
◦ state/local government
◦ the institution
◦ other sources known to the institution

Awarded in This Period
Any time during academic year
2017-18

•

Loans to students from:
◦ the federal government
In the fields below, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid.
Information from Part A:
Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 01.)
Aid Type

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description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

01

Grant or scholarship aid
from the federal
government, state/local
government, the institution,
and other sources known to
the institution (Do NOT
include federal student
loans)
02 Pell Grants

03

Federal student loans

Fall 2017

2017-18
Number of Group 1 Percentage of Group 1 Total amount of aid Average amount of
students who were
students who were awarded to Group 1
aid awarded to
awarded aid
awarded aid
students
Group 1 students

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
so that they can be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part C, Page 1 
Part C, Page 1 - Enter Information about Group 2
Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017.
In the fields below, report the number of Group 2 students paying in-district, in-state, and out-of-state tuition rates. If your institution
does not offer different rates, report all students as paying in-state tuition rates.
Information from Part A:
Group 2 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02)

Fall 2017

Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Group 2 students:
Fall 2017
Number of Group 2
Percentage of Group 2
students
students
01 01a paying in-district tuition rates
01b paying in-state tuition rates
01c paying out-of-state tuition rates
01d Unknown (calculated value)
This value is calculated using the following
formula: [A02-(C01a+C01b+C01c)]

YOUR PRIOR YEAR DATA
Fall 2016
Percentage of Group 2
students

Section 1: Part C, Page 2 
Part C, Page 2 - Enter Information about Group 2
Part C includes financial aid information about Group 2. Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled in Fall 2017.
For this part, report:
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
academic year 2017-18
◦ federal government
•
For program reporters,
◦ state/local government
this is the aid year
◦ the institution
period from July 1, 2017
•
Loans to students from:
through June 30, 2018.
◦ the federal government
◦ other sources, including private or other
loans
•
Do not include:
◦ grant or scholarship aid from private or
other sources
◦ PLUS loans or loans made to anyone
other than the student
In the fields below, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid. Enter unduplicated student counts within a category (e.g., Pell Grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.
•

For These Students
Full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students
enrolled in Fall 2017

•

Information from Part A:
Group 2 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02)

Fall 2017

Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Group 2a (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02a) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -Federal
Work Study -loans to students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution -other sources known to the institution
Group 2b (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02b) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -loans to
students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Group 3 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03) Of those in Group 2, those who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate and were awarded: -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution
Aid Type

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
Fall 2017
Fall 2016
Number of Group 2
Percentage of
Total amount of aid Average amount Average amount
students who were Group 2 students awarded to Group of aid awarded to of aid awarded to
awarded aid
who were awarded
2 students
Group 2 students Group 2 students
aid

01 Grants or scholarships from the
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
02 Federal grants
02a Pell Grants
02b Other federal grants
03 State/local government
grants or scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
04 Institutional grants or
scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
05 Loans to students
05a Federal loans
05b Other loans (including
private loans)

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Comparison Chart 
Comparison Chart
Based on the information reported on the previous screens for Group 1 (all undergraduates) and Group 2 (full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduates), this comparison chart seeks to help institutions check their reported data. Assuming that the information on Groups 1
and 2 is correct, then the calculated fields for ‘All Other Undergraduates’ should be the balance (Group 1 minus Group 2). If the balance does
not check with your institution’s calculations, please correct your reported numbers for Groups 1 and 2 before moving forward with the
completion of the SFA survey component.
Note: Data for the 'All Other Undergraduates' will appear in the IPEDS Data Center for data users, but not in College Navigator.
Number of students
Pell grants
Federal Student Loans
01 Group 1 (all undergraduates)
02
Number of students who were awarded aid
03
Percentage who were awarded aid
04
Total amount of aid awarded
05
Average amount of aid awarded
06 Group 2 (Full-time, first-time undergraduates)
07
Number of students who were awarded aid
08
Percentage who were awarded aid
09
Total amount of aid awarded
10
Average amount of aid awarded
11 All other undergraduates
(Line 01 - Line 06)
12
Number of students who were awarded aid
(Line 02 - Line 07)
13
Percentage who were awarded aid
(Line 12 / Line 11)
14
Total amount of aid awarded
(Line 04 - Line 09)
15
Average amount of aid awarded
(Line 14 / Line 12)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance 
Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If your institution participates
in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and
board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please
talk to your financial aid office to get these numbers to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
Charges for full academic year
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Published tuition and required fees:
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses

Section 1: Part D 
Part D - Enter Information about Group 3
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017 paying the in-state or indistrict tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution. The information you report in this part will be used in Part F to calculate average institutional net price.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
degree/certificate-seeking
academic year
◦ federal government
undergraduate students enrolled in
2017-18
◦ state/local government
Fall 2017 paying the in-state or in
◦ the institution
-district tuition rate who were
awarded grant or scholarship aid
•
Do not include grant or scholarship aid from
from the following sources: the
private or other sources
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
•
Do not include students who were
awarded only grant or scholarship
aid from private or other sources, or
students who were awarded only
non-grant aid
In the fields below, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students.
Information from Part A:

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-2016
2016-2017

2017-2018

Group 3
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students paying the in-state or in
-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03)
01

Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living
arrangements:
01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

01d

02
03

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the following
formula: [A03-(D01a+D01b+D01c)]
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
Group 3 students
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students (calculated
value).
This value is calculated using the following formula: [D02/A03]

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part E 
Part E – Enter Information about Group 4
Part E includes financial aid information about Group 4. undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017 paying the in-state or in-district tuition
rate who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid, including federal grants or federal student loans. The information you report in this part
will be used in Part G to calculate average institutional net price by income level.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic
degree/certificate-seeking
year 2017-18
◦ federal government
undergraduate students
◦ state/local government
enrolled in Fall 2017 paying
◦ the institution
the in-state or in-district
•
Do not include:
tuition rate who were
◦
grant or scholarship aid from
awarded any Title IV federal
private or other sources
student aid
◦ loan amounts
◦ Federal Work Study amounts
In the fields below, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level.
Information from Part A:
Group 4
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded any Title
IV federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
01

02

Report the number of Group 4 students with the
following living arrangements:

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2015-16

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

2017-18

01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

01d

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the
formula: [A04-(E01a+E01b+E01c)]
Number of
Of those in Column Of those in Column
Average
students who 1, the number who 1, the total amount of
amount of
were awarded were awarded any grant or scholarship
federal,
any Title IV aid grant or scholarship aid awarded from the state/local, and
(Group 4)
aid from the
following sources:
institutional
following sources:
the federal
grant or
the federal
government,
scholarship aid
government,
state/local
awarded to
state/local
government, or the Group 4 students
government, or the
institution
institution
2015-16
Col. 1
Col. 2
Col. 3
Col. 4

Income level
02a

$0-30,000

02b

$30,001-48,000

02c

$48,001-75,000

02d

$75,001-110,000

02e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

02f

2016-17
Col. 1
03

Income level
03a

$0-30,000

03b

$30,001-48,000

03c

$48,001-75,000

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

03d

$75,001-110,000

03e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

03f

2017-18
Col. 1
04

Income level
04a

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Col. 3

Col. 4

$0-30,000

04b

$30,001-48,000

04c

$48,001-75,000

04d

$75,001-110,000

04e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

04f

Col. 2

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part F 
Part F – Net Price Calculation for Group 3
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about the data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
01 Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or instate)
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04 Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses
by living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula:
[F01+F02+F05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 3 students from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, and the institution
08 Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [F06-F07]
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website and used in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Lists.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explains your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be
written to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part G 
Part G – Net Price Calculation for Group 4
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about the data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
01 Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state)
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with family)
04 Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses by
living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance by income level
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G01+G02+G05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4
students from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, and the institution
07a
$0-30,000
07b
$30,001-48,000
07c
$48,001-75,000
07d
$75,001-110,000
07e
$110,001 and more
08 Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G06-G07]
08a
$0-30,000
08b
$30,001-48,000
08c
$48,001-75,000
08d
$75,001-110,000
08e
$110,001 and more
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits - Undergraduate and Graduate 
Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTE: Report for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 and Report for Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program: October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018
•
•
•
•

Report the total number of student recipients and the total dollar amounts for each program.
Student recipients can also include eligible dependents.
Consult with your campus certifying official, who may not be in the student financial aid office.
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits, do not include the matching institutional aid provided through the Yellow Ribbon
Program if your school participated.
•
Information reported to IPEDS is only what is known to the institution.
•
Enter zero (0) if your institution did not have beneficiaries for that student level or program. Please do not leave a
cell blank.
YOUR PRIOR YEAR DATA
Type of
Number of students
Total dollar amount of
Average dollar amount of Average dollar amount of
benefit/assistance
receiving
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
disbursed
disbursed
disbursed
through the institution
through the institution
through the institution
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total

Prepared by 
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions
concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden
associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete
and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey
component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member
Collecting Data Needed
Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements
Your office
hours
hours
Other offices

U.S. Department of Education
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Department
Of
Education
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description.

hours

Entering Data

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid, Public Academic Reporters

Table of Contents
The Student Financial Aid (SFA) component has expanded from gathering data on only undergraduate survey
component to all students (undergraduates and graduate students) because of the new question on military
servicemembers and veterans' educational benefits. The survey instructions that follow are divided into two sections.
Section 1 discusses the portion of the SFA component that asks questions about your undergraduate students only.
Section 2 explains the portion of the SFA component that ask questions about your military and veteran students. As
you complete both sections of SFA, please refer to the "Where to Get Help" and "Where the Data Will Appear" sections.

Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period
Student Cohort
What to Include
What NOT to Include

Detailed Instructions
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4

Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period

Detailed Instructions

Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page

The IPEDS Website's Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution and aggregate levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•

College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•

IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

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Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about financial aid provided
to various groups of undergraduate students in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA),
as amended. Item areas include:
•
•
•

•

•
•

Financial aid about all undergraduate students
Financial aid about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded grant aid. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes
only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only
students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded grant aid.
For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.

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Who Must Report
Institutions that had undergraduate students enrolled during the prior academic year must report.
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need

The institution’s financial aid system should be the starting point for reporting to this IPEDS component.
Data providers for this component should be familiar with college and university practices associated with student
financial aid. In general, there are two types of financial aid data that will be requested in this component. These types
are:
•
•

Numbers of students that meet certain conditions
Total aid dollars awarded to these students

To complete this component, data providers will need the following:
1. Financial aid information about the following student groups:
•
•
•
•

Group 1. All undergraduate students
Group 2. Of the students in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3. Of the students in Group 2, those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded
grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution
Group 4. Of the students in Group 2, those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded
Title IV federal student aid
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2. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who paid
the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded grant or scholarship aid during the reporting period
3. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who paid
the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded Title IV federal student aid during the reporting period
4. Income levels for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate and were awarded Title IV federal student aid during the reporting period

About the Data
Five different types of data appear in this component. There are data:
•
•
•
•
•

That institutions provide from their own financial aid records
That are prior-year data, shown in red, which can be used as a comparison with the current year's data (i.e.,
the data that is being reported)
That are carried forward from the IPEDS Fall Enrollment (EF) component and the IPEDS Institutional
Characteristics (IC) component that your institution completed in the most recent collections of those
components
That are carried forward from one part of the Student Financial Aid component to another part to ensure that
the data are internally consistent
That are calculated from the other data elements

In the latter two cases, the data provider should check that the data that are carried forward and calculated are
consistent with the data in the institution's underlying financial aid records. If the data carried forward or calculated
are not consistent with the institution's records, then an error in data entry may have occurred.

Context Boxes

Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so that they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for this component should be for the prior academic year.

Student Cohort
For academic reporters, the student cohort covered by this component includes undergraduate students enrolled for
the prior year as of October 15 or as of the institution’s official fall reporting date. For hybrid reporters, the student
cohort covered includes undergraduate students enrolled in the prior academic year between August 1 and October
31. 

What to Include
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:
•

•

•

•

•
•

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies such as the
U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell grants, Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants, and Teacher Education Assistance
for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include need-based and merit-based educational
assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored
educational benefits programs.
Do not include veterans education benefits, as defined in section 480(c) of the HEA, as they are no longer
treated as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) for the Office of Federal Student Aid's purposes. For more
information, visit https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.
Federal loans to students: Monies from the federal government that must be repaid for which the student is
the designated borrower. This type of aid includes all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins
Loans, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Do not
include PLUS loans and other federal loans not made directly to the student.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were awarded by your state
such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarships. Include merit-based grants or scholarships that were provided by your state or local
government. Also include tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state or local
government agency.
Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/waivers): Grants, scholarships, and fellowships
granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution and are limited to
students attending your institution. Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on
state of residence, major, or participation in athletic activities) for which the institution designates the
recipient. Also include institutional tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was not reimbursed by a
state or local government agency. This is not intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: Grants or scholarships to students that are awarded and paid by an outside
organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Private loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the
designated borrower. Include all institutionally and privately sponsored loans. Do not include loans that are not
made directly to the student.

NOTE: In this component, "aid awarded" refers to grant or scholarship aid that was awarded to students or to loans
awarded to students. For reporting grant or scholarship aid, institutions should report on aid that was awarded to
students. This amount may be different from the amount that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a
student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution
before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, institutions should report the original amount of grant or
scholarship aid that was awarded. For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that
were awarded to and accepted by the student.
Note also that different types of financial aid should be reported for different groups of students. Please review the
instructions and the screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Institutions need to report aid in this component such that the net price calculations shown on College Navigator and
used for the College Affordability and Transparency lists are a reflection of what students actually pay.
In cases where a student is awarded aid for multiple academic years within one aid year period, institutions should
report only aid awarded for the student’s first academic year.

For total aid amounts, report to the nearest whole dollar and omit cents. For student counts, an unduplicated count
should be given within a given aid category (e.g., Pell grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.

What NOT to Include
Do not report student counts or aid amounts for the following:
•
•
•
•

Students who were only graduate students at the institution during the reporting period
Students who were enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a certificate/degree
Students who were enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students who were exclusively auditing classes

Do not report:
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study amounts into any total aid amounts
ROTC aid, which are excluded from EFA calculations, in any total aid amounts
Loans that are made to someone other than the student
Military/veterans aid in Section 1 because such aid is ONLY reported in Section 2

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Detailed Instructions
This section provides line-by-line instructions for each part of the Student Financial Aid component.

Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the data you report on this screen will be
carried forward to other parts of the Student Financial Aid component.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of students in each of the following groups:
Item
Description
01.

Group 1
All undergraduate students
Report the number of all undergraduate students who were enrolled for the prior year as of October 15 or
your institution’s official fall reporting date. Include all new and continuing undergraduate students (full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, non-degree/certificate-seeking students,
and all others). This number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS Fall Enrollment component, but it
may be modified if necessary. If you have questions about the value that has been preloaded in this field,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.

02.

Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
Report the number of students who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. This
number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS Fall Enrollment component, but it may be modified if
necessary. If you have questions about the value that has been preloaded in this field, please contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
02a.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study; loans to students;
or grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, or other sources known to the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Federal Work Study;
•
Government and/or private loans to students;
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution, such as aid from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Note that the students reported in Line 02a are not defined as a particular group because no
additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.

02b.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:

•
•

Government and/or private loans to students; or
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution.
Note that the students reported in Line 02b are not defined as a particular group because no
additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.
03.

Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Report students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. Do not include students who were awarded aid only
from other sources.

04.

Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Report students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., report students who were awarded
federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal student loans).
Title IV federal student aid includes:
•
Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
•
Federal Work Study
•
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

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Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 1 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. Group 1 students are all undergraduate students enrolled in the prior fall.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
· All undergraduate students
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
academic year
enrolled in the prior fall
federal government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
institution
· Grant or scholarship aid from
other sources known to the
institution
· Loans to students from the
federal government
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Fall
Group 1
Carried forward from Part A
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
01)
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students
for each type of aid.
Item
Description
01.
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, and other sources known to the institution
Column 1. Report the number of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the
institution.
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid is
calculated for you.

Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution awarded to Group 1
students.

02.

Column 4. The average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 1 students is calculated
for you.
Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants. Do not include any
other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants is calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students. Do not include
any other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students is calculated for you.

03.

Federal student loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded federal loans to students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded federal student loans is calculated
for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of federal student loans awarded to Group 1 students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 4. The average amount of federal student loans awarded to students in Group 1 is calculated
for you.

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Part C, Page 1 - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 2 students who may be paying different tuition
rates. Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the
prior Fall.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Fall
Group 2
Carried forward from Part A
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02)
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 2 students paying in-district, in-state, and out-of-state tuition
rates.
Item
Description
01.
01a.
Group 2 students paying in-district tuition rates
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students paying the in-district tuition rate.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students paying the in-district tuition rate is calculated
for you.
01b.
Group 2 students paying in-state tuition rates
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students paying the in-state tuition rate.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students paying the in-state tuition rate is calculated
for you.
01c.
Group 2 students paying out-of-state tuition rates
Column 1. Report the number of students in Group 2 paying the out-of-state tuition rate.
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 2 paying the out-of-state tuition rate is
calculated for you.
01d.
Unknown (calculated value)
Column 1. The number of students in Group 2 whose tuition rate is unknown is generated
for you. This value is calculated using the following formula: [A02 – (C01a + C01b + C01c)].
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 2 whose tuition rate is unknown is
calculated for you.
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Part C, Page 2 - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 2 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. For academic reporters, Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior Fall. For program reporters, Group 2 students
are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
·
Full-time, first-time,
academic year
federal government
degree/certificate-seeking
· For program reporters, this is the
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship aid from
in the prior Fall (academic
aid year period from July 1
state/local government
reporters) or any time during the · Grant or scholarship aid from the through June 30.
prior academic year (program
institution
reporters)
· Loans to students from the
federal government and from
other sources, including private
loans
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources
· Do not include PLUS loans or
loans made to anyone other than
the student
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Academic Year
Carried forward from Part A
Group 2a
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, or other
sources known to the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02a)
Carried forward from Part A
Group 2b
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government,
or  the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02b)
Carried forward from Part A
Group 03
Of those in Group 2, those (enrolled in the largest
program for program reporters) who paid the instate or in-district tuition rate and were awarded
grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the
institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)

Note:  Two aid categories in this section are further disaggregated into subcategories. Because students may be
awarded more than one type of aid, the sum of the values you enter in the subcategories will not necessarily equal the
value you enter in the aid category. However, the total number of students reported for the aid category cannot
exceed the sum of subcategories. (For example, the number of students who were awarded federal grants cannot
exceed the sum of the number of students who were awarded Pell grants and the number who were awarded other
federal grants). In addition, the total number of students reported for an aid category must be at least as large as the
largest of those reported in a subcategory.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid they were awarded for each
type of aid.
Item Description
01.
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, and the
institution
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. If a student
appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02 through 04, that student should only be
counted once for Line 01. Do not include students who were awarded only grants or scholarships from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).

Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or scholarships
from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 01 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 02, Column 3) + (Line 03, Column 3) + (Line 04, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.
02.

Federal grants
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: Pell grants and other federal
grants.
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from the
federal government. This includes Pell grants and other federal grants. If a student appears in more
than one type of aid category in Lines 02a or 02b, that student should only be counted once for Line
02. Note that this number should be at least as large as the largest number reported in Line
02a, Column 1 or Line 02b, Column 1. In addition, this number cannot exceed the sum of
[(Line 02a, Column 1) + (Line 02b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from the federal
government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 02 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 02a, Column 3) + (Line 02b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants from the federal government awarded to Group 2 students
will be calculated for you.
02a.

Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated
for you.

02b.

Other federal grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal grants.
Other federal grants include Title IV grant aid other than a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of students Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all other federal grants awarded to Group 2
students.
Column 4. The average amount of other federal grants awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.

03.

State/local government grants or scholarships (grants/scholarships/waivers)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from a
state/local government. This includes grants, scholarships, or waivers funded by a state or local
government. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships from a
state/local government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from a state/local government
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from a state/local government awarded to
Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

04.

Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/fellowships)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the
institution. This includes grants, scholarships, or fellowships funded by the institution. Do not include
any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships from the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from the institution awarded to
Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the institution awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.

05.

Loans to students
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: federal loans and other loans.
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to students.
This includes loans from the federal government and from other sources (including private lenders). If a
student appears in more than one type of loan category in Lines 05a or 05b, that student should only be
counted once for Line 05. Note that this number should be at least as large as the largest
number reported in Line 05a, Column 1 or Line 05b, Column 1. In addition, this number
cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 05a, Column 1) + (Line 05b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to students will
be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 05 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 05a, Column 3) + (Line 05b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for
you.
05a.

Federal loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from the federal government. Do not include loans to others (e.g., PLUS loans to
parents) and do not include any other type of grant or loan aid.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from the federal government
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from the federal government awarded to
Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

05b.

Other loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from sources other than the federal government. This includes private loans to
students. Do not include loans to others (e.g., loans to parents).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from sources other than the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from sources other than the
federal government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from sources other than the federal
government awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

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Cost of Attendance Revision

If you made errors in the prior year reporting of cost of attendance in the IC component, you can make changes in the
SFA component. However, there are no prior year revisions for the SFA component. Please refer to the instructions on
reporting cost of attendance in the IC component.

Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students in Part F.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following
sources: federal government, state/local government, or the institution. Students who were awarded only grant or
scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students who were awarded only non-grant aid should not be
included in this group.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship aid from
in the prior fall who paid the instate/local government
state or in-district tuition rate and · Grant or scholarship aid from the
were awarded grant or scholarship institution
aid from the following sources: the · Do not include grant or
federal government, state/local
scholarship aid from private or
government, or the institution
other sources.
· Do not include students who
were awarded only grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources, or students who
were awarded only non-grant aid.
Information from Part A:

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2015-16
Pre-loaded

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17
Pre-loaded

2017-18
Group 3
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate and were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)
In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 3 students. The living arrangement
categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for Federal Student
Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangements. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled, she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total
amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
these students.
Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 3 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A03 – (D01a +
D01b + D01c)], where A03 is the number of Group 3 students that you entered in Part A, Line
03. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
02.
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students

03.

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Report the total dollar amount of grants and scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students. Exclude grant or scholarship aid from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship) and exclude all loan aid.
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students
The average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution awarded to Group 3 students will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using the
following formula: [D02/A03]. This amount will be used in Part F to calculate net price.

Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students in Part G.
Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in the prior fall who paid
the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., students who were
awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal student loans).
Title IV federal student aid includes the following:
•
•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness
Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan

For this part, report:
For These Students
· Full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in
the prior fall who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate and were
awarded any Title IV federal
student aid

The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
federal government
academic year
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
institution
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources.
· Do not include loan amounts.
· Do not include Federal Work
Study amounts.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 4
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate and were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
Notes: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 4 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangements. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
In this part, you will also be asked to report the number of students in Group 4 and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid they were awarded by income level. To determine the income level of the student, use the income that
was used by the institution’s financial aid office to determine the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For
dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For
independent students this will include the student’s adjusted gross income.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement.
Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 4 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 4 students who lived on-campus.

01b.

Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A04 – (E01a +
E01b + E01c)], where A04 is the number of Group 4 students that you entered in Part A, Line
04. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students who were awarded any Title IV aid (column 1); the
number of Group 4 students who were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution (column 2); and the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level (column 3).
Item
Description
02.
02a.
$0–30,000
Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
02b.
$30,001–48,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
02c.
$48,001–75,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
02d.
$75,001–110,000Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
02e.
$110,001 and
Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
more
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
02f.
Total all income Column 1. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
levels
Title IV aid will be calculated for you.
Column 2. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution will be calculated for you.

Column 3. The total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group
4 students from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students from the federal government, state/local government,
or the institution will be calculated for you.

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Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution. For public institutions, Group 3 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in
-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 3 students will be posted on College
Navigator. In addition, the average net price calculated for this group will be used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance and the average
grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 3 students. The total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and
required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted average by living arrangement for room and
board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of attendance is carried forward from data that your
institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and
have questions about the values entered here, contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.
Item
Description
01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions) are
carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried forward from
data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part D, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room and board
and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses (Lines 03a
through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in the unknown category).
This value is calculated using the following formula:
Line 05 = [(Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line
04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students
This value is carried forward from Part D, Line 04.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 3 students

The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled in the prior fall who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution is calculated for you. This value is calculated
using the following formula: Line 06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group 3 students will be
posted on College Navigator and used in the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability
and Transparency lists.

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Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students.
Group 4 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who were awarded Title IV federal student aid. For public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who
paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 4 students will be posted on College
Navigator.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance and the average
grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4 students. The total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and
required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted average by living arrangement for room and
board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of attendance is carried forward from data that your
institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and
have questions about the values entered here, contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.
Item
Description
01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions) are
carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried forward from
data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part E, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room and board
and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses (Lines 03a
through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in the unknown category).
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 05 = [Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line
04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line
04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 4 students
These values are carried forward from Part E, Line 04, Column 4 for each income level.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 4 students

The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled in the prior fall who were awarded Title IV federal student aid is calculated for
you. These values are calculated for each income level using the following formula: Line 06 – Line
07. The average net price for Group 4 students by income level will be posted on College Navigator.

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Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about the financial aid provided to
various groups of undergraduates in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Starting in the 2014-15 data collection year, SFA has expanded to collect information on the federal dollars supporting
military servicemember and veteran undergraduate and graduate students.
As presented in the Technical Review Panel Report #36 (March 2012), the increase in beneficiaries and federal dollars
has led to an increased demand for information to help prospective students decide where to use their educational
benefits, researchers to study the impact of the programs on college outcomes, and policymakers to assess the
effectiveness of benefits programs and return on investment.
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Who Must Report
All registered IPEDS institutions that educate military servicemembers, veterans, or eligible dependents receiving any
Tuition Assistance Program or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Report only those that RECEIVED the benefit(s).
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need
If you are unfamiliar with these educational benefits, a general synopsis of each program is found below. 
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill
•
•
•
•
•
•

Effective August 1, 2009, benefit provides payment of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books
and supplies stipend.
Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution on behalf the students; thus, institutions should know which
students have Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the amount of benefits received at the institution.
Educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent.
Program expanded in 2011 to cover non-degree-granting programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job training
programs, flight training programs, and training correspondence.
The Yellow Ribbon program through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an institutional aid matching program only for
tuition and fees for students attending participating institutions.
For more information, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits website
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

2. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
•
•
•
•

For active duty servicemembers, reservists called to active duty, and their spouses.
Educational payments cover only tuition and fees and are made directly to the institution.
GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement costs not covered by this program.
For more information, visit the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program website
http://www.dodmou.com/

Consult and verify the data with your institutional representative who certifies these benefits. This individual or office
may not be in the student financial aid office.

About the Data
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance programs may only highlight two of many educational benefits provided to
military servicemembers and veterans. However, from a national perspective, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance
programs are more likely to be found across over 7,500 IPEDS institutions.

For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic year, from July 1 to June
30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported will be July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should be for the prior
academic year, from October 1 to September 30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported
will be October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018.
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Detailed Instruction
This section provides line-by-line instructions for the Military Servicemember and Veteran Benefits questions.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, please provide in the first column the number of students receiving the benefit during
the July 1-June 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the second column, provide the total dollar amount for
each benefit during the same reporting period.
For the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program benefit, please provide in the first column the number of
students receiving the benefit during the October 1-September 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the
second column, provide the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
If your institution did not have any student beneficiaries for one of the benefit programs, enter a zero (0) in the cell.
In other words, do NOT leave the cell blank for a program that did not have any beneficiaries.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.  
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Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
1)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
2)
3)
What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
4)
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Student Counts
For which students should I report financial aid information?
1)
What students are included in Group 1?
2)
3)
What students are included in Group 2?
4)
What students are included in Group 2a?
What students are included in Group 2b?
5)
6)
What students are included in Group 3?
What students are included in Group 4?
7)
Financial Aid
Should veterans education benefits be reported?
1)
2)
How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?
3)
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is $4500. What
do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
4)
What types of financial aid should be reported?
5)
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
6)
Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
7)
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
8)
Should PLUS loans be reported?
9)
What does "aid awarded" mean?
10)
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
11)
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
12)
How do I get information about students' income categories?
12
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?

Answers:
General
1)
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
All postsecondary institutions that either 1.) participate in federal student financial aid programs that enrolled
undergraduate students or 2.) enroll students who received an educational benefit (e.g., Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance or Department of Veteran Affairs Post-9/11GI Bill) any time during academic year 2017-18 must
complete SFA.
Back to top
2)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 data collection, institutions should report data for academic year 2017-18.
For Title IV participating institutions that enroll undergraduate students:

•

•

For academic reporters, the academic year is defined as the period of time generally extending
from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period
covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2017). Second, determine the financial aid that was awarded to
these students any time during the 2017-18 academic year.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as the
institutionally defined academic year falls within the full aid year period of July 1-June 30.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled any time during the academic year). Second, determine the financial aid
that was awarded to these students any time during the academic year.

For institutions that enroll undergraduate and graduate students who received military or veteran benefits:

•
•

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic
year, from July 1 to June 30.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should
be for the prior academic year, from October 1 to September 30.
Back to top

3)

What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 collection year, there were no changes.

Back to top
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Yes, the 3 most recent COA years can be changed in SFA's "Cost Revision" screen, which carried forward the COA data
from Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. Changes should only be made if errors were made in the
IC reporting. Changes cannot be made in the prior year revision system.
Back to top
Student Counts
1)
For which students should I report financial aid information?
SFA collects information on undergraduate students only.
4)

Academic reporters should report on students who were enrolled as of October 15, or the institution’s official Fall
reporting date.
Program reporters should report on students who were enrolled any time during the academic year. For program
reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
For the purposes of reporting to SFA, students are divided into the following groups:

•
•
•

•

2)

3)

Group 1: All undergraduate students
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, include only those
paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters, include only those enrolled in the
institution’s largest program.
Group 4: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. For public
institutions, include only those paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters,
include only those enrolled in the institution’s largest program.

Back to top
What students are included in Group 1?
Group 1 includes all undergraduate students. You should report the total number of all new and continuing full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, and non-degree/certificate-seeking students.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 2?
Group 2 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
For academic reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Also
include students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This
number should match the data that you reported on the Fall Enrollment component of IPEDS.

4)

For program reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level
anytime during the academic year, as defined at your institution. Also include students who entered with advanced
standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This number should closely match the data you
reported on the 12-month Enrollment component of IPEDS.
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What students are included in Group 2a?
In Group 2a, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study
Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
Back to top

5)

What students are included in Group 2b?

In Group 2b, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•

6)

Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution

Group 2b is Group 2a minus those students who were awarded only Federal Work Study or grant or scholarship aid
from other sources known to the institution.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 3?
Group 3 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources:

•
•
•

Federal government
State/local government
Institution

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.

7)

Do not include students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students
who were awarded only non-grant aid, such as loans.
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What students are included in Group 4?
Group 4 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded any
Title IV aid.
Title IV aid includes the following:

•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Back to top
Financial Aid
1)
Should veterans education benefits be reported?

For the portion of SFA (Parts A through E) that requires Title IV institutions to report on undergraduate students
receiving financial aid:

•
•

•
•

Veterans education benefits should not be reported as financial aid in SFA.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) removed veterans education benefits from
“estimated financial assistance,” effective July 1, 2010. A later technical corrections bill (H.R. 1777)
updated the list of programs that meet the definition of "veterans' education benefits" in section
480(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and moved the effective date of the exclusion to July 1,
2009 (beginning with the 2009-10 award year).
However, the institutional aid from Yellow Ribbon program should be reported under institutional
aid. See how to report the Yellow Ribbon aid in FAQ.
For more information about the Department's Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for
Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, please visit
https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.

For the portion of SFA (Section 2) that requires institutions to report on students who received military or veteran
benefits:

•

Educational benefits from the Department of Defense's Military Tuition Assistance or Department of
Veteran Affairs' Post-9/11 GI Bill should be reported in SFA.
Back to top

2)

How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?

3)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program includes a 'Yellow Ribbon' program, which is comprised of matching funds provided
by the government and the institution. The institutional part of this aid should be reported in the SFA component
(Section 1) as aid to the undergraduate student. Yellow Ribbon benefits provided from the VA should NOT be included
when reporting to the portion of SFA (Section 1) on Title IV institutions that enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students.
However, both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon beneficiaries and federal dollar amounts should be reported to
the military/veteran question of SFA (Section 2). This portion of SFA requires all institutions that enroll students with
Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Tuition Assistance educational benefits to provide the number of beneficiaries and total dollar
amounts.
Back to top
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is
$4500. What do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
According to the 2014 final regulations set for the DOD Voluntary Education Programs - which include TAP - each
branch of military service can pay no more than $250/semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition. Each service member
is eligible for up to $4500 in aggregate for each fiscal year. If your institution’s DOD TAP average is greater than
$4500 per student per award year, then you should:
--Ask your financial aid office or VA certifying official to sort out the military aid and remove any non-DOD TAP aid
(e.g., ROTC scholarships, tuition reimbursements for advanced civil schooling, education-related incentive or bonus); 
--Remove any non-Title 10 aid since TAP is a Title 10 program; and
--Make sure that you are including one disbursement period for that award year. Even though DOD TAP aid are
reported for the Oct 1 – Sep 30 timeframe, which technically covers two fall periods; only include one fall
disbursement period per award year. 
Back to top

4)

What types of financial aid should be reported?
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:

•

•

•

•

•

5)

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell
grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Academic Competitiveness
Grants (ACGs), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants,
and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include
need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other
federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were provided by
your state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. Also include merit scholarships that were provided by your
state and tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local
grants include any local government grants, scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.
Institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or
individual departments within the institution (and are limited to students attending your institution).
Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major)
for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like. This is not
intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: These may include scholarships or grants to students that are
paid by an outside organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g.,
Rotary Club Scholarship).
Loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is
the designated borrower. Include all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins Loans,
Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Also
include all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Please do not include PLUS and other loans
made directly to parents.

Note that different parts of the SFA component ask for different types of financial aid to be reported. Please review the
instructions and the survey screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Back to top
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
Institutions should report aid that was awarded any time during the academic year.
For academic reporters, the academic year is the period of time generally extending from September to June, usually
equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
Note that for the purposes of calculating net price, the cost of attendance (COA) for an academic year reported in the
Institutional Characteristics (IC) component should align with the aid amounts reported in the Student Financial Aid
(SFA) component.
Back to top

6)

Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
Yes, tuition and fee waivers should be reported.
Tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency should be reported under
state/local government grants.

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

Tuition and fee waivers granted by your institution (for which your institution is not reimbursed from another source)
should be reported as institutional grants.
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Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
In general, institutions should report financial aid from tribal offices awarded to full-time, first-time students in the
state/local government field (Line 03) in Part C.
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Should PLUS loans be reported?
No. PLUS loans are made to the parents of students. Any type of loan that is not made to the student should not be
reported.
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What does "aid awarded" mean?
Institutions should report on grant or scholarship aid that has been awarded to students. This may be different from
aid that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the
beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, you
would report the original amount of grant or scholarship aid that was awarded, even though the entire amount was
not actually disbursed to the student.
For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that were awarded to and accepted by
the student.
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If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
Yes, students should be included in each category of aid that they are awarded. If a student is awarded both federal
and institutional aid, he/she should be counted under both types of aid.
However, in Part C, count students only once in the major aid category. For example, if a student is awarded both a
Pell Grant (Line 02a) and another type of federal grant (Line 02b), then count that student once for the major
category of Federal grants (Line 02).
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Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an
institutional financial aid application. If a student did not complete the FAFSA or an institutional financial aid
application with living arrangement information, that student may appear as having an unknown living arrangement.
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement.

12)

Back to top
How do I get information about students' income categories?
To assign the income category of the student, use the income that was used by your financial aid office to determine
the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross
income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For independent students this will include the student’s adjusted
gross income.
If your institution takes part in campus-based aid programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, then it might be easiest to tell your financial aid office that students
should be put in income categories as they are done on FISAP(Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate).
Institutions with campus-based aid programs must report annually to the Department of Education using the FISAP.
Part of the FISAP includes income-related information. Even if your institution does not file FISAP, the instructions
from it may be helpful (fields 26-39):

•

•

12

Use the FISAP Total Income (FTI), one of the intermediate computed values on the Student Aid
Record (SAR) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), to determine the proper cell for
each student. For dependent students, FTI is the sum of Total Income (TI) and Student’s Total
Income (STI). For independent students, the FTI will equal the TI. Remember, extract this
information only from the SARs/ISIRs of students who actually enrolled in your school.
You might need to correct or adjust a student’s income information and recalculate the EFC. If so,
you must use that corrected or adjusted information when determining the proper income cell for a
student. In such a case, to determine the income cell for a dependent student, you must use the
student’s and parents’ base year incomes, as reported on the SAR/ISIR.

Back to top
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?
If the foundation’s mission is to benefit the institution, then:  (1) those portions of the foundation-funded grants
where the institution designates the recipient should be reported as institutional grants; and (2) those portions of the
foundation-funded grants where the foundation designates the recipient should be reported as private grants. All
grants funded by foundations with missions other than to benefit the institution should be reported as private grants.

Back to top

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

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Student Financial Aid for private institutions reporting on a fall cohort (academic reporters)

Overview 
IPEDS Student Financial Aid Component Overview
Private Academic Reporters
Welcome to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component. The purpose of the SFA component is to collect information about financial aid
provided to various groups of undergraduate students and military/veteran educational benefits for all students at your institution.
Changes to This Year’s SFA Component

Data Reporting Reminders
Undergraduate Student Groups
You will be asked to report information for different groups of students.
•
Group 1: All undergraduate students
•
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students (FTFT)
•
Group 3: Of Group 2, FTFT students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
•
Group 4: Of Group 2, FTFT students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid
Image description. SFA Overview End of image description.

COA Revisions
Revisions to Cost of Attendance (COA) used to calculate the net price of attendance can be made in this component.
Consult the instructions and screens to make sure you are reporting the correct aid amounts for the correct groups of students.

College Affordability and Transparency Center's lists
Net price amounts calculated in SFA will be used to populate the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency
lists.
Interactive Edits and Error Messages
SFA contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside expected ranges. Some error
messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error messages are fatal and will require you to contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 for resolution.
Context Boxes
You will find optional text boxes throughout SFA. Context boxes allow you to provide more information about the data you enter. Some of
these context boxes may be made available to the public on College Navigator, so make sure that the entered information can be understood
easily by students, parents, and the general public.

Resources
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data

Section 1: Part A 
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the numbers on this screen will be carried forward to other parts of the
Student Financial Aid component.
In the fields below, report the number of students in each of the following groups.
Fall 2017 YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
Fall 2016
01 Group 1
All undergraduate students
02 Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
02a Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, or other sources
known to the institution
02b Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution
03 Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
04 Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid

Section 1: Part B 
Part B - Enter Information About Group 1
Group 1 students are ALL undergraduate students (including first-time students) enrolled in Fall 2017.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
•
•
•
All undergraduate
Grant or scholarship aid from:
students enrolled in
◦ federal government
Fall 2017
◦ state/local government
◦ the institution
◦ other sources known to the institution

Awarded in This Period
Any time during academic year
2017-18

•

Loans to students from:
◦ the federal government
In the fields below, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid.
Information from Part A:
Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 01.)
Aid Type

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

01

Grant or scholarship aid
from the federal
government, state/local
government, the institution,
and other sources known to
the institution (Do NOT
include federal student
loans)
02 Pell Grants

03

Federal student loans

Fall 2017

2017-18
Number of Group 1 Percentage of Group 1 Total amount of aid Average amount of
students who were
students who were awarded to Group 1
aid awarded to
awarded aid
awarded aid
students
Group 1 students

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
so that they can be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part C, Page 2 
Part C - Enter Information about Group 2
Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017.
For this part, report:
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
academic year 2017-18
◦ federal government
•
For program reporters,
◦ state/local government
this is the aid year
◦ the institution
period from July 1, 2017
•
Loans to students from:
through June 30, 2018.
◦ the federal government
◦ other sources, including private or other
loans
•
Do not include:
◦ grant or scholarship aid from private or
other sources
◦ PLUS loans or loans made to anyone
other than the student
In the fields below, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid. Enter unduplicated student counts within a category (e.g., Pell Grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.
•

For These Students
Full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students
enrolled in Fall 2017

•

Information from Part A:
Group 2 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02)

Fall 2017

Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Group 2a (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02a) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -Federal
Work Study -loans to students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution -grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
Group 2b (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02b) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -loans to
students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Group 3 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Aid Type

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
Fall 2017
Fall 2016
Number of Group 2
Percentage of
Total amount of aid Average amount Average amount
students who were Group 2 students awarded to Group of aid awarded to of aid awarded to
awarded aid
who were awarded
2 students
Group 2 students Group 2 students
aid

01 Grants or scholarships from the
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
02 Federal grants
02a Pell Grants
02b Other federal grants
03 State/local government
grants or scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
04 Institutional grants or
scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
05 Loans to students
05a Federal loans
05b Other loans (including
private loans)

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Comparison Chart 
Comparison Chart
Based on the information reported on the previous screens for Group 1 (all undergraduates) and Group 2 (full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduates), this comparison chart seeks to help institutions check their reported data. Assuming that the information on Groups 1
and 2 is correct, then the calculated fields for ‘All Other Undergraduates’ should be the balance (Group 1 minus Group 2). If the balance does
not check with your institution’s calculations, please correct your reported numbers for Groups 1 and 2 before moving forward with the
completion of the SFA survey component.
Note: Data for the 'All Other Undergraduates' will appear in the IPEDS Data Center for data users, but not in College Navigator.
Number of students
Pell grants
Federal Student Loans
01 Group 1 (all undergraduates)
02
Number of students who were awarded aid
03
Percentage who were awarded aid
04
Total amount of aid awarded
05
Average amount of aid awarded
06 Group 2 (Full-time, first-time undergraduates)
07
Number of students who were awarded aid
08
Percentage who were awarded aid
09
Total amount of aid awarded
10
Average amount of aid awarded
11 All other undergraduates
(Line 01 - Line 06)
12
Number of students who were awarded aid
(Line 02 - Line 07)
13
Percentage who were awarded aid
(Line 12 / Line 11)
14
Total amount of aid awarded
(Line 04 - Line 09)
15
Average amount of aid awarded
(Line 14 / Line 12)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance 
Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If your institution participates
in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and
board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please
talk to your financial aid office to get these numbers to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
Charges for full academic year
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Published tuition and required fees:
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees total
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses

Section 1: Part D 
Part D - Enter Information about Group 3
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017 who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. The information you report in this
part will be used in Part F to calculate average institutional net price.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
degree/certificate-seeking
academic year
◦ federal government
undergraduate students enrolled
2017-18
◦ state/local government
in Fall 2017 who were awarded
◦ the institution
grant or scholarship aid from the
following sources: the federal
•
Do not include grant or scholarship aid from
government, state/local
private or other sources
government, or the institution
•
Do not include students who were
awarded only grant or scholarship
aid from private or other sources,
or students who were awarded
only non-grant aid
In the fields below, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students.
YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-2016
2016-2017

Information from Part A:

2017-2018

Group 3
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government,
or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03)
01

Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living
arrangements:
01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

01d

02
03

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the following
formula: [A03-(D01a+D01b+D01c)]
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group
3 students from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students (calculated
value).
This value is calculated using the following formula: [D02/A03]

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part E 
Part E – Enter Information about Group 4
Group 4 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2017 who were awarded any
Title IV federal student aid, including federal grants or federal student loans. The information you report in this part will be used in Part G to
calculate average institutional net price by income level.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic
degree/certificate-seeking
year 2017-18
◦ federal government
undergraduate students
◦ state/local government
enrolled in Fall 2017 who
◦ institution
were awarded any Title IV
•
Do not include:
federal student aid
◦
grant or scholarship aid from
private or other sources
◦ loan amounts
◦ Federal Work Study amounts
In the fields below, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level.
Information from Part A:
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 4
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
01

02

Report the number of Group 4 students with the
following living arrangements:

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2015-16

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

2017-18

01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

01d

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the
formula: [A04(E01a+E01b+E01c)]
Number of Of those in Column 1, Of those in Column 1,
Average
students who the number who were the total amount of amount of federal,
were awarded awarded any grant or grant or scholarship state/local, and
any Title IV aid scholarship aid from aid awarded from the institutional grant
(Group 4)
the following sources: following sources: the or scholarship aid
the federal
federal government, awarded to Group
government,
state/local
4 students
state/local
government, or the
government, or the
institution
institution
2015-16
Col. 1
Col. 2
Col. 3
Col. 4

Income level
02a

$0-30,000

02b

$30,001-48,000

02c

$48,001-75,000

02d

$75,001-110,000

02e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

02f

2016-17
Col. 1
03

Income level
03a

$0-30,000

03b

$30,001-48,000

03c

$48,001-75,000

03d

$75,001-110,000

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

03e
03f

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels
2017-18
Col. 1

04

Income level
04a

Col. 3

Col. 4

$0-30,000

04b

$30,001-48,000

04c

$48,001-75,000

04d

$75,001-110,000

04e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

04f
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Col. 2

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part F 
Part F – Net Price Calculation for Group 3
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about the data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04 Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses
by living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula:
[F01+F02+F05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 3 students from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, and the institution
08 Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [F06-F07]
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website and used in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Lists.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explains your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be
written to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part G 
Part G – Net Price Calculation for Group 4
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about the data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with family)
04 Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses by
living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance by income level
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G01+G02+G05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4
students from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, and the institution
07a
$0-30,000
07b
$30,001-48,000
07c
$48,001-75,000
07d
$75,001-110,000
07e
$110,001 and more
08 Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G06-G07]
08a
$0-30,000
08b
$30,001-48,000
08c
$48,001-75,000
08d
$75,001-110,000
08e
$110,001 and more
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits - Undergraduate and Graduate 
Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTE: Report for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 and Report for Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program: October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018
•
•
•
•

Report the total number of student recipients and the total dollar amounts for each program.
Student recipients can also include eligible dependents.
Consult with your campus certifying official, who may not be in the student financial aid office.
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits, do not include the matching institutional aid provided through the Yellow Ribbon
Program if your school participated.
•
Information reported to IPEDS is only what is known to the institution.
•
Enter zero (0) if your institution did not have beneficiaries for that student level or program. Please do not leave a
cell blank.
YOUR PRIOR YEAR DATA
Type of
Number of students
Total dollar amount of
Average dollar amount of Average dollar amount of
benefit/assistance
receiving
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
disbursed
disbursed
disbursed
through the institution
through the institution
through the institution
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total

Prepared by 
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions
concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden
associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete
and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey
component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member
Collecting Data Needed
Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements
Your office
hours
hours
Other offices

U.S. Department of Education
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Of
Education
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hours

Entering Data

hours

Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported

Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting

Revising and Locking Data

hours

hours

hours

hours

Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy

Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid, Private Academic Reporters

Table of Contents
The Student Financial Aid (SFA) component has expanded from gathering data on only undergraduate survey
component to all students (undergraduates and graduate students) because of the new question on military
servicemembers and veterans' educational benefits. The survey instructions that follow are divided into two sections.
Section 1 discusses the portion of the SFA component that asks questions about your undergraduate students only.
Section 2 explains the portion of the SFA component that ask questions about your military and veteran students. As
you complete both sections of SFA, please refer to the "Where to Get Help" and "Where the Data Will Appear" sections.

Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period
Student Cohort
What to Include
What NOT to Include

Detailed Instructions
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4

Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period

Detailed Instructions

Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page

The IPEDS Website's Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution and aggregate levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•

College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•

IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

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Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about financial aid provided
to various groups of undergraduate students in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA),
as amended. Item areas include:
•
•
•

•

•
•

Financial aid about all undergraduate students
Financial aid about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded grant aid. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes
only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only
students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded grant aid.
For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.

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Who Must Report
Institutions that had undergraduate students enrolled during the prior academic year must report.
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions

What You Will Need
The institution’s financial aid system should be the beginning basis for reporting to this IPEDS component.
Data providers for this component should be familiar with college and university practices associated with student
financial aid. In general, there are two types of financial aid data that will be requested in this component. These types
are:
•
•

Numbers of students that meet certain conditions
Total aid dollars awarded to these students

To complete this component, data providers will need the following:
1. Financial aid information about the following student groups:
•
•
•
•

Group 1. All undergraduate students
Group 2. Of the students in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3. Of the students in Group 2, those who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following
sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Group 4. Of the students in Group 2, those who were awarded Title IV federal student aid
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2. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were
awarded grant or scholarship aid during the reporting period
3. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were
awarded Title IV federal student aid during the reporting period
4. Income levels for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were awarded Title IV
federal student aid during the reporting period

About the Data
Five different types of data appear in this component. There are data:
•
•
•
•
•

That institutions provide from their own financial aid records
That are prior year data, shown in red, which can be used as a comparison with the current year's data being
reported
That are carried forward from the IPEDS Fall Enrollment (EF) component and the IPEDS Institutional
Characteristics (IC) component that your institution completed in the most recent collections of those
components.
That are carried forward from one part of the Student Financial Aid component to another part to ensure that
the data are internally consistent
That are calculated from the other data elements

In the latter two cases, the data provider should check that the data that are carried forward and calculated are
consistent with the data in the institution's underlying financial aid records. If the data carried forward or calculated
are not consistent with the institution's records, then an error in data entry may have occurred.

Context Boxes

Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written to be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for this component should be for the prior academic year.

Student Cohort
For academic reporters, the student cohort covered by this component includes undergraduate students enrolled in the
prior academic year as of October 15 or as of the institution’s official fall reporting date. For hybrid reporters, the
student cohort covered includes undergraduate students enrolled in the prior academic year between August 1 and
October 31. 

What to Include
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:
•

•

•

•

•
•

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies such as the
U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell grants, Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants, and Teacher Education Assistance
for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include need-based and merit-based educational
assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored
educational benefits programs.
Do not include veterans education benefits, as defined in section 480(c) of the HEA, as they are no longer
treated as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) for the Office of Federal Student Aid's purposes. For more
information, visit https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.
Federal loans to students: Monies from the federal government that must be repaid for which the student is
the designated borrower. This type of aid includes all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins
Loans, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Do not
include PLUS loans and other federal loans not made directly to the student.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were awarded by your state
such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarships. Include merit-based grants or scholarships that were provided by your state or local
government. Also include tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state or local
government agency.
Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/waivers): Grants, scholarships, and fellowships
granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution and are limited to
students attending your institution. Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on
state of residence, major, or participation in athletic activities) for which the institution designates the
recipient. Also include institutional tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was not reimbursed by a
state or local government agency. This is not intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: Grants or scholarships to students that are awarded and paid by an outside
organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Private loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the
designated borrower. Include all institutionally and privately sponsored loans. Do not include loans that are not
made directly to the student.

NOTE: In this component, "aid awarded" refers to grant or scholarship aid that was awarded to students or to loans
awarded to and accepted by students. For reporting grant or scholarship aid, institutions should report on aid that was
awarded to students. This amount may be different from the amount that was actually disbursed to students. For
example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the beginning of the academic year but then leave the
institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, institutions should report the original amount of grant or
scholarship aid that was awarded. For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that
were awarded to and accepted by the student.
Note also that different types of financial aid should be reported for different groups of students. Please review the
instructions and the screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Institutions need to report aid in this component such that the net price calculations shown on College Navigator and
used for the College Affordability and Transparency lists are a reflection of what students actually pay.
In cases where a student is awarded aid for multiple academic years within one aid year period, institutions should
report only aid awarded for the student’s first academic year.

For total aid amounts, report to the nearest whole dollar and omit cents. For student counts, an unduplicated count
should be given within a given aid category (e.g., Pell grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.

What NOT to Include
Do not report student counts or aid amounts for the following:
•
•
•
•

Students who were only graduate students at the institution during the reporting period
Students who were enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a certificate/degree
Students who were enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students who were exclusively auditing classes

Do not report:
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study amounts into any total aid amounts
ROTC aid, which are excluded from EFA calculations, in any total aid amounts
Loans that are made to someone other than the student
Military/veterans aid in Section 1 because such aid is ONLY reported in Section 2

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Detailed Instructions
This section provides line-by-line instructions for each part of the Student Financial Aid component.

Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the data you report on this screen will be
carried forward to other parts of the Student Financial Aid component.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of students in each of the following groups:
Item
Description
01.

Group 1
All undergraduate students
Report the number of all undergraduate students who were enrolled for the prior year as of October 15 or
your institution’s official fall reporting date. Include all new and continuing undergraduate students (full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, non-degree/certificate-seeking students,
and all others). This number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS Fall Enrollment component, but it
may be modified if necessary. If you have questions about the value that has been preloaded in this field,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.

02.

Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
Report the number of students who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. This
number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS Fall Enrollment component, but it may be modified if
necessary. If you have questions about the value that has been preloaded in this field, please contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
02a.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study; loans to students;
or grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, or other sources known to the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Federal Work Study;
•
Government and/or private loans to students;
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution, such as aid from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Note that the students reported in Line 02a are not defined as a particular group because no
additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.

02b.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:

•
•

Government and/or private loans to students; or
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution.
Note that the students reported in Line 02b are not defined as a particular group because no
additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.
03.

Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Report students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. Do not include students who were awarded aid only
from other sources.

04.

Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Report students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., report students who were awarded
federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal student loans).
Title IV federal student aid includes:
•
Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
•
Federal Work Study
•
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

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Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 1 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. Group 1 students are all undergraduate students enrolled in the prior fall.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
· All undergraduate students
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
academic year
enrolled in the prior fall
federal government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
institution
· Grant or scholarship aid from
other sources known to the
institution
· Loans to students from the
federal government
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Fall
Group 1
Carried forward from Part A
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
01)
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students
for each type of aid.
Item
Description
01.
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, and other sources known to the institution
Column 1. Report the number of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the
institution.
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid is
calculated for you.

Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution awarded to Group 1
students.

02.

Column 4. The average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 1 students is calculated
for you.
Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants. Do not include any
other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants is calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students. Do not include
any other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students is calculated for you.

03.

Federal student loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded federal loans to students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded federal student loans is calculated
for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of federal student loans awarded to Group 1 students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 4. The average amount of federal student loans awarded to students in Group 1 is calculated
for you.

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Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 2 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. For academic reporters, Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior fall. For program reporters, Group 2 students
are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year.
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship aid from
· For program reporters, this is aid
in the prior fall (academic
state/local government
year period from July 1 through
reporters) or any time during the · Grant or scholarship aid from the June 30.
prior academic year (program
institution
reporters)
· Loans to students from the
federal government and from
other sources, including private
loans
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources
· Do not include PLUS loans or
loans made to anyone other than
the student
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Academic Year
Group 2a
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, or other
sources known to the institution 
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02a)

Group 2b
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02b)
Group 03
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those (in the largest program
for program reporters) who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)
Note: Two aid categories in this section are further disaggregated into subcategories. Because students may be
awarded more than one type of aid, the sum of the values you enter in the subcategories will not necessarily equal the
value you enter in the aid category. However, the total number of students reported for the aid category cannot
exceed the sum of subcategories. (For example, the number of students who were awarded federal grants cannot
exceed the sum of the number of students who were awarded Pell grants and the number who were awarded other
federal grants). In addition, the total number of students reported for an aid category must be at least as large as the
largest of those reported in a subcategory.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid they were awarded for each
type of aid.

Item Description
01.

Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, and
the institution
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. If a
student appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02 through 04, that student
should only be counted once for Line 01. Do not include students who were
awarded only grants or scholarships from private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 01 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 02, Column 3) + (Line 03, Column 3) + (Line
04, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for
you.

02.

Federal grants
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: Pell grants and other
federal grants.
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants
from the federal government. This includes Pell grants and other federal grants. If a student
appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02a or 02b, that student should only
be counted once for Line 02. Note that this number should be at least as large as the
largest number reported in Line 02a, Column 1 or Line 02b, Column 1. In addition,
this number cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 02a, Column 1) + (Line 02b, Column
1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from
the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 02 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 02a, Column 3) + (Line 02b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants from the federal government awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.

02a.

Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all Pell grants awarded to Group 2
students.
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.

02b.

Other federal grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants. Other federal grants include Title IV grant aid other than a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all other federal grants awarded to Group
2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of other federal grants awarded to Group 2 students
will be calculated for you.

03.

State/local government grants or scholarships (grants/scholarships/waivers)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship
aid from a state/local government. This includes grants, scholarships, or waivers funded by a
state or local government. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships
from a state/local government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from a state/local
government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from a state/local government
awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

04.

Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/fellowships)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship
aid from the institution. This includes grants, scholarships, or fellowships funded by the
institution. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships
from the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from the institution
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.

05.

Loans to students
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: federal loans and
other loans.

Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students. This includes loans from the federal government and from other sources (including
private lenders). If a student appears in more than one type of loan category in Lines 05a or
05b, that student should only be counted once for Line 05. Note that this number should
be at least as large as the largest number reported in Line 05a, Column 1 or Line
05b, Column 1. In addition, this number cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 05a,
Column 1) + (Line 05b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 05 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 05a, Column 3) + (Line 05b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.
05a.

Federal loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more
loans to students from the federal government. Do not include loans to others (e.g.,
PLUS loans to parents) and do not include any other type of grant or loan aid.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans
to students from the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from the federal
government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from the federal government
awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

05b.

Other loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more
loans to students from sources other than the federal government. This includes
private loans to students. Do not include loans to others (e.g., loans to parents).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans
to students from sources other than the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from sources other
than the federal government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from sources other than the
federal government awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

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Cost of Attendance Revision
If you made errors in the prior year reporting of cost of attendance in the IC component, you can make changes in the
SFA component. However, there are no prior year revisions for the SFA component. Please refer to the instructions on
reporting cost of attendance in the IC component.

Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students in Part F.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: federal government, state/local
government, or the institution. Students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other
sources, or students who were awarded only non-grant aid should not be included in this group.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
federal government
academic year.

· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from
degree/certificate-seeking
state/local government
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship from the
in the prior fall who were awarded institution
grant or scholarship aid from the · Do not include grant or
following sources: the federal
scholarship aid from private or
government, state/local
other sources.
government, or the institution
· Do not include students who
were awarded only grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources, or students who
were awarded only non-grant aid.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 3
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)
Note: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 3 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled, she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total
amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
these students.
Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 3 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A03 – (D01a +
D01b + D01c)], where A03 is the number of Group 3 students that you entered in Part A, Line
03. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
02.
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
Report the total dollar amount of grants and scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students. Exclude grant or scholarship aid from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship) and exclude all loan aid.
03.
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students
The average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution awarded to Group 3 students will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using the
following formula: [D02/A03]. This amount will be used in Part F to calculate net price.
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Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students in Part G.
Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in the prior fall who were
awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., students who were awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded
federal work study or federal student loans)
Title IV federal student aid includes the following:

•
•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness
Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan

For this part, report:
For These Students
· Full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in
the prior fall who were awarded
any Title IV federal student aid

The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
federal government
academic year
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
institution
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources.
· Do not include loan amounts.
· Do not include Federal Work
Study amounts.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 4
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students who were awarded any Title
IV federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
Notes: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 4 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
In this part, you will also be asked to report the number of students in Group 4 and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid they were awarded by income level. To determine the income level of the student, use the income that
was used by the institution’s financial aid office to determine the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For
dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For
independent students this will include the student’s adjusted gross income.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement.
Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 4 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 4 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A04 – (E01a +
E01b + E01c)], where A04 is the number of Group 4 students that you entered in Part A, Line
04. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students who were awarded any Title IV aid (column 1); the
number of Group 4 students who were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution (column 2); and the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level (column 3).
Item
Description
02.
02a.
$0–30,000
Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.

02b.

02c.

02d.

02e.

02f.

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Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded who were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the
federal government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$30,001–48,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$48,001–75,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$75,001–110,000Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$110,001 and
Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
more
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Total all income Column 1. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
levels
Title IV aid will be calculated for you.
Column 2. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group
4 students from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students from the federal government, state/local government,
or the institution will be calculated for you.

Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution. For public institutions, Group 3 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in
-district tuition rate.

As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 3 students will be posted on College
Navigator. In addition, the average net price calculated for this group will be used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance and the average
grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 3 students. The total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and
required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted average by living arrangement for room and
board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of attendance is carried forward from data that your
institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and
have questions about the values entered here, contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.
Item
Description
01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions) are
carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried forward from
data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part D, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room and board
and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses (Lines 03a
through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in the unknown category).
This value is calculated using the following formula:
Line 05 = [(Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line
04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students
This value is carried forward from Part D, Line 04.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled in the prior fall who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution is calculated for you. This value is calculated
using the following formula: Line 06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group 3 students will be
posted on College Navigator and used in the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability
and Transparency lists.

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Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students.
Group 4 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior
fall who were awarded Title IV federal student aid. For public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who
paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.

As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 4 students will be posted on College
Navigator.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance and the average
grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4 students. The total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and
required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted average by living arrangement for room and
board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of attendance is carried forward from data that your
institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and
have questions about the values entered here, contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.
Item
Description
01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public institutions) are
carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried forward from
data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part E, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room and board
and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses (Lines 03a
through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in the unknown category).
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 05 = [Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line
04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line
04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 4 students
These values are carried forward from Part E, Line 04, Column 4 for each income level.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled in the prior fall who were awarded Title IV federal student aid is calculated for
you. These values are calculated for each income level using the following formula: Line 06 – Line
07. The average net price for Group 4 students by income level will be posted on College Navigator.

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Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about the financial aid provided to
various groups of undergraduates in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Starting in the 2014-15 data collection year, SFA has expanded to collect information on the federal dollars supporting
military servicemember and veteran undergraduate and graduate students.

As presented in the Technical Review Panel Report #36 (March 2012), the increase in beneficiaries and federal dollars
has led to an increased demand for information to help prospective students decide where to use their educational
benefits, researchers to study the impact of the programs on college outcomes, and policymakers to assess the
effectiveness of benefits programs and return on investment.
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Who Must Report
All registered IPEDS institutions that educate military servicemembers, veterans, or eligible dependents receiving any
Tuition Assistance Program or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Report only those that RECEIVED the benefit(s).
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need
If you are unfamiliar with these educational benefits, a general synopsis of each program is found below. 
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill
•
•
•
•
•
•

Effective August 1, 2009, benefit provides payment of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books
and supplies stipend.
Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution on behalf the students; thus, institutions should know which
students have Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the amount of benefits received at the institution.
Educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent.
Program expanded in 2011 to cover non-degree-granting programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job training
programs, flight training programs, and training correspondence.
The Yellow Ribbon program through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an institutional aid matching program only for
tuition and fees for students attending participating institutions.
For more information, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits website
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

2. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
•
•
•
•

For active duty servicemembers, reservists called to active duty, and their spouses.
Educational payments cover only tuition and fees and are made directly to the institution.
GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement costs not covered by this program.
For more information, visit the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program website
http://www.dodmou.com/

Consult and verify the data with your institutional representative who certifies these benefits. This individual or office
may not be in the student financial aid office.

About the Data
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance programs may only highlight two of many educational benefits provided to
military servicemembers and veterans. However, from a national perspective, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance
programs are more likely to be found across over 7,500 IPEDS institutions.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic year, from July 1 to June
30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported will be July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should be for the prior
academic year, from October 1 to September 30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported
will be October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018.
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Detailed Instruction
This section provides line-by-line instructions for the Military Servicemember and Veteran Benefits questions.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, please provide in the first column the number of students receiving the benefit during
the July 1-June 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the second column, provide the total dollar amount for
each benefit during the same reporting period.
For the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program benefit, please provide in the first column the number of
students receiving the benefit during the October 1-September 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the
second column, provide the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
If your institution did not have any student beneficiaries for one of the benefit programs, enter a zero (0) in the cell.
In other words, do NOT leave the cell blank for a program that did not have any beneficiaries.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.  
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Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
1)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
2)
3)
What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
4)
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Student Counts
For which students should I report financial aid information?
1)
What students are included in Group 1?
2)
3)
What students are included in Group 2?
4)
What students are included in Group 2a?
What students are included in Group 2b?
5)
6)
What students are included in Group 3?
What students are included in Group 4?
7)
Financial Aid
Should veterans education benefits be reported?
1)
2)
How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?
3)
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is $4500. What
do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
4)
What types of financial aid should be reported?
5)
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
6)
Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
7)
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
8)
Should PLUS loans be reported?
9)
What does "aid awarded" mean?
10)
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
11)
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
12)
How do I get information about students' income categories?
12
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?

Answers:
General
1)
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
All postsecondary institutions that either 1.) participate in federal student financial aid programs that enrolled
undergraduate students or 2.) enroll students who received an educational benefit (e.g., Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance or Department of Veteran Affairs Post-9/11GI Bill) any time during academic year 2017-18 must
complete SFA.
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2)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 data collection, institutions should report data for academic year 2017-18.
For Title IV participating institutions that enroll undergraduate students:

•

•

For academic reporters, the academic year is defined as the period of time generally extending
from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period
covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2017). Second, determine the financial aid that was awarded to
these students any time during the 2017-18 academic year.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as the
institutionally defined academic year falls within the full aid year period of July 1-June 30.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled any time during the academic year). Second, determine the financial aid
that was awarded to these students any time during the academic year.

For institutions that enroll undergraduate and graduate students who received military or veteran benefits:

•
•

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic
year, from July 1 to June 30.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should
be for the prior academic year, from October 1 to September 30.
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3)

What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 collection year, there were no changes.

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Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Yes, the 3 most recent COA years can be changed in SFA's "Cost Revision" screen, which carried forward the COA data
from Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. Changes should only be made if errors were made in the
IC reporting. Changes cannot be made in the prior year revision system.
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Student Counts
1)
For which students should I report financial aid information?

SFA collects information on undergraduate students only.
4)

Academic reporters should report on students who were enrolled as of October 15, or the institution’s official Fall
reporting date.
Program reporters should report on students who were enrolled any time during the academic year. For program
reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
For the purposes of reporting to SFA, students are divided into the following groups:

•
•
•

•

2)

3)

Group 1: All undergraduate students
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, include only those
paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters, include only those enrolled in the
institution’s largest program.
Group 4: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. For public
institutions, include only those paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters,
include only those enrolled in the institution’s largest program.

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What students are included in Group 1?
Group 1 includes all undergraduate students. You should report the total number of all new and continuing full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, and non-degree/certificate-seeking students.
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What students are included in Group 2?
Group 2 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
For academic reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Also
include students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This
number should match the data that you reported on the Fall Enrollment component of IPEDS.

4)

For program reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level
anytime during the academic year, as defined at your institution. Also include students who entered with advanced
standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This number should closely match the data you
reported on the 12-month Enrollment component of IPEDS.
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What students are included in Group 2a?
In Group 2a, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study
Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
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5)

What students are included in Group 2b?

In Group 2b, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•

6)

Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution

Group 2b is Group 2a minus those students who were awarded only Federal Work Study or grant or scholarship aid
from other sources known to the institution.
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What students are included in Group 3?
Group 3 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources:

•
•
•

Federal government
State/local government
Institution

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.

7)

Do not include students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students
who were awarded only non-grant aid, such as loans.
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What students are included in Group 4?
Group 4 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded any
Title IV aid.
Title IV aid includes the following:

•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Back to top
Financial Aid
1)
Should veterans education benefits be reported?

For the portion of SFA (Parts A through E) that requires Title IV institutions to report on undergraduate students
receiving financial aid:

•
•

•
•

Veterans education benefits should not be reported as financial aid in SFA.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) removed veterans education benefits from
“estimated financial assistance,” effective July 1, 2010. A later technical corrections bill (H.R. 1777)
updated the list of programs that meet the definition of "veterans' education benefits" in section
480(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and moved the effective date of the exclusion to July 1,
2009 (beginning with the 2009-10 award year).
However, the institutional aid from Yellow Ribbon program should be reported under institutional
aid. See how to report the Yellow Ribbon aid in FAQ.
For more information about the Department's Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for
Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, please visit
https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.

For the portion of SFA (Section 2) that requires institutions to report on students who received military or veteran
benefits:

•

Educational benefits from the Department of Defense's Military Tuition Assistance or Department of
Veteran Affairs' Post-9/11 GI Bill should be reported in SFA.
Back to top

2)

How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?

3)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program includes a 'Yellow Ribbon' program, which is comprised of matching funds provided
by the government and the institution. The institutional part of this aid should be reported in the SFA component
(Section 1) as aid to the undergraduate student. Yellow Ribbon benefits provided from the VA should NOT be included
when reporting to the portion of SFA (Section 1) on Title IV institutions that enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students.
However, both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon beneficiaries and federal dollar amounts should be reported to
the military/veteran question of SFA (Section 2). This portion of SFA requires all institutions that enroll students with
Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Tuition Assistance educational benefits to provide the number of beneficiaries and total dollar
amounts.
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The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is
$4500. What do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
According to the 2014 final regulations set for the DOD Voluntary Education Programs - which include TAP - each
branch of military service can pay no more than $250/semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition. Each service member
is eligible for up to $4500 in aggregate for each fiscal year. If your institution’s DOD TAP average is greater than
$4500 per student per award year, then you should:
--Ask your financial aid office or VA certifying official to sort out the military aid and remove any non-DOD TAP aid
(e.g., ROTC scholarships, tuition reimbursements for advanced civil schooling, education-related incentive or bonus); 
--Remove any non-Title 10 aid since TAP is a Title 10 program; and
--Make sure that you are including one disbursement period for that award year. Even though DOD TAP aid are
reported for the Oct 1 – Sep 30 timeframe, which technically covers two fall periods; only include one fall
disbursement period per award year. 
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4)

What types of financial aid should be reported?
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:

•

•

•

•

•

5)

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell
grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Academic Competitiveness
Grants (ACGs), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants,
and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include
need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other
federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were provided by
your state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. Also include merit scholarships that were provided by your
state and tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local
grants include any local government grants, scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.
Institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or
individual departments within the institution (and are limited to students attending your institution).
Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major)
for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like. This is not
intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: These may include scholarships or grants to students that are
paid by an outside organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g.,
Rotary Club Scholarship).
Loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is
the designated borrower. Include all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins Loans,
Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Also
include all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Please do not include PLUS and other loans
made directly to parents.

Note that different parts of the SFA component ask for different types of financial aid to be reported. Please review the
instructions and the survey screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
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What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
Institutions should report aid that was awarded any time during the academic year.
For academic reporters, the academic year is the period of time generally extending from September to June, usually
equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
Note that for the purposes of calculating net price, the cost of attendance (COA) for an academic year reported in the
Institutional Characteristics (IC) component should align with the aid amounts reported in the Student Financial Aid
(SFA) component.
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6)

Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
Yes, tuition and fee waivers should be reported.
Tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency should be reported under
state/local government grants.

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

Tuition and fee waivers granted by your institution (for which your institution is not reimbursed from another source)
should be reported as institutional grants.
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Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
In general, institutions should report financial aid from tribal offices awarded to full-time, first-time students in the
state/local government field (Line 03) in Part C.
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Should PLUS loans be reported?
No. PLUS loans are made to the parents of students. Any type of loan that is not made to the student should not be
reported.
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What does "aid awarded" mean?
Institutions should report on grant or scholarship aid that has been awarded to students. This may be different from
aid that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the
beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, you
would report the original amount of grant or scholarship aid that was awarded, even though the entire amount was
not actually disbursed to the student.
For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that were awarded to and accepted by
the student.
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If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
Yes, students should be included in each category of aid that they are awarded. If a student is awarded both federal
and institutional aid, he/she should be counted under both types of aid.
However, in Part C, count students only once in the major aid category. For example, if a student is awarded both a
Pell Grant (Line 02a) and another type of federal grant (Line 02b), then count that student once for the major
category of Federal grants (Line 02).
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Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an
institutional financial aid application. If a student did not complete the FAFSA or an institutional financial aid
application with living arrangement information, that student may appear as having an unknown living arrangement.
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement.

12)

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How do I get information about students' income categories?
To assign the income category of the student, use the income that was used by your financial aid office to determine
the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross
income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For independent students this will include the student’s adjusted
gross income.
If your institution takes part in campus-based aid programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, then it might be easiest to tell your financial aid office that students
should be put in income categories as they are done on FISAP(Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate).
Institutions with campus-based aid programs must report annually to the Department of Education using the FISAP.
Part of the FISAP includes income-related information. Even if your institution does not file FISAP, the instructions
from it may be helpful (fields 26-39):

•

•

12

Use the FISAP Total Income (FTI), one of the intermediate computed values on the Student Aid
Record (SAR) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), to determine the proper cell for
each student. For dependent students, FTI is the sum of Total Income (TI) and Student’s Total
Income (STI). For independent students, the FTI will equal the TI. Remember, extract this
information only from the SARs/ISIRs of students who actually enrolled in your school.
You might need to correct or adjust a student’s income information and recalculate the EFC. If so,
you must use that corrected or adjusted information when determining the proper income cell for a
student. In such a case, to determine the income cell for a dependent student, you must use the
student’s and parents’ base year incomes, as reported on the SAR/ISIR.

Back to top
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?
If the foundation’s mission is to benefit the institution, then:  (1) those portions of the foundation-funded grants
where the institution designates the recipient should be reported as institutional grants; and (2) those portions of the
foundation-funded grants where the foundation designates the recipient should be reported as private grants. All
grants funded by foundations with missions other than to benefit the institution should be reported as private grants.

Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid for institutions reporting on a full-year cohort (public program reporters)

Overview 
IPEDS Student Financial Aid Component Overview
Program Reporters
Welcome to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component. The purpose of the SFA component is to collect information about financial aid
provided to various groups of undergraduate students and military/veteran educational benefits for all students at your institution.
Changes to This Year’s SFA Component
T
Data Reporting Reminders
Undergraduate Student Groups
You will be asked to report information for different groups of students.
•
Group 1: All undergraduate students
•
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students (FTFT)
•
Group 3: Of Group 2, students enrolled in the institution’s largest program and were awarded any
grant/scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. For public
institutions, include only those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
•
Group 4: Of Group 2, students enrolled in the institution’s largest program and were awarded any Title IV federal
student aid. For public institutions, include only those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Image description. SFA Overview End of image description.

COA Revisions
Revisions to Cost of Attendance (COA) used to calculate the net price of attendance can be made in this component.
Consult the instructions and screens to make sure you are reporting the correct aid amounts for the correct groups of students.

College Affordability and Transparency Lists
Net price amounts calculated in SFA will be used to populate the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency
lists.
Interactive Edits and Error Messages
SFA contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside expected ranges. Some error
messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error messages are fatal and will require you to contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 for resolution.
Context Boxes

You will find optional text boxes throughout SFA. Context boxes allow you to provide more information about the data you enter. Some of
these context boxes may be made available to the public on College Navigator, so make sure that the information you enter can be
understood easily by students, parents, and the general public.
Resources
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data

Section 1: Part A 
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the numbers on this screen will be carried forward to other parts of the
Student Financial Aid component.
In the fields below, report the number of students in each of the following groups.
July 1, 2017June 30, 2018
01 Group 1
All undergraduate students
02 Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
02a Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant
or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, or other
sources known to the institution
02b Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or scholarship aid
from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
03 Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution’s largest program paying the in-state or in-district
tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution
04 Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution’s largest program paying the in-state or in-district
tuition rate who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

Section 1: Part B 
Part B – Enter Information about Group 1
Group 1 students are ALL undergraduate students (including first-time students) enrolled any time during the academic year 2017-18.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
All undergraduate
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic year
students
2017-18 (the aid year period
◦ federal government
from July 1, 2017 through June
◦ state/local government
30, 2018)
◦ the institution
◦ other sources known to the institution
•
Loans to students from:
◦ the federal government
In the fields below, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid.
Information from Part A:
Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 01)
Aid Type

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
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Navigator
website.
of
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description.

01

Grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government,
state/local government, the
institution, and other sources
known to the institution (Do
NOT include federal
student loans)
02 Pell Grants

03

Federal student loans

2017-18

2017-18
Number of Group 1 Percentage of Group 1 Total amount of aid Average amount of
students who were
students who were
awarded to Group 1
aid awarded to
awarded aid
awarded aid
students
Group 1 students

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part C, Page 2 
Part C, Page 2 - Enter Information about Group 2
Part C includes financial aid information about Group 2. Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
students enrolled any time during academic year 2017-18.
For this part, report:
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
academic year 2017-18
◦ federal government
•
For program reporters,
◦ state/local government
this is the aid year
◦ the institution
period from July 1,
•
Loans to students from:
2017 through June 30,
◦ the federal government
2018.
◦ other sources, including private or
other loans
•
Do not include:
◦ grant or scholarship aid from private or
other sources
◦ PLUS loans or loans made to anyone
other than the student
In the fields below, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid. Enter unduplicated student counts within a category (e.g., Pell Grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.
•

For These Students
Full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students
enrolled any time during
academic year 2017-18

•

Information from Part A:
Group 2 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02)

2017-18

Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Group 2a (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02a) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -Federal
Work Study -loans to students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution -other sources known to the institution
Group 2b (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02b) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -loans to
students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Group 3 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03) Of those in Group 2, those who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate and were awarded: -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution
Aid Type

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2017-18
2016-17
Number of Group 2
Percentage of
Total amount of Average amount Average amount
students who were Group 2 students
aid awarded to
of aid awarded of aid awarded
awarded aid
who were awarded Group 2 students
to Group 2
to Group 2
aid
students
students

01 Grants or scholarships from the
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
02 Federal grants
02a Pell Grants
02b Other federal grants
03 State/local government grants
or scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
04 Institutional grants or
scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
05 Loans to students
05a Federal loans
05b Other loans (including
private loans)

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Comparison Chart 
Comparison Chart
Based on the information reported on the previous screens for Group 1 (all undergraduates) and Group 2 (full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduates), this comparison chart seeks to help institutions check their reported data. Assuming that the information on Groups 1
and 2 is correct, then the calculated fields for ‘All Other Undergraduates’ should be the balance (Group 1 minus Group 2). If the balance does
not check with your institution’s calculations, please correct your reported numbers for Groups 1 and 2 before moving forward with the
completion of the SFA survey component.
Note: Data for the 'All Other Undergraduates' will appear in the IPEDS Data Center for data users, but not in College Navigator.
Number of students
Pell grants
Federal Student Loans
01 Group 1 (all undergraduates)
02
Number of students who were awarded aid
03
Percentage who were awarded aid
04
Total amount of aid awarded
05
Average amount of aid awarded
06 Group 2 (Full-time, first-time undergraduates)
07
Number of students who were awarded aid
08
Percentage who were awarded aid
09
Total amount of aid awarded
10
Average amount of aid awarded
11 All other undergraduates
(Line 01 - Line 06)
12
Number of students who were awarded aid
(Line 02 - Line 07)
13
Percentage who were awarded aid
(Line 12 / Line 11)
14
Total amount of aid awarded
(Line 04 - Line 09)
15
Average amount of aid awarded
(Line 14 / Line 12)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance 
Cost of attendance
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending full-time
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in WEEKS
Published student charges for the entire program
2015-16
Tuition and required fees for the entire program
(public program reporters report the lowest of indistrict or in-state, if applicable)

2016-17

2017-18

Books and supplies for the entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs for your area, not on
national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks (1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)
Room and board and other expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks (1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)
Room and board and other expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance (calculated) 
Cost of attendance
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses

Section 1: Part D 
Part D - Enter Information about Group 3
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your institution’s largest program any
time during academic year 2017-18 paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the
following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. The information you report in this part will be used in Part
F to calculate average institutional net price.
Note:
In this part, you must report information for your institution’s largest program. Your largest program is the program with the most number of
undergraduate students enrolled. You must provide three years’ worth of data for your largest program.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
degree/certificate-seeking
academic year
◦ federal government
undergraduate students enrolled in
2017-18 (the aid
◦ state/local government
your institution’s largest program
year period from
◦ the institution
paying the in-state or in-district
July 1, 2017
tuition rate who were awarded
through June 30,
•
Do not include grant or scholarship aid
grant or scholarship aid from the
2018)
from private or other sources
following sources: the federal
government, state/local government,
or the institution
•
Do not include students who were
awarded only grant or scholarship
aid from private or other sources, or
students who were awarded only
non-grant aid
In the fields below, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students.
Largest Program Information from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component
CIP Code
Title
Information from Part A:

2017-18

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

Group 3
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution’s largest program paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded
grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03)
01

Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living
arrangements:
01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

01d

02
03

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the following
formula: [A03-(D01a+D01b+D01c)]
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
Group 3 students
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students (calculated
value).
This value is calculated using the following formula: [D02/A03]

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part E 
Part E – Enter Information about Group 4
Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your institution’s largest program any
time during academic year 2017-18 paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. The
information you report in this part will be used in Part G to calculate average institutional net price by income level.
Note:
In this part, you must report information for your institution’s largest program. Your largest program is the program with the most number of
undergraduate students enrolled. You must provide three years’ worth of data for your largest program.
For this part report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic
degree/certificate-seeking
year 2017-18 (the aid year
◦ federal government
undergraduate students
period from July 1, 2017
◦ state/local government
enrolled in your institution’s
through June 30, 2018)
◦ institution
largest program paying the
•
Do not include:
in-state or in-district
◦
grant or scholarship aid from
tuition rate who were
private or other sources
awarded any Title IV federal
◦ loan amounts
student aid
◦ Federal Work Study amounts
In the fields below, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level.
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Group 4
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled
in your institution’s largest program paying the in-state or in-district tuition
rate who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
01

02

Report the number of Group 4 students with the
following living arrangements:

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2015-16

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

2017-18

01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

01d

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the
formula: [A04-(E01a+E01b+E01c)]
Number of
Of those in Column Of those in Column
Average
students who 1, the number who 1, the total amount
amount of
were awarded were awarded any
of grant or
federal,
any Title IV aid grant or scholarship scholarship aid
state/local, and
(Group 4)
aid from the
awarded from the
institutional
following sources: following sources:
grant or
the federal
the federal
scholarship aid
government,
government,
awarded to
state/local
state/local
Group 4
government, or the government, or the
students
institution
institution
2015-16
Col. 1
Col. 2
Col. 3
Col. 4

Income level
02a

$0-30,000

02b

$30,001-48,000

02c

$48,001-75,000

02d

$75,001-110,000

02e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

02f

2016-17
03

Income level
03a

Col. 2

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

Col. 3

Col. 4

$0-30,000

03b

$30,001-48,000

03c

$48,001-75,000

03d

$75,001-110,000

03e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

03f

Col. 1

2017-18
04

Income level
04a
04b

$30,001-48,000

04c

$48,001-75,000

04d

$75,001-110,000

04e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

04f
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

$0-30,000

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part F 
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
Please note: Net price calculations use ACADEMIC YEAR
costs, not full program costs
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04 Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses
by living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula:
[F01+F02+F05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 3 students from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, and the institution
08 Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [F06-F07]
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website and used in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Lists.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part G 
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
Please note: Net price calculations use ACADEMIC YEAR costs, not
full program costs
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with family)
04 Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses by
living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G01+G02+G05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4
students from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, and the institution.
07a
$0-30,000
07b
$30,001-48,000
07c
$48,001-75,000
07d
$75,001-110,000
07e
$110,001 and more
08 Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G06-G07]
08a
$0-30,000
08b
$30,001-48,000
08c
$48,001-75,000
08d
$75,001-110,000
08e
$110,001 and more
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website.
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context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
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of
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The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explains your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be
written to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits - Undergraduate and Graduate 
Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTE: Report for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 and Report for Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program: October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018
Program reporters should be reporting the information on this screen for ALL programs (not just the largest program).
•
Report the total number of student recipients and the total dollar amounts for each program.
•
Student recipients can also include eligible dependents.
•
Consult with your campus certifying official, who may not be in the student financial aid office.
•
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits, do not include the matching institutional aid provided through the Yellow Ribbon
Program if your school participated.
•
Information reported to IPEDS is only what is known to the institution.
•
Enter zero (0) if your institution did not have beneficiaries for that student level or program. Please do not leave a
cell blank.
YOUR PRIOR YEAR DATA
Type of
Number of students
Total dollar amount of
Average dollar amount of Average dollar amount of
benefit/assistance
receiving
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
disbursed
disbursed
disbursed
through the institution
through the institution
through the institution
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total

Prepared by 
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions
concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden
associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete
and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey
component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member
Collecting Data Needed
Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements
Your office
hours
hours
Other offices

U.S. Department of Education
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hours

Entering Data

hours

Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported

Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting

Revising and Locking Data

hours

hours

hours

hours

Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid, Public Program Reporters

Table of Contents
The SFA component has expanded from gathering data on only undergraduate survey component to all students
(undergraduates and graduate students) because of the new question on military servicemembers and veterans'
educational benefits. The survey instructions that follow are divided into two sections. Section 1 discusses the portion
of the SFA component that asks questions about your undergraduate students only. Section 2 explains the portion of
the SFA component that ask questions about your military and veteran students. As you complete both sections of
SFA, please refer to the "Where to Get Help" and "Where the Data Will Appear" sections.

Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period
Student Cohort
What to Include
What NOT to Include

Detailed Instructions
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4

Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period

Detailed Instructions

Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page

The IPEDS Website's Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution and aggregate levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•

College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•

IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

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Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about financial aid provided
to various groups of undergraduate students in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA),
as amended. Item areas include:
•
•
•

•

•
•

Financial aid about all undergraduate students
Financial aid about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded grant aid. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes
only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only
students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded grant aid.
For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.

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Who Must Report
Institutions that had undergraduate students enrolled during the prior academic year must report.
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions

What You Will Need
The institution’s financial aid system should be the beginning basis for reporting to this IPEDS component.
Data providers for this component should be familiar with college and university practices associated with student
financial aid. In general, there are two types of financial aid data that will be requested in this component. These types
are:
•
•

Numbers of students that meet certain conditions
Total aid dollars awarded to these students

To complete this component, data providers will need the following:
1. Financial aid information about the following student groups:
•
•
•
•

Group 1. All undergraduate students
Group 2. Of the students in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3. Of the students in Group 2, those enrolled in the institution's largest program who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate and were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Group 4. Of the students in Group 2, those enrolled in the institution's largest program who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate and were awarded Title IV federal student aid.
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2. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled
in the institution's largest program who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded grant or
scholarship aid during the reporting period.
3. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled
in the institution's largest program who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded Title IV federal
student aid during the reporting period.
4. Income levels for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the institution's
largest program who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate and were awarded Title IV federal student aid during
the reporting period.

About the Data
Five different types of data appear in this component. There are data:
•
•
•
•
•

That institutions provide from their own financial aid records
That are prior year data, shown in red, which can be used as a comparison with the current year's data being
reported
That are carried forward from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (IC) component and the IPEDS 12-month
Enrollment (E12) component that your institution completed in the most recent collections of those
components.
That are carried forward from one part of the Student Financial Aid component to another part to ensure that
the data are internally consistent
That are calculated from the other data elements

In the latter two cases, the data provider should check that the data that are carried forward and calculated are
consistent with the data in the institution's underlying financial aid records. If the data carried forward or calculated
are not consistent with the institution's records, then an error in data entry may have occurred.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written to be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for this component should be for the prior academic year. For the purposes of reporting to SFA, the
aid year period runs from July 1 through June 30.
Program reporters will report students' aid data for an institutionally defined academic year. This is the academic year
length, in weeks, used by your institution to calculate your Pell budget. It must begin within the aid year period
specified above and will vary from student to student depending on when he or she enrolled.

Student Cohort
The student cohort covered by this component includes undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year (the aid year period from July 1 through June 30).

What to Include
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:
•

•

•

•

•
•

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies such as the
U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell grants, Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants, and Teacher Education Assistance
for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include need-based and merit-based educational
assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored
educational benefits programs.
Do not include veterans education benefits, as defined in section 480(c) of the HEA, as they are no longer
treated as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) for the Office of Federal Student Aid's purposes. For more
information, visit https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.
Federal loans to students: Monies from the federal government that must be repaid for which the student is
the designated borrower. This type of aid includes all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins
Loans, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Do not
include PLUS loans and other federal loans not made directly to the student.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were awarded by your state
such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarships. Include merit-based grants or scholarships that were provided by your state or local
government. Also include tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state or local
government agency.
Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/waivers): Grants, scholarships, and fellowships
granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution and are limited to
students attending your institution. Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on
state of residence, major, or participation in athletic activities) for which the institution designates the
recipient. Also include institutional tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was not reimbursed by a
state or local government agency. This is not intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: Grants or scholarships to students that are awarded and paid by an outside
organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Private loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the
designated borrower. Include all institutionally and privately sponsored loans. Do not include loans that are not
made directly to the student.

NOTE: In this component, "aid awarded" refers to grant or scholarship aid that was awarded to students or to loans
awarded to and accepted by students. For reporting grant or scholarship aid, institutions should report on aid that was
awarded to students. This amount may be different from the amount that was actually disbursed to students. For
example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the beginning of the academic year but then leave the
institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, institutions should report the original amount of grant or
scholarship aid that was awarded. For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that
were awarded to and accepted by the student.

Note also that different types of financial aid should be reported for different groups of students. Please review the
instructions and the screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Institutions need to report aid in this component such that the net price calculations shown on College Navigator and
used for the College Affordability and Transparency lists are a reflection of what students actually pay.
In cases where a student is awarded aid for multiple institutionally defined academic years within one aid year period,
institutions should report only aid awarded for the student's first institutionally defined academic year.
For total aid amounts, report to the nearest whole dollar and omit cents. For student counts, an unduplicated count
should be given within a given aid category (e.g., Pell grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.

What NOT to Include
Do not report student counts or aid amounts for the following:
•
•
•
•

Students who were only graduate students at the institution during the reporting period
Students who were enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a certificate/degree
Students who were enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students who were exclusively auditing classes

Do not report:
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study amounts into any total aid amounts
ROTC aid, which are excluded from EFA calculations, in any total aid amounts
Loans that are made to someone other than the student
Military/veterans aid in Section 1 because such aid is ONLY reported in Section 2

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Detailed Instructions
This section provides line-by-line instructions for each part of the Student Financial Aid component.

Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the data you report on this screen will be
carried forward to other parts of the Student Financial Aid component.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of students in each of the following groups:

Item

Description

01.

Group 1
All undergraduate students
Report the number of all undergraduate students who were enrolled any time during the prior
academic year. Include all new and continuing undergraduate students (full-time students, parttime students, degree/certificate-seeking students, non-degree/certificate-seeking students, and
all others). This number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS 12-month Enrollment
component, but it may be modified if necessary. If you have questions about the value that has
been preloaded in this field, please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.

02.

Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
Report the number of students who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates.
02a.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study; loans to
students; or grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, the institution, or other sources known to the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Federal Work Study;
•
Government and/or private loans to students;
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution, such as aid
from private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).

Note that the students reported in Line 02a are not defined as a particular group because
no additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.
02b.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Government and/or private loans to students; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution.
Note that the students reported in Line 02b are not defined as a particular group because
no additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.

03.

Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution's largest program who were
awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district
tuition rate. Report students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following
sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. Do not include
students who were awarded aid only from other sources.

04.

Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution's largest program who were
awarded any Title IV federal student aid
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district
tuition rate. Report students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., report
students who were awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal
student loans).
Title IV federal student aid includes:
•
Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent
Grant (National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant
•
Federal Work Study
•
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or
FFEL Stafford Loan

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Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 1 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. Group 1 students are all undergraduate students enrolled any time during the
prior academic year.
For this part, report:

For These Students
· All undergraduate students

The Following Type(s) of
Aid
· Grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
the institution
· Grant or scholarship aid from
other sources known to the
institution
· Loans to students from the
federal government

Awarded in This Period
· Any time during the prior
academic year (the aid year
period from July 1 through
June 30)

Data carried forward from Part A include the following:

Information from Part A:

Prior Academic Year

Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A,
Line 01)

Carried forward from Part A

Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students
for each type of aid.

Item

Description

01.

Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, and other sources known to the institution
Column 1. Report the number of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the
institution.
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid is
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution awarded to Group 1
students.

02.

Column 4. The average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 1 students is calculated
for you.
Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants. Do not include any
other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants is calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students. Do not include
any other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students is calculated for you.

03.

Federal student loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded federal loans to students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded federal student loans is calculated
for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of federal student loans awarded to Group 1 students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 4. The average amount of federal student loans awarded to students in Group 1 is calculated
for you.

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Part C, Page 2 - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 2 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. For academic reporters, Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior Fall. For program reporters, Group 2 students
are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
·
Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship aid from
· For program reporters, this is the
in the prior Fall (academic
state/local government
aid year period from July 1
reporters) or any time during the · Grant or scholarship aid from the through June 30.
prior academic year (program
institution
reporters)

· Loans to students from the
federal government and from
other sources, including private
loans
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources
· Do not include PLUS loans or
loans made to anyone other than
the student
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Academic Year
Group 2a
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, or other
sources known to the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02a)
Group 2b
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government,
or  the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02b)
Group 03
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those (enrolled in the largest
program for program reporters) who paid the instate or in-district tuition rate and were awarded
grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the
institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)

Note:  Two aid categories in this section are further disaggregated into subcategories. Because students may be
awarded more than one type of aid, the sum of the values you enter in the subcategories will not necessarily equal the
value you enter in the aid category. However, the total number of students reported for the aid category cannot
exceed the sum of subcategories. (For example, the number of students who were awarded federal grants cannot
exceed the sum of the number of students who were awarded Pell grants and the number who were awarded other
federal grants). In addition, the total number of students reported for an aid category must be at least as large as the
largest of those reported in a subcategory.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid they were awarded for each
type of aid.
Item Description
01.
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, and the
institution
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. If a student
appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02 through 04, that student should only be
counted once for Line 01. Do not include students who were awarded only grants or scholarships from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or scholarships
from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 01 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 02, Column 3) + (Line 03, Column 3) + (Line 04, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.
02.

Federal grants
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: Pell grants and other federal
grants.

Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from the
federal government. This includes Pell grants and other federal grants. If a student appears in more
than one type of aid category in Lines 02a or 02b, that student should only be counted once for Line
02. Note that this number should be at least as large as the largest number reported in Line
02a, Column 1 or Line 02b, Column 1. In addition, this number cannot exceed the sum of
[(Line 02a, Column 1) + (Line 02b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from the federal
government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 02 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 02a, Column 3) + (Line 02b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants from the federal government awarded to Group 2 students
will be calculated for you.
02a.

Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated
for you.

02b.

Other federal grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal grants.
Other federal grants include Title IV grant aid other than a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of students Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all other federal grants awarded to Group 2
students.
Column 4. The average amount of other federal grants awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.

03.

State/local government grants or scholarships (grants/scholarships/waivers)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from a
state/local government. This includes grants, scholarships, or waivers funded by a state or local
government. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships from a
state/local government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from a state/local government
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from a state/local government awarded to
Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

04.

Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/fellowships)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the
institution. This includes grants, scholarships, or fellowships funded by the institution. Do not include
any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships from the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from the institution awarded to
Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the institution awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.

05.

Loans to students
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: federal loans and other loans.
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to students.
This includes loans from the federal government and from other sources (including private lenders). If a
student appears in more than one type of loan category in Lines 05a or 05b, that student should only be
counted once for Line 05. Note that this number should be at least as large as the largest
number reported in Line 05a, Column 1 or Line 05b, Column 1. In addition, this number
cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 05a, Column 1) + (Line 05b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to students will
be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 05 will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using
the following formula: [(Line 05a, Column 3) + (Line 05b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for
you.
05a.

Federal loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from the federal government. Do not include loans to others (e.g., PLUS loans to
parents) and do not include any other type of grant or loan aid.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from the federal government
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from the federal government awarded to
Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

05b.

Other loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from sources other than the federal government. This includes private loans to
students. Do not include loans to others (e.g., loans to parents).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students from sources other than the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from sources other than the
federal government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from sources other than the federal
government awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

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Cost of Attendance Revision
If you made errors in the prior year reporting of cost of attendance in the IC component, you can make changes in the
SFA component. However, there are no prior year revisions for the SFA component. Please refer to the instructions on
reporting cost of attendance in the IC component.

Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students in Part F.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who
were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: federal government, state/local government, or the
institution. Students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students who
were awarded only non-grant aid should not be included in this group.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
federal government

· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from
· Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
state/local government
academic year (the aid year period
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship from the
from July 1 through June 30)
in your institution's largest
institution
program paying the in-state or in- · Do not include grant or
district tuition rate who were
scholarship aid from private or
awarded grant or scholarship aid other sources.
from the following sources: the
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
· Do not include students who
were awarded only grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources, or students who
were awarded only non-grant aid.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 3
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's
largest program paying the in-state or in-district
tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship
aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)
In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 3 students. The living arrangement
categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for Federal Student
Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled, she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total
amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
these students.
Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 3 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A03 – (D01a +
D01b + D01c)], where A03 is the number of Group 3 students that you entered in Part A, Line
03. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
02.
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
Report the total dollar amount of grants and scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students. Exclude grant or scholarship aid from
private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship) and exclude all loan aid.
03.
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students
The average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution awarded to Group 3 students will be calculated for you. This value is calculated using the
following formula: [D02/A03]. This amount will be used in Part F to calculate net price.
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Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students in Part G.

Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in your institution's
largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e.,
students who were awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal student loans). For
public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Title IV federal student aid includes the following:
•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness
Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan

For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year (the aid year period
undergraduate students enrolled in · Grant or scholarship aid from
from July 1 through June 30)
your institution's largest program state/local government
who were awarded any Title IV
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
federal student aid
institution
· For public institutions, include
· Do not include grant or
only those students who paid the in scholarship aid from private or
-state or in-district tuition rate.
other sources.
· Do not include loan amounts.
· Do not include Federal Work
Study amounts.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 4
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's
largest program who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid. For public institutions, include
only students paying the in-state or in-district tuition
rate. 
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
Notes: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 4 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangements. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
In this part, you will also be asked to report the number of students in Group 4 and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid they were awarded by income level. To determine the income level of the student, use the income that
was used by the institution’s financial aid office to determine the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For
dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For
independent students this will include the student’s adjusted gross income.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement.
Item Description
01.

Report the number of Group 4 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 4 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A04 – (E01a +
E01b + E01c)], where A04 is the number of Group 4 students that you entered in Part A, Line
04. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.

In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students who were awarded any Title IV aid (column 1); the
number of Group 4 students who were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution (column 2); and the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level (column 3).
Item
Description
02.

02a.

02b.

02c.

02d.

02e.

02f.

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$0–30,000

Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$30,001–48,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$48,001–75,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$75,001–110,000Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$110,001 and
Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
more
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Total all income Column 1. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
levels
Title IV aid will be calculated for you.
Column 2. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group
4 students from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students from the federal government, state/local government,
or the institution will be calculated for you.

Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, Group
3 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 3 students will be posted on College
Navigator. In addition, the average net price calculated for this group will be used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance for the
institution's largest program and the average grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 3 students. The total cost of
attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted
average by living arrangement for room and board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of
attendance is carried forward from data that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of
IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and have questions about the values entered here, contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.

Item

Description

01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions) are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS
Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution
reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges,
Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried
forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part D, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room
and board and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses
(Lines 03a through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in
the unknown category). This value is calculated using the following formula:
Line 05 = [(Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03b*(Line
04b/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line
04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
This value is carried forward from Part D, Line 04.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 3 students

The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's largest program any time during the
prior academic year who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution is calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: Line 06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group
3 students will be posted on College Navigator and used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.
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Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students.
Group 4 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded Title IV federal student
aid. For public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 4 students will be posted on College
Navigator.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance for the
institution's largest program and the average grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4 students. The total cost of
attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted
average by living arrangement for room and board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of
attendance is carried forward from data that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of
IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and have questions about the values entered here, contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.

Item

Description

01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions) are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS
Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution
reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges,
Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried
forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part E, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room
and board and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses
(Lines 03a through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in
the unknown category). This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 05 =
[Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line 04a+Line
04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 4 students
These values are carried forward from Part E, Line 04, Column 4 for each income level.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's largest program any time during the
prior academic year who were awarded Title IV federal student aid is calculated for
you. These values are calculated for each income level using the following formula: Line
06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group 4 students by income level will be posted
on College Navigator.

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Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about the financial aid provided to
various groups of undergraduates in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Starting in the 2014-15 data collection year, SFA has expanded to collect information on the federal dollars supporting
military servicemember and veteran undergraduate and graduate students.
As presented in the Technical Review Panel Report #36 (March 2012), the increase in beneficiaries and federal dollars
has led to an increased demand for information to help prospective students decide where to use their educational
benefits, researchers to study the impact of the programs on college outcomes, and policymakers to assess the
effectiveness of benefits programs and return on investment.
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Who Must Report
All registered IPEDS institutions that educate military servicemembers, veterans, or eligible dependents receiving any
Tuition Assistance Program or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Report only those that RECEIVED the benefit(s).
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need
If you are unfamiliar with these educational benefits, a general synopsis of each program is found below. 
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill
•
•
•
•
•
•

Effective August 1, 2009, benefit provides payment of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books
and supplies stipend.
Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution on behalf the students; thus, institutions should know which
students have Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the amount of benefits received at the institution.
Educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent.
Program expanded in 2011 to cover non-degree-granting programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job training
programs, flight training programs, and training correspondence.
The Yellow Ribbon program through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an institutional aid matching program only for
tuition and fees for students attending participating institutions.
For more information, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits website
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

2. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
•
•
•

For active duty servicemembers, reservists called to active duty, and their spouses.
Educational payments cover only tuition and fees and are made directly to the institution.
GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement costs not covered by this program.

•

For more information, visit the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program website
http://www.dodmou.com/

Consult and verify the data with your institutional representative who certifies these benefits. This individual or office
may not be in the student financial aid office.

About the Data
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance programs may only highlight two of many educational benefits provided to
military servicemembers and veterans. However, from a national perspective, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance
programs are more likely to be found across over 7,500 IPEDS institutions.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic year, from July 1 to June
30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported will be July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should be for the prior
academic year, from October 1 to September 30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported
will be October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018.
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Detailed Instruction
This section provides line-by-line instructions for the Military Servicemember and Veteran Benefits questions.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, please provide in the first column the number of students receiving the benefit during
the July 1-June 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the second column, provide the total dollar amount for
each benefit during the same reporting period.
For the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program benefit, please provide in the first column the number of
students receiving the benefit during the October 1-September 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the
second column, provide the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
If your institution did not have any student beneficiaries for one of the benefit programs, enter a zero (0) in the cell.
In other words, do NOT leave the cell blank for a program that did not have any beneficiaries.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.  
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Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
1)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
2)
3)
What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
4)
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Student Counts
For which students should I report financial aid information?
1)
What students are included in Group 1?
2)
3)
What students are included in Group 2?
4)
What students are included in Group 2a?
What students are included in Group 2b?
5)
6)
What students are included in Group 3?
What students are included in Group 4?
7)
Financial Aid
Should veterans education benefits be reported?
1)
2)
How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?
3)
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is $4500. What
do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
4)
What types of financial aid should be reported?
5)
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
6)
Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
7)
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
8)
Should PLUS loans be reported?
9)
What does "aid awarded" mean?
10)
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
11)
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
12)
How do I get information about students' income categories?
12
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?

Answers:
General
1)
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
All postsecondary institutions that either 1.) participate in federal student financial aid programs that enrolled
undergraduate students or 2.) enroll students who received an educational benefit (e.g., Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance or Department of Veteran Affairs Post-9/11GI Bill) any time during academic year 2017-18 must
complete SFA.
Back to top
2)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 data collection, institutions should report data for academic year 2017-18.
For Title IV participating institutions that enroll undergraduate students:

•

•

For academic reporters, the academic year is defined as the period of time generally extending
from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period
covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2017). Second, determine the financial aid that was awarded to
these students any time during the 2017-18 academic year.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as the
institutionally defined academic year falls within the full aid year period of July 1-June 30.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled any time during the academic year). Second, determine the financial aid
that was awarded to these students any time during the academic year.

For institutions that enroll undergraduate and graduate students who received military or veteran benefits:

•
•

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic
year, from July 1 to June 30.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should
be for the prior academic year, from October 1 to September 30.
Back to top

3)

What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 collection year, there were no changes.

Back to top
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Yes, the 3 most recent COA years can be changed in SFA's "Cost Revision" screen, which carried forward the COA data
from Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. Changes should only be made if errors were made in the
IC reporting. Changes cannot be made in the prior year revision system.
Back to top
Student Counts
1)
For which students should I report financial aid information?

SFA collects information on undergraduate students only.
4)

Academic reporters should report on students who were enrolled as of October 15, or the institution’s official Fall
reporting date.
Program reporters should report on students who were enrolled any time during the academic year. For program
reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
For the purposes of reporting to SFA, students are divided into the following groups:

•
•
•

•

2)

3)

Group 1: All undergraduate students
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, include only those
paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters, include only those enrolled in the
institution’s largest program.
Group 4: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. For public
institutions, include only those paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters,
include only those enrolled in the institution’s largest program.

Back to top
What students are included in Group 1?
Group 1 includes all undergraduate students. You should report the total number of all new and continuing full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, and non-degree/certificate-seeking students.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 2?
Group 2 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
For academic reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Also
include students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This
number should match the data that you reported on the Fall Enrollment component of IPEDS.

4)

For program reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level
anytime during the academic year, as defined at your institution. Also include students who entered with advanced
standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This number should closely match the data you
reported on the 12-month Enrollment component of IPEDS.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 2a?
In Group 2a, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study
Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
Back to top

5)

What students are included in Group 2b?

In Group 2b, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•

6)

Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution

Group 2b is Group 2a minus those students who were awarded only Federal Work Study or grant or scholarship aid
from other sources known to the institution.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 3?
Group 3 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources:

•
•
•

Federal government
State/local government
Institution

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.

7)

Do not include students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students
who were awarded only non-grant aid, such as loans.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 4?
Group 4 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded any
Title IV aid.
Title IV aid includes the following:

•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Back to top
Financial Aid
1)
Should veterans education benefits be reported?

For the portion of SFA (Parts A through E) that requires Title IV institutions to report on undergraduate students
receiving financial aid:

•
•

•
•

Veterans education benefits should not be reported as financial aid in SFA.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) removed veterans education benefits from
“estimated financial assistance,” effective July 1, 2010. A later technical corrections bill (H.R. 1777)
updated the list of programs that meet the definition of "veterans' education benefits" in section
480(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and moved the effective date of the exclusion to July 1,
2009 (beginning with the 2009-10 award year).
However, the institutional aid from Yellow Ribbon program should be reported under institutional
aid. See how to report the Yellow Ribbon aid in FAQ.
For more information about the Department's Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for
Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, please visit
https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.

For the portion of SFA (Section 2) that requires institutions to report on students who received military or veteran
benefits:

•

Educational benefits from the Department of Defense's Military Tuition Assistance or Department of
Veteran Affairs' Post-9/11 GI Bill should be reported in SFA.
Back to top

2)

How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program includes a 'Yellow Ribbon' program, which is comprised of matching funds provided
by the government and the institution. The institutional part of this aid should be reported in the SFA component
(Section 1) as aid to the undergraduate student. Yellow Ribbon benefits provided from the VA should NOT be included
when reporting to the portion of SFA (Section 1) on Title IV institutions that enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students.

3)

However, both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon beneficiaries and federal dollar amounts should be reported to
the military/veteran question of SFA (Section 2). This portion of SFA requires all institutions that enroll students with
Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Tuition Assistance educational benefits to provide the number of beneficiaries and total dollar
amounts.
Back to top
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is
$4500. What do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
According to the 2014 final regulations set for the DOD Voluntary Education Programs - which include TAP - each
branch of military service can pay no more than $250/semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition. Each service member
is eligible for up to $4500 in aggregate for each fiscal year. If your institution’s DOD TAP average is greater than
$4500 per student per award year, then you should:
--Ask your financial aid office or VA certifying official to sort out the military aid and remove any non-DOD TAP aid
(e.g., ROTC scholarships, tuition reimbursements for advanced civil schooling, education-related incentive or bonus);
--Remove any non-Title 10 aid since TAP is a Title 10 program; and
--Make sure that you are including one disbursement period for that award year. Even though DOD TAP aid are
reported for the Oct 1 – Sep 30 timeframe, which technically covers two fall periods; only include one fall
disbursement period per award year.
Back to top

4)

What types of financial aid should be reported?
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:

•

•

•

•

•

5)

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell
grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Academic Competitiveness
Grants (ACGs), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants,
and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include
need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other
federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were provided by
your state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. Also include merit scholarships that were provided by your
state and tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local
grants include any local government grants, scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.
Institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or
individual departments within the institution (and are limited to students attending your institution).
Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major)
for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like. This is not
intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: These may include scholarships or grants to students that are
paid by an outside organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g.,
Rotary Club Scholarship).
Loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is
the designated borrower. Include all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins Loans,
Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Also
include all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Please do not include PLUS and other loans
made directly to parents.

Note that different parts of the SFA component ask for different types of financial aid to be reported. Please review the
instructions and the survey screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Back to top
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
Institutions should report aid that was awarded any time during the academic year.
For academic reporters, the academic year is the period of time generally extending from September to June, usually
equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
Note that for the purposes of calculating net price, the cost of attendance (COA) for an academic year reported in the
Institutional Characteristics (IC) component should align with the aid amounts reported in the Student Financial Aid
(SFA) component.
Back to top

6)

Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
Yes, tuition and fee waivers should be reported.
Tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency should be reported under
state/local government grants.

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

Tuition and fee waivers granted by your institution (for which your institution is not reimbursed from another source)
should be reported as institutional grants.
Back to top
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
In general, institutions should report financial aid from tribal offices awarded to full-time, first-time students in the
state/local government field (Line 03) in Part C.
Back to top
Should PLUS loans be reported?
No. PLUS loans are made to the parents of students. Any type of loan that is not made to the student should not be
reported.
Back to top
What does "aid awarded" mean?
Institutions should report on grant or scholarship aid that has been awarded to students. This may be different from
aid that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the
beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, you
would report the original amount of grant or scholarship aid that was awarded, even though the entire amount was
not actually disbursed to the student.
For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that were awarded to and accepted by
the student.
Back to top
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
Yes, students should be included in each category of aid that they are awarded. If a student is awarded both federal
and institutional aid, he/she should be counted under both types of aid.
However, in Part C, count students only once in the major aid category. For example, if a student is awarded both a
Pell Grant (Line 02a) and another type of federal grant (Line 02b), then count that student once for the major
category of Federal grants (Line 02).
Back to top
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an
institutional financial aid application. If a student did not complete the FAFSA or an institutional financial aid
application with living arrangement information, that student may appear as having an unknown living arrangement.
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement.

12)

Back to top
How do I get information about students' income categories?
To assign the income category of the student, use the income that was used by your financial aid office to determine
the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross
income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For independent students this will include the student’s adjusted
gross income.
If your institution takes part in campus-based aid programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, then it might be easiest to tell your financial aid office that students
should be put in income categories as they are done on FISAP(Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate).
Institutions with campus-based aid programs must report annually to the Department of Education using the FISAP.
Part of the FISAP includes income-related information. Even if your institution does not file FISAP, the instructions
from it may be helpful (fields 26-39):

•

•

12

Use the FISAP Total Income (FTI), one of the intermediate computed values on the Student Aid
Record (SAR) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), to determine the proper cell for
each student. For dependent students, FTI is the sum of Total Income (TI) and Student’s Total
Income (STI). For independent students, the FTI will equal the TI. Remember, extract this
information only from the SARs/ISIRs of students who actually enrolled in your school.
You might need to correct or adjust a student’s income information and recalculate the EFC. If so,
you must use that corrected or adjusted information when determining the proper income cell for a
student. In such a case, to determine the income cell for a dependent student, you must use the
student’s and parents’ base year incomes, as reported on the SAR/ISIR.

Back to top
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?
If the foundation’s mission is to benefit the institution, then:  (1) those portions of the foundation-funded grants
where the institution designates the recipient should be reported as institutional grants; and (2) those portions of the
foundation-funded grants where the foundation designates the recipient should be reported as private grants. All
grants funded by foundations with missions other than to benefit the institution should be reported as private grants.

Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid for institutions reporting on a full-year cohort (private program reporters)

Overview 
IPEDS Student Financial Aid Component Overview
Program Reporters
Welcome to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component. The purpose of the SFA component is to collect information about financial aid
provided to various groups of undergraduate students and military/veteran educational benefits for all students at your institution.
Changes to This Year’s SFA Component
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
Data Reporting Reminders
Undergraduate Student Groups
You will be asked to report information for different groups of students.
•
Group 1: All undergraduate students
•
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students (FTFT)
•
Group 3: Of Group 2, students enrolled in the institution’s largest program and were awarded any
grant/scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. For public
institutions, include only those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
•
Group 4: Of Group 2, students enrolled in the institution’s largest program and were awarded any Title IV federal
student aid. For public institutions, include only those who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Image description. SFA Overview End of image description.

COA Revisions
Revisions to Cost of Attendance (COA) used to calculate the net price of attendance can be made in this component.
Consult the instructions and screens to make sure you are reporting the correct aid amounts for the correct groups of students.

College Affordability and Transparency Lists
Net price amounts calculated in SFA will be used to populate the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency
lists.
Interactive Edits and Error Messages
SFA contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside expected ranges. Some error
messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error messages are fatal and will require you to contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 for resolution.
Context Boxes

You will find optional text boxes throughout SFA. Context boxes allow you to provide more information about the data you enter. Some of
these context boxes may be made available to the public on College Navigator, so make sure that the information you enter can be
understood easily by students, parents, and the general public.
Resources
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data

Section 1: Part A 
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the numbers on this screen will be carried forward to other parts of the
Student Financial Aid component.
In the fields below, report the number of students in each of the following groups.
July 1, 2017June 30, 2018
01 Group 1
All undergraduate students
02 Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
02a Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study, loans to students, or
grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, or
other sources known to the institution
02b Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or scholarship aid
from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
03 Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution’s largest program who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution
04 Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution’s largest program who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

Section 1: Part B 
Part B – Enter Information about Group 1
Group 1 students are ALL undergraduate students (including first-time students) enrolled any time during the academic year 2017-18.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
All undergraduate
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic year
students
2017-18 (the aid year period
◦ federal government
from July 1, 2017 through June
◦ state/local government
30, 2018)
◦ the institution
◦ other sources known to the institution
•
Loans to students from:
◦ the federal government
In the fields below, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid.
Information from Part A:
Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 01)
Aid Type

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

01

Grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government,
state/local government, the
institution, and other sources
known to the institution (Do
NOT include federal
student loans)
02 Pell Grants

03

Federal student loans

2017-18

2017-18
Number of Group 1 Percentage of Group 1 Total amount of aid Average amount of
students who were
students who were
awarded to Group 1
aid awarded to
awarded aid
awarded aid
students
Group 1 students

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part C, Page 2 
Part C - Enter Information about Group 2
Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled any time during academic year 201718.
For this part, report:
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
academic year 2017-18
◦ federal government
•
For program reporters,
◦ state/local government
this is the aid year
◦ the institution
period from July 1,
•
Loans to students from:
2017 through June 30,
◦ the federal government
2018.
◦ other sources, including private or
other loans
•
Do not include:
◦ grant or scholarship aid from private or
other sources
◦ PLUS loans or loans made to anyone
other than the student
In the fields below, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students for each type of
aid. Enter unduplicated student counts within a category (e.g., Pell Grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.
•

For These Students
Full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students
enrolled any time during
academic year 2017-18

•

Information from Part A:
Group 2 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02)

2017-18

Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Group 2a (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02a) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -Federal
Work Study -loans to students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution -grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
Group 2b (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 02b) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -loans to
students -grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Group 3 (This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03) Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded: -grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
Aid Type

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2017-18
2016-17
Number of Group 2
Percentage of
Total amount of Average amount Average amount
students who were Group 2 students
aid awarded to
of aid awarded of aid awarded
awarded aid
who were awarded Group 2 students
to Group 2
to Group 2
aid
students
students

01 Grants or scholarships from the
federal government, state/local
government, or the institution
02 Federal grants
02a Pell Grants
02b Other federal grants
03 State/local government grants
or scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
04 Institutional grants or
scholarships
(includes fellowships/tuition
waivers/exemptions)
05 Loans to students
05a Federal loans
05b Other loans (including
private loans)

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Comparison Chart 
Comparison Chart
Based on the information reported on the previous screens for Group 1 (all undergraduates) and Group 2 (full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduates), this comparison chart seeks to help institutions check their reported data. Assuming that the information on Groups 1
and 2 is correct, then the calculated fields for ‘All Other Undergraduates’ should be the balance (Group 1 minus Group 2). If the balance does
not check with your institution’s calculations, please correct your reported numbers for Groups 1 and 2 before moving forward with the
completion of the SFA survey component.
Note: Data for the 'All Other Undergraduates' will appear in the IPEDS Data Center for data users, but not in College Navigator.
Number of students
Pell grants
Federal Student Loans
01 Group 1 (all undergraduates)
02
Number of students who were awarded aid
03
Percentage who were awarded aid
04
Total amount of aid awarded
05
Average amount of aid awarded
06 Group 2 (Full-time, first-time undergraduates)
07
Number of students who were awarded aid
08
Percentage who were awarded aid
09
Total amount of aid awarded
10
Average amount of aid awarded
11 All other undergraduates
(Line 01 - Line 06)
12
Number of students who were awarded aid
(Line 02 - Line 07)
13
Percentage who were awarded aid
(Line 12 / Line 11)
14
Total amount of aid awarded
(Line 04 - Line 09)
15
Average amount of aid awarded
(Line 14 / Line 12)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance 
Cost of attendance
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending full-time
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in WEEKS
Published student charges for the entire program
2015-16
Tuition and required fees for the entire program
(public program reporters report the lowest of indistrict or in-state, if applicable)

2016-17

2017-18

Books and supplies for the entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs for your area, not on
national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks (1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)
Room and board and other expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks (1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)
Room and board and other expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks (1 month)

Section 1: Cost of Attendance (calculated) 
Cost of attendance
These numbers are carried forward from Institutional Characteristics and should only be changed if an error was made in the reporting.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses

Section 1: Part D 
Part D - Enter Information about Group 3
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your institution’s largest program any
time during academic year 2017-18 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution. The information you report in this part will be used in Part F to calculate average institutional net price.
Note:
In this part, you must report information for your institution’s largest program. Your largest program is the program with the most number of
undergraduate students enrolled. You must provide three years’ worth of data for your largest program.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during
degree/certificate-seeking
academic year 2017
◦ federal government
undergraduate students enrolled in
-18 (the aid year
◦ state/local government
your institution’s largest program
period from July 1,
◦ the institution
who were awarded grant or
2017 through June
scholarship aid from the following
30, 2018)
•
Do not include grant or scholarship aid from
sources: the federal government,
private or other sources
state/local government, or the
institution
•
Do not include students who were
awarded only grant or scholarship
aid from private or other sources,
or students who were awarded
only non-grant aid
In the fields below, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students.
Largest Program Information from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component
CIP Code
Title
Information from Part A:

2017-18

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

Group 3
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution’s largest program who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following
sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 03)
01

Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living
arrangements:
01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17

2017-18

01d

02
03

Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the following
formula: [A03-(D01a+D01b+D01c)]
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
Group 3 students
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students (calculated
value).
This value is calculated using the following formula: [D02/A03]

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part E 
Part E – Enter Information about Group 4
Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your institution’s largest program any
time during academic year 2017-18 who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. The information you report in this part will be used in
Part G to calculate average institutional net price by income level.
Note:
In this part, you must report information for your institution’s largest program. Your largest program is the program with the most number of
undergraduate students enrolled. You must provide three years’ worth of data for your largest program.
For this part report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
•
•
•
Full-time, first-time
Grant or scholarship aid from:
Any time during academic
degree/certificate-seeking
year 2017-18 (the aid year
◦ federal government
undergraduate students
period from July 1, 2017
◦ state/local government
enrolled in your
through June 30, 2018)
◦ institution
institution’s largest
•
Do not include:
program who were
◦  grant or scholarship aid from
awarded any Title IV
private or other sources
federal student aid
◦ loan amounts
◦ Federal Work Study amounts
In the fields below, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level.
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Group 4
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
enrolled in your institution’s largest program who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
01

Report the number of Group 4 students with the
following living arrangements:
01a

On-campus

01b

Off-campus (with family)

01c

Off-campus (not with family)

01d

Unknown (calculated)
This value is calculated using the
formula: [A04-(E01a+E01b+E01c)]
Number of
students who
were awarded
any Title IV aid
(Group 4)

Col. 1
02

Income level
02a

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2016-17

$30,001-48,000

02c

$48,001-75,000

02d

$75,001-110,000

02e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

2017-18

Of those in Column 1, Of those in Column
Average
the number who were 1, the total amount of
amount of
awarded any grant or grant or scholarship
federal,
scholarship aid from aid awarded from the state/local, and
the following
following sources:
institutional
sources: the federal
the federal
grant or
government,
government,
scholarship aid
state/local
state/local
awarded to
government, or the government, or the Group 4 students
institution
institution
2015-16
Col. 2
Col. 3
Col. 4

$0-30,000

02b

02f

YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
2015-16

2016-17

03

Income level
03a

Col. 2

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

Col. 3

Col. 4

$0-30,000

03b

$30,001-48,000

03c

$48,001-75,000

03d

$75,001-110,000

03e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

03f

Col. 1

2017-18
04

Income level
04a
04b

$30,001-48,000

04c

$48,001-75,000

04d

$75,001-110,000

04e

$110,001 and
more
Total all income
levels

04f
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of image End
description.

$0-30,000

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part F 
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
Please note: Net price calculations use ACADEMIC YEAR
costs, not full program costs
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04 Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with
family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses
by living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula:
[F01+F02+F05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 3 students from the following sources: the federal
government, state/local government, and the institution
08 Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [F06-F07]
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website and used in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Lists.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may
beon
posted
the College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explain your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be written
to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not included in the
categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 1: Part G 
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
The following net price calculation is based on information that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component and the
Student Financial Aid component. For more information about data your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component,
please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
2017-18
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16
2016-17
Components of cost of attendance
Please note: Net price calculations use ACADEMIC YEAR costs, not
full program costs
Largest program:
CIP Code
Title
01 Published tuition and required fees
02 Books and supplies
03 Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
03a
On-campus
03b
Off-campus (with family)
03c
Off-campus (not with family)
04 Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
04a
On-campus
04b
Off-campus (with family)
04c
Off-campus (not with family)
04d
Unknown
05 Weighted average for room and board and other expenses by
living arrangement (excluding unknown values)
See instructions for the formula for this calculation
06 Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G01+G02+G05]
07 Average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4
students from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, and the institution.
07a
$0-30,000
07b
$30,001-48,000
07c
$48,001-75,000
07d
$75,001-110,000
07e
$110,001 and more
08 Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
This value is calculated using the following formula: [G06-G07]
08a
$0-30,000
08b
$30,001-48,000
08c
$48,001-75,000
08d
$75,001-110,000
08e
$110,001 and more
As required by the Higher Education Act, as amended (2008), these amounts will be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website.
Image
description.
These
context
notes
may beon
posted
the
College
Navigator
website.
of
image End
description.

The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explains your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be
written to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits - Undergraduate and Graduate 
Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTE: Report for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 and Report for Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program: October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018
Program reporters should be reporting the information on this screen for ALL programs (not just the largest program).
•
Report the total number of student recipients and the total dollar amounts for each program.
•
Student recipients can also include eligible dependents.
•
Consult with your campus certifying official, who may not be in the student financial aid office.
•
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits, do not include the matching institutional aid provided through the Yellow Ribbon
Program if your school participated.
•
Information reported to IPEDS is only what is known to the institution.
•
Enter zero (0) if your institution did not have beneficiaries for that student level or program. Please do not leave a
cell blank.
YOUR PRIOR YEAR DATA
Type of
Number of students
Total dollar amount of
Average dollar amount of Average dollar amount of
benefit/assistance
receiving
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
disbursed
disbursed
disbursed
through the institution
through the institution
through the institution
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Total

Prepared by 
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions
concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden
associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete
and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey
component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member
Collecting Data Needed
Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements
Your office
hours
hours
Other offices

hours

Entering Data

hours

Revising and Locking Data

hours

hours

hours

hours

U.S. Department of Education
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Of
Education
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description.

Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported

Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting

Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid, Private Program Reporters

Table of Contents
The SFA component has expanded from gathering data on only undergraduate survey component to all students
(undergraduates and graduate students) because of the new question on military servicemembers and veterans'
educational benefits. The survey instructions that follow are divided into two sections. Section 1 discusses the portion
of the SFA component that asks questions about your undergraduate students only. Section 2 explains the portion of
the SFA component that ask questions about your military and veteran students. As you complete both sections of
SFA, please refer to the "Where to Get Help" and "Where the Data Will Appear" sections.

Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period
Student Cohort
What to Include
What NOT to Include

Detailed Instructions
Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4

Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes
Interactive Edits

Coverage
Reporting Period

Detailed Instructions

Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page

The IPEDS Website's Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution and aggregate levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•

College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•

IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

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Section 1. SFA - Undergraduate Students
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about financial aid provided
to various groups of undergraduate students in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA),
as amended. Item areas include:
•
•
•

•

•
•

Financial aid about all undergraduate students
Financial aid about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded grant aid. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state
or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.
Financial aid and living arrangement information about all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes
only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only
students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded grant aid.
For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Net Price Calculation for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid by income. For public institutions, this includes only students who paid the in-state or indistrict tuition rate. For program reporters, this includes only students enrolled in the institution's largest
program.

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Who Must Report
Institutions that had undergraduate students enrolled during the prior academic year must report.
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need

The institution’s financial aid system should be the starting point for reporting to this IPEDS component.
Data providers for this component should be familiar with college and university practices associated with student
financial aid. In general, there are two types of financial aid data that will be requested in this component. These types
are:
•
•

Numbers of students that meet certain conditions
Total aid dollars awarded to these students

To complete this component, data providers will need the following:
1. Financial aid information about the following student groups:
•
•
•
•

Group 1. All undergraduate students
Group 2. Of the students in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3. Of the students in Group 2, those enrolled in the institution's largest program who were awarded
grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution.
Group 4. Of the students in Group 2, those enrolled in the institution's largest program who were awarded
Title IV federal student aid.
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2. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled
in the institution's largest program who were awarded grant or scholarship aid during the reporting period.
3. Living arrangement information for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled
in the institution's largest program who were awarded Title IV federal student aid during the reporting period.
4. Income levels for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the institution's
largest program who were awarded Title IV federal student aid during the reporting period.

About the Data
Five different types of data appear in this component. There are data:
•
•
•
•
•

That institutions provide from their own financial aid records
That are prior-year data, shown in red, which can be used as a comparison with the current year's data (i.e.,
the data that is being reported)
That are carried forward from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (IC) component and the IPEDS 12-month
Enrollment (E12) component that your institution completed in the most recent collections of those
components
That are carried forward from one part of the Student Financial Aid component to another part to ensure that
the data are internally consistent
That are calculated from the other data elements

In the latter two cases, the data provider should check that the data that are carried forward and calculated are
consistent with the data in the institution's underlying financial aid records. If the data carried forward or calculated
are not consistent with the institution's records, then an error in data entry may have occurred.

Context Boxes

Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written to be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for this component should be for the prior academic year. For the purposes of reporting to SFA, the
aid year period runs from July 1 through June 30.
Program reporters will report students' aid data for an institutionally defined academic year. This is the academic year
length, in weeks, used by your institution to calculate your Pell budget. It must begin within the aid year period
specified above and will vary from student to student depending on when he or she enrolled.

Student Cohort
The student cohort covered by this component includes undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year (the aid year period from July 1 through June 30).

What to Include
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:
•

•

•

•

•
•

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies such as the
U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell grants, Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants, and Teacher Education Assistance
for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include need-based and merit-based educational
assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored
educational benefits programs.
Do not include veterans education benefits, as defined in section 480(c) of the HEA, as they are no longer
treated as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) for the Office of Federal Student Aid's purposes. For more
information, visit https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.
Federal loans to students: Monies from the federal government that must be repaid for which the student is
the designated borrower. This type of aid includes all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins
Loans, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Do not
include PLUS loans and other federal loans not made directly to the student.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were awarded by your state
such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarships. Include merit-based grants or scholarships that were provided by your state or local
government. Also include tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state or local
government agency.
Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/waivers): Grants, scholarships, and fellowships
granted and funded by the institution and/or individual departments within the institution and are limited to
students attending your institution. Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on
state of residence, major, or participation in athletic activities) for which the institution designates the
recipient. Also include institutional tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was not reimbursed by a
state or local government agency. This is not intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: Grants or scholarships to students that are awarded and paid by an outside
organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Private loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the
designated borrower. Include all institutionally and privately sponsored loans. Do not include loans that are not
made directly to the student.

NOTE: In this component, "aid awarded" refers to grant or scholarship aid that was awarded to students or to loans
awarded to and accepted by students. For reporting grant or scholarship aid, institutions should report on aid that was
awarded to students. This amount may be different from the amount that was actually disbursed to students. For
example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the beginning of the academic year but then leave the
institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, institutions should report the original amount of grant or
scholarship aid that was awarded. For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that
were awarded to and accepted by the student.
Note also that different types of financial aid should be reported for different groups of students. Please review the
instructions and the screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Institutions need to report aid in this component such that the net price calculations shown on College Navigator and
used for the College Affordability and Transparency lists are a reflection of what students actually pay.
In cases where a student is awarded aid for multiple institutionally defined academic years within one aid year period,
institutions should report only aid awarded for the student's first institutionally defined academic year.

For total aid amounts, report to the nearest whole dollar and omit cents. For student counts, an unduplicated count
should be given within a given aid category (e.g., Pell grants). However, a student can appear in more than one aid
category.

What NOT to Include
Do not report student counts or aid amounts for the following:
•
•
•
•

Students who were only graduate students at the institution during the reporting period
Students who were enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a certificate/degree
Students who were enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students who were exclusively auditing classes

Do not report:
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study amounts into any total aid amounts
ROTC aid, which are excluded from EFA calculations, in any total aid amounts
Loans that are made to someone other than the student
Military/veterans aid in Section 1 because such aid is ONLY reported in Section 2

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Detailed Instructions
This section provides line-by-line instructions for each part of the Student Financial Aid component.

Part A - Establish Your Groups
Part A establishes the number of students in various groups. Note that the data you report on this screen will be
carried forward to other parts of the Student Financial Aid component.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of students in each of the following groups:

Item

Description

01.

Group 1
All undergraduate students
Report the number of all undergraduate students who were enrolled any time during the prior
academic year. Include all new and continuing undergraduate students (full-time students, parttime students, degree/certificate-seeking students, non-degree/certificate-seeking students, and
all others). This number will be preloaded from your institution's IPEDS 12-month Enrollment
component, but it may be modified if necessary. If you have questions about the value that has
been preloaded in this field, please contact your institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.

02.

Group 2
Of those in Group 1, those who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
Report the number of students who are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates.
02a.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any Federal Work Study; loans to
students; or grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, the institution, or other sources known to the institution
Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Federal Work Study;
•
Government and/or private loans to students;
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution, such as aid
from private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Note that the students reported in Line 02a are not defined as a particular group because
no additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.

02b.

Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any loans to students or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution

Report the number of students who were awarded any of the following:
•
Government and/or private loans to students; or
•
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution.
Note that the students reported in Line 02b are not defined as a particular group because
no additional financial aid information will be collected about these students.
03.

Group 3
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution's largest program who were
awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district
tuition rate. Report students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the following
sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. Do not include
students who were awarded aid only from other sources.

04.

Group 4
Of those in Group 2, those enrolled in your institution's largest program who were
awarded any Title IV federal student aid
For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district
tuition rate. Report students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e., report
students who were awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal
student loans).
Title IV federal student aid includes:
•
Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent
Grant (National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant
•
Federal Work Study
•
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or
FFEL Stafford Loan

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Part B - Financial Aid About Group 1
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 1 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. Group 1 students are all undergraduate students enrolled any time during the
prior academic year.
For this part, report:

For These Students
· All undergraduate students

The Following Type(s) of
Aid
· Grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
state/local government
· Grant or scholarship aid from
the institution
· Grant or scholarship aid from
other sources known to the
institution
· Loans to students from the
federal government

Awarded in This Period
· Any time during the prior
academic year (the aid year
period from July 1 through
June 30)

Data carried forward from Part A include the following:

Information from Part A:
Group 1
All undergraduate students
(This number is carried forward from Part A,
Line 01)

Prior Academic Year
Carried forward from Part A

Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 1 students and the total amount of aid awarded to these students
for each type of aid.

Item

Description

01.

Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, the
institution, and other sources known to the institution
Column 1. Report the number of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the
institution.
Column 2. The percentage of students in Group 1 who were awarded grant or scholarship aid is
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution awarded to Group 1
students.

02.

Column 4. The average amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 1 students is calculated
for you.
Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants. Do not include any
other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded Pell grants is calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students. Do not include
any other type of federal grant aid (e.g., Academic Competitiveness Grants).
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 1 students is calculated for you.

03.

Federal student loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 1 students who were awarded federal loans to students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 1 students who were awarded federal student loans is calculated
for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of federal student loans awarded to Group 1 students. Do
not include any other type of federal loans (e.g., PLUS loans, which are made to the parent of a
student).
Column 4. The average amount of federal student loans awarded to students in Group 1 is calculated
for you.

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Part C - Enter Financial Aid About Group 2
This part is intended to collect information about the number of Group 2 students and the total amounts of aid they
were awarded by different aid types. For academic reporters, Group 2 students are all full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the prior fall. For program reporters, Group 2 students
are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled any time during the prior
academic year.
For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in This Period
· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year.
undergraduate students enrolled · Grant or scholarship aid from
· For program reporters, this is aid
in the prior fall (academic
state/local government
year period from July 1 through
reporters) or any time during the · Grant or scholarship aid from the June 30.
prior academic year (program
institution
reporters)
· Loans to students from the
federal government and from
other sources, including private
loans
· Do not include grant or
scholarship aid from private or
other sources

· Do not include PLUS loans or
loans made to anyone other than
the student
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
Prior Academic Year
Group 2a
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
Federal Work Study, loans to students, or grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, the institution, or other
sources known to the institution 
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02a)
Group 2b
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those who were awarded any
loans to students or grant or scholarship aid from
the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
02b)
Group 03
Carried forward from Part A
Of those in Group 2, those (in the largest program
for program reporters) who were awarded grant or
scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line
03)
Note: Two aid categories in this section are further disaggregated into subcategories. Because students may be
awarded more than one type of aid, the sum of the values you enter in the subcategories will not necessarily equal the
value you enter in the aid category. However, the total number of students reported for the aid category cannot
exceed the sum of subcategories. (For example, the number of students who were awarded federal grants cannot
exceed the sum of the number of students who were awarded Pell grants and the number who were awarded other
federal grants). In addition, the total number of students reported for an aid category must be at least as large as the
largest of those reported in a subcategory.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 2 students and the total amount of aid they were awarded for each
type of aid.

Item Description
01.

Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, and
the institution
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. If a
student appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02 through 04, that student
should only be counted once for Line 01. Do not include students who were
awarded only grants or scholarships from private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants or
scholarships from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 01 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 02, Column 3) + (Line 03, Column 3) + (Line
04, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for
you.

02.

Federal grants
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: Pell grants and other
federal grants.

Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants
from the federal government. This includes Pell grants and other federal grants. If a student
appears in more than one type of aid category in Lines 02a or 02b, that student should only
be counted once for Line 02. Note that this number should be at least as large as the
largest number reported in Line 02a, Column 1 or Line 02b, Column 1. In addition,
this number cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 02a, Column 1) + (Line 02b, Column
1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more grants from
the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 02 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 02a, Column 3) + (Line 02b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of grants from the federal government awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.
02a.

Pell grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded a Pell grant will be
calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all Pell grants awarded to Group 2
students.
Column 4. The average amount of Pell grants awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.

02b.

Other federal grants
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants. Other federal grants include Title IV grant aid other than a Pell grant.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded other federal
grants will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all other federal grants awarded to Group
2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of other federal grants awarded to Group 2 students
will be calculated for you.

03.

State/local government grants or scholarships (grants/scholarships/waivers)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship
aid from a state/local government. This includes grants, scholarships, or waivers funded by a
state or local government. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships
from a state/local government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from a state/local
government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from a state/local government
awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

04.

Institutional grants or scholarships (scholarships/fellowships)
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded grant or scholarship
aid from the institution. This includes grants, scholarships, or fellowships funded by the
institution. Do not include any other types of grants.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded grants or scholarships
from the institution will be calculated for you.

Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all grants or scholarships from the institution
awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of grants or scholarships from the awarded to Group 2
students will be calculated for you.
05.

Loans to students
This aid category is disaggregated into the following two subcategories: federal loans and
other loans.
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students. This includes loans from the federal government and from other sources (including
private lenders). If a student appears in more than one type of loan category in Lines 05a or
05b, that student should only be counted once for Line 05. Note that this number should
be at least as large as the largest number reported in Line 05a, Column 1 or Line
05b, Column 1. In addition, this number cannot exceed the sum of [(Line 05a,
Column 1) + (Line 05b, Column 1)].
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans to
students will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total dollar amount for Line 05 will be calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: [(Line 05a, Column 3) + (Line 05b, Column 3)].
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students awarded to Group 2 students will be
calculated for you.
05a.

Federal loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more
loans to students from the federal government. Do not include loans to others (e.g.,
PLUS loans to parents) and do not include any other type of grant or loan aid.
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans
to students from the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from the federal
government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from the federal government
awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

05b.

Other loans
Column 1. Report the number of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more
loans to students from sources other than the federal government. This includes
private loans to students. Do not include loans to others (e.g., loans to parents).
Column 2. The percentage of Group 2 students who were awarded one or more loans
to students from sources other than the federal government will be calculated for you.
Column 3. Report the total dollar amount of all loans to students from sources other
than the federal government awarded to Group 2 students.
Column 4. The average amount of loans to students from sources other than the
federal government awarded to Group 2 students will be calculated for you.

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Cost of Attendance Revision
If you made errors in the prior year reporting of cost of attendance in the IC component, you can make changes in the
SFA component. However, there are no prior year revisions for the SFA component. Please refer to the instructions on
reporting cost of attendance in the IC component.

Part D - Enter Financial Aid About Group 3
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students in Part F.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the following sources: federal government, state/local government, or the institution. Students who were awarded
only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students who were awarded only non-grant aid should
not be included in this group.
For this part, report:

For These Students

The Following Type(s) of
Aid
·
Full-time, first-time,
·
Grant or scholarship aid
degree/certificate-seeking
from the federal government
undergraduate students
·
Grant or scholarship aid
enrolled in your institution's
from state/local government
largest program who were
·
Grant or scholarship aid
awarded grant or scholarship from the institution
aid from the following sources: ·
Do not include grant or
the federal government,
scholarship aid from private or
state/local government, or the other sources.
institution
·
Do not include students
who were awarded only grant
or scholarship aid from private
or other sources, or students
who were awarded only nongrant aid.

Awarded in this Period
·
Any time during the prior
academic year (the aid year
period from July 1 through
June 30)

Data carried forward from Part A include the following:

Information from Part A:

Group 3
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program who were
awarded grant or scholarship aid from the
following sources: the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution
(This number is carried forward from Part A,
Line 03)

YOUR PRIOR YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA
2015-16

2016-17

Pre-loaded

Pre-loaded

2017-18

Carried forward
from Part A

Note: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 3 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangements. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled, she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.
A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 3 students with each type of living arrangement and the total
amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to
these students.

Item Description
01.
Report the number of Group 3 students with the following living arrangements.
01a. On-campus. Report the number of Group 3 students who lived on-campus.
01b. Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived offcampus with their parents or guardians.
01c. Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 3 students who lived off
-campus not with their parents or guardians.
01d.

02.

03.

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Unknown (calculated).  This value is calculated using the following formula: [A03 –
(D01a + D01b + D01c)], where A03 is the number of Group 3 students that you
entered in Part A, Line 03. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the
total number of students in a given year because institutions should have this
information available for all students that completed the FAFSA as well as other
information they have in their financial aid data systems.
Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
Report the total dollar amount of grants and scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students. Exclude grant or
scholarship aid from private sources (e.g., Rotary Club Scholarship) and exclude all loan aid.
Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
The average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local government, or
the institution awarded to Group 3 students will be calculated for you. This value is calculated
using the following formula: [D02/A03]. This amount will be used in Part F to calculate net
price.

Part E - Enter Financial Aid About Group 4
This part is intended to collect information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students in Part G.
Group 4 students are full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in your institution's
largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid (i.e.,
students who were awarded federal grant aid or who were awarded federal work study or federal student loans). For
public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Title IV federal student aid includes the following:
•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness
Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan

For this part, report:
For These Students
The Following Type(s) of Aid
Awarded in this Period
· Full-time, first-time,
· Grant or scholarship aid from the · Any time during the prior
degree/certificate-seeking
federal government
academic year (the aid year period
undergraduate students enrolled in · Grant or scholarship aid from
from July 1 through June 30)
your institution's largest program state/local government
who were awarded any Title IV
· Grant or scholarship aid from the
federal student aid
institution
· For public institutions, include
· Do not include grant or
only those students who paid the in scholarship aid from private or
-state or in-district tuition rate.
other sources.
· Do not include loan amounts.
· Do not include Federal Work
Study amounts.
Data carried forward from Part A include the following:
Information from Part A:
YOUR PRIOR
YOUR PRIOR
YEAR DATA
YEAR DATA

2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
Group 4
Pre-loaded
Pre-loaded
Carried forward
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
from Part A
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's
largest program who were awarded any Title IV
federal student aid. For public institutions, include
only students paying the in-state or in-district tuition
rate. 
(This number is carried forward from Part A, Line 04)
Notes: In this part, you will be asked to report living arrangement information for Group 4 students. The living
arrangement categories used in this component are the same categories used to describe living arrangements for
Federal Student Aid purposes. Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangements. For example, a
student may have indicated on her or his FAFSA or an institutional financial aid application that she or he planned to
live at home with family. But when the student enrolled she or he decided to live on campus. Although the student
may not have modified the FAFSA to reflect the updated living arrangement, the institution may have more recent
information in its financial aid system indicating that the student lived on campus according to the most recent aid
package for that student during the financial aid year. In this case, the institution should classify this student as an oncampus student.

A student should be counted in only one category—the one that the institution used most recently to develop or
modify that student’s financial aid package. If a student in this group did not complete the FAFSA, that student may
appear as having an unknown living arrangement in Line 01d. However, if the institution knows the living arrangement
for the student, then the student should be reported in the appropriate category.
In this part, you will also be asked to report the number of students in Group 4 and the total amount of grant or
scholarship aid they were awarded by income level. To determine the income level of the student, use the income that
was used by the institution’s financial aid office to determine the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For
dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For
independent students this will include the student’s adjusted gross income.
Instructions:
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students with each type of living arrangement.
Item Description
01.

Report the number of Group 4 students with the following living arrangements.
01a.
On-campus. Report the number of Group 4 students who lived on-campus.
01b.
Off-campus (with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus with
their parents or guardians.
01c.
Off-campus (not with family). Report the number of Group 4 students who lived off-campus
not with their parents or guardians.
01d.
Unknown (calculated). This value is calculated using the following formula: [A04 – (E01a +
E01b + E01c)], where A04 is the number of Group 4 students that you entered in Part A, Line
04. Note that this number should be a small percentage of the total number of students in a
given year because institutions should have this information available for all students that
completed the FAFSA as well as other information they have in their financial aid data systems.
In the fields provided, report the number of Group 4 students who were awarded any Title IV aid (column 1); the
number of Group 4 students who were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution (column 2); and the total amount of grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution awarded to these students by income level (column 3).
Item
Description
02.

02a.

02b.

02c.

02d.

$0–30,000

Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$30,001–48,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$48,001–75,000 Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
$75,001–110,000Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.

02e.

$110,001 and
more

02f.

Total all income
levels

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Column 1. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any Title IV aid.
Column 2. Report the number of Group 4 students in this income level who
were awarded any grant or scholarship aid from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution.
Column 3. Report the total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to
Group 4 students in this income level from the following sources: federal
government, state/local government, or the institution.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students in this income level from the federal government,
state/local government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 1. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
Title IV aid will be calculated for you.
Column 2. The total number of Group 4 students who were awarded any
grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution will be calculated for you.
Column 3. The total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group
4 students from the federal government, state/local government, or the
institution will be calculated for you.
Column 4. The average dollar amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded
to Group 4 students from the federal government, state/local government,
or the institution will be calculated for you.

Part F - Net Price Calculation for Group 3
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 3 students.
Group 3 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from
the following sources: the federal government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, Group
3 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 3 students will be posted on College
Navigator. In addition, the average net price calculated for this group will be used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance for the
institution's largest program and the average grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 3 students. The total cost of
attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted
average by living arrangement for room and board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of
attendance is carried forward from data that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of
IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and have questions about the values entered here, contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.

Item

Description

01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions) are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS
Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution
reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges,
Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried
forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 3 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part D, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room
and board and other expenses

This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses
(Lines 03a through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in
the unknown category). This value is calculated using the following formula:
Line 05 = [(Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03b*(Line
04b/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))] + [Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line
04c))]
06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 3 students
This value is carried forward from Part D, Line 04.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 3 students
The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's largest program any time during the
prior academic year who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution is calculated for you. This value is
calculated using the following formula: Line 06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group
3 students will be posted on College Navigator and used in the U.S. Department of
Education's College Affordability and Transparency lists.

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Part G - Net Price Calculation for Group 4
This part is intended to summarize the information used to estimate the average net price for Group 4 students.
Group 4 students are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in your
institution's largest program any time during the prior academic year who were awarded Title IV federal student
aid. For public institutions, Group 4 includes only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
As required by the HEA, as amended (2008), the average net price for Group 4 students will be posted on College
Navigator.
The components used to estimate the average net price include the average total cost of attendance for the
institution's largest program and the average grant or scholarship aid awarded to Group 4 students. The total cost of
attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (Line 01), books and supplies (Line 02) and the weighted
average by living arrangement for room and board and other expenses (Line 05). Information about cost of
attendance is carried forward from data that your institution reported in the Institutional Characteristics component of
IPEDS. If you did not enter this information and have questions about the values entered here, contact your
institution’s IPEDS Keyholder.
The source or calculation for each line is described here.

Item

Description

01.

Published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions)
The published tuition and required fees (lower of in-state or in-district at public
institutions) are carried forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS
Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

02.

Books and supplies
The cost for books and supplies are carried forward from data that your institution
reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, Part D - Student Charges,
Cost of Attendance.

03.

Room and board and other expenses by living arrangement
The cost for room and board and other expenses by living arrangement are carried
forward from data that your institution reported on the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics
component, Part D - Student Charges, Cost of Attendance.

04.

Number of Group 4 students by living arrangement
These numbers are carried forward from Part E, Lines 01a through 01d.

05.

Weighted average by living arrangement (excluding unknown values) for room
and board and other expenses
This value is generated by determining the average room and board and other expenses
(Lines 03a through 03c) weighted by student living arrangement (excluding students in
the unknown category). This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 05 =
[Line 03a*(Line 04a/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03b*(Line 04b/(Line 04a+Line
04b+Line 04c))]+[Line 03c*(Line 04c/(Line 04a+Line 04b+Line 04c))]

06.

Total cost of attendance
This value is calculated using the following formula: Line 01 + Line 02 + Line 05.

07.

Average grant or scholarship aid from the federal government, state/local
government, or the institution awarded to Group 4 students
These values are carried forward from Part E, Line 04, Column 4 for each income level.

08.

Average institutional net price for Group 4 students
The average institutional net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate students enrolled in your institution's largest program any time during the
prior academic year who were awarded Title IV federal student aid is calculated for
you. These values are calculated for each income level using the following formula: Line
06 – Line 07. The average net price for Group 4 students by income level will be posted
on College Navigator.

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Section 2. Military Servicemembers and Veteran Students with Benefits
Purpose of Component
The purpose of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about the financial aid provided to
various groups of undergraduates in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Starting in the 2014-15 data collection year, SFA has expanded to collect information on the federal dollars supporting
military servicemember and veteran undergraduate and graduate students.
As presented in the Technical Review Panel Report #36 (March 2012), the increase in beneficiaries and federal dollars
has led to an increased demand for information to help prospective students decide where to use their educational
benefits, researchers to study the impact of the programs on college outcomes, and policymakers to assess the
effectiveness of benefits programs and return on investment.
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Who Must Report
All registered IPEDS institutions that educate military servicemembers, veterans, or eligible dependents receiving any
Tuition Assistance Program or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Report only those that RECEIVED the benefit(s).
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need
If you are unfamiliar with these educational benefits, a general synopsis of each program is found below. 
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill

•
•
•
•
•
•

Effective August 1, 2009, benefit provides payment of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books
and supplies stipend.
Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution on behalf the students; thus, institutions should know which
students have Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the amount of benefits received at the institution.
Educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent.
Program expanded in 2011 to cover non-degree-granting programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job training
programs, flight training programs, and training correspondence.
The Yellow Ribbon program through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an institutional aid matching program only for
tuition and fees for students attending participating institutions.
For more information, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits website
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

2. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
•
•
•
•

For active duty servicemembers, reservists called to active duty, and their spouses.
Educational payments cover only tuition and fees and are made directly to the institution.
GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement costs not covered by this program.
For more information, visit the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program website
http://www.dodmou.com/

Consult and verify the data with your institutional representative who certifies these benefits. This individual or office
may not be in the student financial aid office.

About the Data
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance programs may only highlight two of many educational benefits provided to
military servicemembers and veterans. However, from a national perspective, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance
programs are more likely to be found across over 7,500 IPEDS institutions.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic year, from July 1 to June
30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported will be July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should be for the prior
academic year, from October 1 to September 30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported
will be October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018.
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Detailed Instruction
This section provides line-by-line instructions for the Military Servicemember and Veteran Benefits questions.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, please provide in the first column the number of students receiving the benefit during
the July 1-June 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the second column, provide the total dollar amount for
each benefit during the same reporting period.
For the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program benefit, please provide in the first column the number of
students receiving the benefit during the October 1-September 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the
second column, provide the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
If your institution did not have any student beneficiaries for one of the benefit programs, enter a zero (0) in the cell.
In other words, do NOT leave the cell blank for a program that did not have any beneficiaries.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.  
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Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
1)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
2)
3)
What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
4)
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Student Counts
For which students should I report financial aid information?
1)
What students are included in Group 1?
2)
3)
What students are included in Group 2?
4)
What students are included in Group 2a?
What students are included in Group 2b?
5)
6)
What students are included in Group 3?
What students are included in Group 4?
7)
Financial Aid
Should veterans education benefits be reported?
1)
2)
How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?
3)
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is $4500. What
do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
4)
What types of financial aid should be reported?
5)
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
6)
Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
7)
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
8)
Should PLUS loans be reported?
9)
What does "aid awarded" mean?
10)
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
11)
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
12)
How do I get information about students' income categories?
12
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?

Answers:
General
1)
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
All postsecondary institutions that either 1.) participate in federal student financial aid programs that enrolled
undergraduate students or 2.) enroll students who received an educational benefit (e.g., Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance or Department of Veteran Affairs Post-9/11GI Bill) any time during academic year 2017-18 must
complete SFA.
Back to top
2)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 data collection, institutions should report data for academic year 2017-18.
For Title IV participating institutions that enroll undergraduate students:

•

•

For academic reporters, the academic year is defined as the period of time generally extending
from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period
covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2017). Second, determine the financial aid that was awarded to
these students any time during the 2017-18 academic year.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as the
institutionally defined academic year falls within the full aid year period of July 1-June 30.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled any time during the academic year). Second, determine the financial aid
that was awarded to these students any time during the academic year.

For institutions that enroll undergraduate and graduate students who received military or veteran benefits:

•
•

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic
year, from July 1 to June 30.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should
be for the prior academic year, from October 1 to September 30.
Back to top

3)

What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 collection year, there were no changes.

Back to top
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Yes, the 3 most recent COA years can be changed in SFA's "Cost Revision" screen, which carried forward the COA data
from Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. Changes should only be made if errors were made in the
IC reporting. Changes cannot be made in the prior year revision system.
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Student Counts
1)
For which students should I report financial aid information?

SFA collects information on undergraduate students only.
4)

Academic reporters should report on students who were enrolled as of October 15, or the institution’s official Fall
reporting date.
Program reporters should report on students who were enrolled any time during the academic year. For program
reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
For the purposes of reporting to SFA, students are divided into the following groups:

•
•
•

•

2)

3)

Group 1: All undergraduate students
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, include only those
paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters, include only those enrolled in the
institution’s largest program.
Group 4: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. For public
institutions, include only those paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters,
include only those enrolled in the institution’s largest program.

Back to top
What students are included in Group 1?
Group 1 includes all undergraduate students. You should report the total number of all new and continuing full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, and non-degree/certificate-seeking students.
Back to top
What students are included in Group 2?
Group 2 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
For academic reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Also
include students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This
number should match the data that you reported on the Fall Enrollment component of IPEDS.

4)

For program reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level
anytime during the academic year, as defined at your institution. Also include students who entered with advanced
standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This number should closely match the data you
reported on the 12-month Enrollment component of IPEDS.
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What students are included in Group 2a?
In Group 2a, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study
Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
Back to top

5)

What students are included in Group 2b?

In Group 2b, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•

6)

Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution

Group 2b is Group 2a minus those students who were awarded only Federal Work Study or grant or scholarship aid
from other sources known to the institution.
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What students are included in Group 3?
Group 3 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources:

•
•
•

Federal government
State/local government
Institution

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.

7)

Do not include students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students
who were awarded only non-grant aid, such as loans.
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What students are included in Group 4?
Group 4 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded any
Title IV aid.
Title IV aid includes the following:

•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
Back to top
Financial Aid
1)
Should veterans education benefits be reported?

For the portion of SFA (Parts A through E) that requires Title IV institutions to report on undergraduate students
receiving financial aid:

•
•

•
•

Veterans education benefits should not be reported as financial aid in SFA.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) removed veterans education benefits from
“estimated financial assistance,” effective July 1, 2010. A later technical corrections bill (H.R. 1777)
updated the list of programs that meet the definition of "veterans' education benefits" in section
480(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and moved the effective date of the exclusion to July 1,
2009 (beginning with the 2009-10 award year).
However, the institutional aid from Yellow Ribbon program should be reported under institutional
aid. See how to report the Yellow Ribbon aid in FAQ.
For more information about the Department's Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for
Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, please visit
https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.

For the portion of SFA (Section 2) that requires institutions to report on students who received military or veteran
benefits:

•

Educational benefits from the Department of Defense's Military Tuition Assistance or Department of
Veteran Affairs' Post-9/11 GI Bill should be reported in SFA.
Back to top

2)

How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?

3)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program includes a 'Yellow Ribbon' program, which is comprised of matching funds provided
by the government and the institution. The institutional part of this aid should be reported in the SFA component
(Section 1) as aid to the undergraduate student. Yellow Ribbon benefits provided from the VA should NOT be included
when reporting to the portion of SFA (Section 1) on Title IV institutions that enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students.
However, both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon beneficiaries and federal dollar amounts should be reported to
the military/veteran question of SFA (Section 2). This portion of SFA requires all institutions that enroll students with
Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Tuition Assistance educational benefits to provide the number of beneficiaries and total dollar
amounts.
Back to top
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is
$4500. What do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
According to the 2014 final regulations set for the DOD Voluntary Education Programs - which include TAP - each
branch of military service can pay no more than $250/semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition. Each service member
is eligible for up to $4500 in aggregate for each fiscal year. If your institution’s DOD TAP average is greater than
$4500 per student per award year, then you should:
--Ask your financial aid office or VA certifying official to sort out the military aid and remove any non-DOD TAP aid
(e.g., ROTC scholarships, tuition reimbursements for advanced civil schooling, education-related incentive or bonus); 
--Remove any non-Title 10 aid since TAP is a Title 10 program; and
--Make sure that you are including one disbursement period for that award year. Even though DOD TAP aid are
reported for the Oct 1 – Sep 30 timeframe, which technically covers two fall periods; only include one fall
disbursement period per award year. 
Back to top

4)

What types of financial aid should be reported?
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:

•

•

•

•

•

5)

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell
grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Academic Competitiveness
Grants (ACGs), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants,
and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include
need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other
federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were provided by
your state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. Also include merit scholarships that were provided by your
state and tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local
grants include any local government grants, scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.
Institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or
individual departments within the institution (and are limited to students attending your institution).
Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major)
for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like. This is not
intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: These may include scholarships or grants to students that are
paid by an outside organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g.,
Rotary Club Scholarship).
Loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is
the designated borrower. Include all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins Loans,
Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Also
include all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Please do not include PLUS and other loans
made directly to parents.

Note that different parts of the SFA component ask for different types of financial aid to be reported. Please review the
instructions and the survey screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
Back to top
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
Institutions should report aid that was awarded any time during the academic year.
For academic reporters, the academic year is the period of time generally extending from September to June, usually
equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
Note that for the purposes of calculating net price, the cost of attendance (COA) for an academic year reported in the
Institutional Characteristics (IC) component should align with the aid amounts reported in the Student Financial Aid
(SFA) component.
Back to top

6)

Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
Yes, tuition and fee waivers should be reported.
Tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency should be reported under
state/local government grants.

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

Tuition and fee waivers granted by your institution (for which your institution is not reimbursed from another source)
should be reported as institutional grants.
Back to top
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
In general, institutions should report financial aid from tribal offices awarded to full-time, first-time students in the
state/local government field (Line 03) in Part C.
Back to top
Should PLUS loans be reported?
No. PLUS loans are made to the parents of students. Any type of loan that is not made to the student should not be
reported.
Back to top
What does "aid awarded" mean?
Institutions should report on grant or scholarship aid that has been awarded to students. This may be different from
aid that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the
beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, you
would report the original amount of grant or scholarship aid that was awarded, even though the entire amount was
not actually disbursed to the student.
For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that were awarded to and accepted by
the student.
Back to top
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
Yes, students should be included in each category of aid that they are awarded. If a student is awarded both federal
and institutional aid, he/she should be counted under both types of aid.
However, in Part C, count students only once in the major aid category. For example, if a student is awarded both a
Pell Grant (Line 02a) and another type of federal grant (Line 02b), then count that student once for the major
category of Federal grants (Line 02).
Back to top
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an
institutional financial aid application. If a student did not complete the FAFSA or an institutional financial aid
application with living arrangement information, that student may appear as having an unknown living arrangement.
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement.

12)

Back to top
How do I get information about students' income categories?
To assign the income category of the student, use the income that was used by your financial aid office to determine
the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross
income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For independent students this will include the student’s adjusted
gross income.
If your institution takes part in campus-based aid programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, then it might be easiest to tell your financial aid office that students
should be put in income categories as they are done on FISAP(Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate).
Institutions with campus-based aid programs must report annually to the Department of Education using the FISAP.
Part of the FISAP includes income-related information. Even if your institution does not file FISAP, the instructions
from it may be helpful (fields 26-39):

•

•

12

Use the FISAP Total Income (FTI), one of the intermediate computed values on the Student Aid
Record (SAR) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), to determine the proper cell for
each student. For dependent students, FTI is the sum of Total Income (TI) and Student’s Total
Income (STI). For independent students, the FTI will equal the TI. Remember, extract this
information only from the SARs/ISIRs of students who actually enrolled in your school.
You might need to correct or adjust a student’s income information and recalculate the EFC. If so,
you must use that corrected or adjusted information when determining the proper income cell for a
student. In such a case, to determine the income cell for a dependent student, you must use the
student’s and parents’ base year incomes, as reported on the SAR/ISIR.

Back to top
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?
If the foundation’s mission is to benefit the institution, then:  (1) those portions of the foundation-funded grants
where the institution designates the recipient should be reported as institutional grants; and (2) those portions of the
foundation-funded grants where the foundation designates the recipient should be reported as private grants. All
grants funded by foundations with missions other than to benefit the institution should be reported as private grants.

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid for institutions with graduate students only

Overview 
IPEDS Student Financial Aid Component Overview
Academic Reporters
Welcome to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component. As a graduate school, the purpose of the SFA component is to collect information
about your students who have received military/veteran educational benefits.
Data Reporting Reminder
Total number and amount will be asked for both undergraduate and graduate students. Please work with your institutional representative
who certifies such benefits. They may not be associated with the student financial aid office.
Data Reporting Tips
If there are no students in a benefit category, please enter zero (0). Do NOT leave the cell blank.
Interactive Edits and Error Messages
SFA contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside expected ranges. Some error
messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error messages are fatal and will require you to contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 for resolution.
Context Boxes
Context boxes are optional, but allow you to provide more information about the reported data. Some context boxes may be made available
to the public on College Navigator, so make sure that the entered information can be understood easily by students, parents, and the general
public.
Resources
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data

If you have questions about completing this component, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568.

Section 2: Screening Question 
1. Did your institution disburse military tuition assistance and/or veteran’s benefits?
No
Yes
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The notes below provide context for the data you've reported above and may be posted on the College Navigator website.

Choose one option that best explains your data or choose "Non-applicable" if you do not wish to provide context notes. If none of
the options provided explains your institution’s data, then choose "Other" and write your own context notes. Notes should be
written to be understood by students and parents. For example, institutions may report here other sources of private aid not
included in the categories listed.

Non-applicable

Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits - Graduate Only 
Section 2: Military Servicemembers and Veteran's Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTE: Report for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits: July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 and Report for Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program: October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018
Program reporters should be reporting the information on this screen for ALL programs (not just the largest program).
•
Report the total number of student recipients and the total dollar amounts for each program.
•
Student recipients can also include eligible dependents.
•
Consult with your campus certifying official, who may not be in the student financial aid office.
•
For Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits, do not include the matching institutional aid provided through the Yellow Ribbon
Program if your institution participated.
•
Information reported to IPEDS is only what is known to the institution.
•
Enter zero (0) if your institution did not have beneficiaries for a program. Please do not leave a cell blank.
YOUR PRIOR YEAR
DATA
Type of benefit/assistance
Number of students
Total dollar amount of Average dollar amount Average dollar amount
receiving
benefits/assistance
of
of
benefits/assistance
disbursed
benefits/assistance
benefits/assistance
through the institution
disbursed
disbursed
through the institution through the institution
Graduate students
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
Department of Defense Tuition
Assistance Program

Prepared by 
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions
concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden
associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete
and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey
component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member
Collecting Data Needed
Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements
Your office
hours
hours
Other offices

hours

Entering Data

hours

Revising and Locking Data

hours

hours

hours

hours

U.S. Department of Education
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Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported

Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting

Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy

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IPEDS Help Desk
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid, Institutions with Graduate Students Only

Purpose of Component
Who Must Report
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
What You Will Need
About the Data
Context Boxes

Coverage
Reporting Period

Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Detailed Instructions
Military Servicemembers and Veterans Benefits Question

Purpose of Component
The purpose of the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about the financial aid provided to
various groups of undergraduates in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Starting in the 2014-15 data collection year, SFA has expanded to collect information on the federal dollars supporting
military servicemember and veteran undergraduate and graduate students.
As presented in the Technical Review Panel Report #36 (March 2012), the increase in beneficiaries and federal dollars
has led to an increased demand for information to help prospective students decide where to use their educational
benefits, researchers to study the impact of the programs on college outcomes, and policymakers to assess the
effectiveness of benefits programs and return on investment.
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Who Must Report
All registered IPEDS institutions that educate military servicemembers, veterans, or eligible dependents receiving any
Tuition Assistance Program or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Report only those that RECEIVED the benefit(s).
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Changes in Reporting
There were no changes implemented for the 2018-19 data collection period.
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General Instructions
What You Will Need
If you are unfamiliar with these educational benefits, a general synopsis of each program is found below. 
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill
•
•
•
•
•
•

Effective August 1, 2009, benefit provides payment of tuition and fees, monthly housing allowance, and books
and supplies stipend.
Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution on behalf the students; thus, institutions should know which
students have Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the amount of benefits received at the institution.
Educational benefits can be transferred to a dependent.
Program expanded in 2011 to cover non-degree-granting programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job training
programs, flight training programs, and training correspondence.
The Yellow Ribbon program through the Post-9/11 GI Bill is an institutional aid matching program only for
tuition and fees for students attending participating institutions.
For more information, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs, Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits website
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp

2. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance

•
•
•
•

For active duty servicemembers, reservists called to active duty, and their spouses.
Educational payments cover only tuition and fees and are made directly to the institution.
GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement costs not covered by this program.
For more information, visit the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program website
http://www.dodmou.com/

Consult and verify the data with your institutional representative who certifies these benefits. This individual or office
may not be in the student financial aid office.

About the Data
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance programs may only highlight two of many educational benefits provided to
military servicemembers and veterans. However, from a national perspective, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance
programs are more likely to be found across over 7,500 IPEDS institutions.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution.

Context Boxes
Optional context boxes throughout the component allow institutions to provide more information regarding reported
data. Note that the information in these context boxes may be posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s College
Navigator website. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting
them on College Navigator. However, institutions should ensure that entries in these context boxes are free from
grammatical and spelling errors and are written so they can be understood by students and parents.

Interactive Edits
This component contains interactive edits that will check for blank fields, invalid values, or values that fall outside
expected ranges. Some error messages will require you to confirm or explain the values that you entered. Some error
messages are fatal and will require you to contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org for
resolution.
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Coverage
Reporting Period
The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic year, from July 1 to June
30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported will be July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should be for the prior
academic year, from October 1 to September 30. For example, for the 2018-19 data collection year, the data reported
will be October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018.
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website's Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution and aggregate levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•

College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:

•
•
•
•
•

IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

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Detailed Instructions
This section provides line-by-line instructions for the Military Servicemember and Veteran Benefits questions.
Screening Question. For graduate schools only, a screening question will ask if your school certified any military
tuition assistance or veteran benefits in the prior academic year. If the answer is ‘Yes,' you will be directed to the next
question. If ‘No,' you have completed this portion of SFA. A context box is also provided for further explanation of your
response. Please see in the earlier  part of these instructions on the use of Context Boxes.
Benefits Question. For the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, please provide in the first column the number of students
receiving the benefit during the July 1-June 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the second column, provide
the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
For the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program benefit, please provide in the first column the number of
students receiving the benefit during the October 1-September 30 reporting period (see coverage above). In the
second column, provide the total dollar amount for each benefit during the same reporting period.
If your institution did not have any student beneficiaries for one of the benefit programs, enter a zero (0) in the cell.
In other words, do NOT leave the cell blank for a program that did not have any beneficiaries.
For Yellow Ribbon participating institutions, the institutional aid provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon
matching program should NOT be included in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s Total dollar amount of benefits/assistance
awarded through the institution. 
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IPEDS Help Desk
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics

Student Financial Aid
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
1)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
2)
3)
What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
4)
Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Student Counts
For which students should I report financial aid information?
1)
What students are included in Group 1?
2)
3)
What students are included in Group 2?
4)
What students are included in Group 2a?
What students are included in Group 2b?
5)
6)
What students are included in Group 3?
What students are included in Group 4?
7)
Financial Aid
Should veterans education benefits be reported?
1)
2)
How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?
3)
The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is $4500. What
do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
4)
What types of financial aid should be reported?
5)
What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
6)
Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
7)
Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
8)
Should PLUS loans be reported?
9)
What does "aid awarded" mean?
10)
If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
11)
Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
12)
How do I get information about students' income categories?
12
The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?

Answers:
General
1)
Which institutions are required to complete the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component?
All postsecondary institutions that either 1.) participate in federal student financial aid programs that enrolled
undergraduate students or 2.) enroll students who received an educational benefit (e.g., Department of Defense
Tuition Assistance or Department of Veteran Affairs Post-9/11GI Bill) any time during academic year 2017-18 must
complete SFA.
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2)
What is the reporting period covered by SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 data collection, institutions should report data for academic year 2017-18.
For Title IV participating institutions that enroll undergraduate students:

•

•

For academic reporters, the academic year is defined as the period of time generally extending
from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period
covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled in Fall 2017). Second, determine the financial aid that was awarded to
these students any time during the 2017-18 academic year.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as the
institutionally defined academic year falls within the full aid year period of July 1-June 30.
To determine the financial aid amounts to report for a given group of students, first identify the
students in that group (e.g., for Group 2, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates enrolled any time during the academic year). Second, determine the financial aid
that was awarded to these students any time during the academic year.

For institutions that enroll undergraduate and graduate students who received military or veteran benefits:

•
•

The data reported for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit questions should be for the prior academic
year, from July 1 to June 30.
The data reported for the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program questions should
be for the prior academic year, from October 1 to September 30.
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3)

What changes occurred for SFA for the 2018-19 collection year?
For the 2018-19 collection year, there were no changes.

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Can I revise my institutions cost of attendance (COA) data in SFA?
Yes, the 3 most recent COA years can be changed in SFA's "Cost Revision" screen, which carried forward the COA data
from Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. Changes should only be made if errors were made in the
IC reporting. Changes cannot be made in the prior year revision system.
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Student Counts
1)
For which students should I report financial aid information?

SFA collects information on undergraduate students only.
4)

Academic reporters should report on students who were enrolled as of October 15, or the institution’s official Fall
reporting date.
Program reporters should report on students who were enrolled any time during the academic year. For program
reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
For the purposes of reporting to SFA, students are divided into the following groups:

•
•
•

•

2)

3)

Group 1: All undergraduate students
Group 2: Of Group 1, full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students
Group 3: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any grant/scholarship aid from the federal
government, state/local government, or the institution. For public institutions, include only those
paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters, include only those enrolled in the
institution’s largest program.
Group 4: Of Group 2, students who were awarded any Title IV federal student aid. For public
institutions, include only those paying in-state/in-district tuition rates. For program reporters,
include only those enrolled in the institution’s largest program.

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What students are included in Group 1?
Group 1 includes all undergraduate students. You should report the total number of all new and continuing full-time
students, part-time students, degree/certificate-seeking students, and non-degree/certificate-seeking students.
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What students are included in Group 2?
Group 2 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
For academic reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Also
include students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This
number should match the data that you reported on the Fall Enrollment component of IPEDS.

4)

For program reporters, include students attending your institution for the first time at the undergraduate level
anytime during the academic year, as defined at your institution. Also include students who entered with advanced
standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school). This number should closely match the data you
reported on the 12-month Enrollment component of IPEDS.
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What students are included in Group 2a?
In Group 2a, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Federal Work Study
Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution
Grant or scholarship aid from other sources known to the institution
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5)

What students are included in Group 2b?

In Group 2b, you should report the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students
who were awarded any of the following:

•
•
•
•

6)

Federal or private loans to students
Grant or scholarship aid from the federal government
Grant or scholarship aid from state/local government
Grant or scholarship aid from the institution

Group 2b is Group 2a minus those students who were awarded only Federal Work Study or grant or scholarship aid
from other sources known to the institution.
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What students are included in Group 3?
Group 3 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded grant
or scholarship aid from the following sources:

•
•
•

Federal government
State/local government
Institution

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.

7)

Do not include students who were awarded only grant or scholarship aid from private or other sources, or students
who were awarded only non-grant aid, such as loans.
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What students are included in Group 4?
Group 4 students include all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who were awarded any
Title IV aid.
Title IV aid includes the following:

•

•
•

Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
(National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL
Stafford Loan

For public institutions, include only those students who paid the in-state or in-district tuition rate. For program
reporters, include only those students enrolled in the institution's largest program.
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Financial Aid
1)
Should veterans education benefits be reported?

For the portion of SFA (Parts A through E) that requires Title IV institutions to report on undergraduate students
receiving financial aid:

•
•

•
•

Veterans education benefits should not be reported as financial aid in SFA.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) removed veterans education benefits from
“estimated financial assistance,” effective July 1, 2010. A later technical corrections bill (H.R. 1777)
updated the list of programs that meet the definition of "veterans' education benefits" in section
480(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and moved the effective date of the exclusion to July 1,
2009 (beginning with the 2009-10 award year).
However, the institutional aid from Yellow Ribbon program should be reported under institutional
aid. See how to report the Yellow Ribbon aid in FAQ.
For more information about the Department's Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for
Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, please visit
https://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/081309GuidFedVeteransEdBenefits.html.

For the portion of SFA (Section 2) that requires institutions to report on students who received military or veteran
benefits:

•

Educational benefits from the Department of Defense's Military Tuition Assistance or Department of
Veteran Affairs' Post-9/11 GI Bill should be reported in SFA.
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2)

How should I report post-9/11 "Yellow Ribbon" benefits?

3)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program includes a 'Yellow Ribbon' program, which is comprised of matching funds provided
by the government and the institution. The institutional part of this aid should be reported in the SFA component
(Section 1) as aid to the undergraduate student. Yellow Ribbon benefits provided from the VA should NOT be included
when reporting to the portion of SFA (Section 1) on Title IV institutions that enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students.
However, both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon beneficiaries and federal dollar amounts should be reported to
the military/veteran question of SFA (Section 2). This portion of SFA requires all institutions that enroll students with
Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Tuition Assistance educational benefits to provide the number of beneficiaries and total dollar
amounts.
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The SFA survey indicates that the maximum amount of DOD TAP awarded per fiscal year per student is
$4500. What do I do if my DOD TAP average is greater than $4500 per student?
According to the 2014 final regulations set for the DOD Voluntary Education Programs - which include TAP - each
branch of military service can pay no more than $250/semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition. Each service member
is eligible for up to $4500 in aggregate for each fiscal year. If your institution’s DOD TAP average is greater than
$4500 per student per award year, then you should:
--Ask your financial aid office or VA certifying official to sort out the military aid and remove any non-DOD TAP aid
(e.g., ROTC scholarships, tuition reimbursements for advanced civil schooling, education-related incentive or bonus); 
--Remove any non-Title 10 aid since TAP is a Title 10 program; and
--Make sure that you are including one disbursement period for that award year. Even though DOD TAP aid are
reported for the Oct 1 – Sep 30 timeframe, which technically covers two fall periods; only include one fall
disbursement period per award year. 
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4)

What types of financial aid should be reported?
The following types of financial aid should be reported in this component:

•

•

•

•

•

5)

Federal grants (grants/educational assistance funds): Grants provided by federal agencies
such as the U.S. Department of Education, including Title IV federal student aid grants such as Pell
grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Academic Competitiveness
Grants (ACGs), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grants,
and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants. Also include
need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided from other
federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs.
State/local government grants (grants/scholarships/waivers): Grants that were provided by
your state such as Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) (formerly SSIGs) and
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships. Also include merit scholarships that were provided by your
state and tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency. Local
grants include any local government grants, scholarships or gift-aid awarded directly to the student.
Institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or
individual departments within the institution (and are limited to students attending your institution).
Also include scholarships targeted to certain individuals (e.g., based on state of residence or major)
for which the institution designates the recipient; athletic scholarships; and the like. This is not
intended to include Federal Work Study.
Private grants or scholarships: These may include scholarships or grants to students that are
paid by an outside organization but are directed through the institution's financial aid office (e.g.,
Rotary Club Scholarship).
Loans to students: Monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is
the designated borrower. Include all Title IV federal student loan aid such as Federal Perkins Loans,
Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loans. Also
include all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Please do not include PLUS and other loans
made directly to parents.

Note that different parts of the SFA component ask for different types of financial aid to be reported. Please review the
instructions and the survey screens carefully to ensure that you are reporting the correct types of financial aid in the
appropriate parts.
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What is the time period for which I should report financial aid amounts?
Institutions should report aid that was awarded any time during the academic year.
For academic reporters, the academic year is the period of time generally extending from September to June, usually
equated to two semesters or trimesters, three quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
For program reporters, the academic year is defined by the institution, so long as it falls between July 1 and June 30.
Note that for the purposes of calculating net price, the cost of attendance (COA) for an academic year reported in the
Institutional Characteristics (IC) component should align with the aid amounts reported in the Student Financial Aid
(SFA) component.
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6)

Should tuition and fee waivers be reported?
Yes, tuition and fee waivers should be reported.
Tuition and fee waivers for which your institution was reimbursed by a state agency should be reported under
state/local government grants.

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

Tuition and fee waivers granted by your institution (for which your institution is not reimbursed from another source)
should be reported as institutional grants.
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Where in Part C should I report tribal aid?
In general, institutions should report financial aid from tribal offices awarded to full-time, first-time students in the
state/local government field (Line 03) in Part C.
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Should PLUS loans be reported?
No. PLUS loans are made to the parents of students. Any type of loan that is not made to the student should not be
reported.
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What does "aid awarded" mean?
Institutions should report on grant or scholarship aid that has been awarded to students. This may be different from
aid that was actually disbursed to students. For example, a student may be awarded grant or scholarship aid at the
beginning of the academic year but then leave the institution before the entire amount is disbursed. In this case, you
would report the original amount of grant or scholarship aid that was awarded, even though the entire amount was
not actually disbursed to the student.
For reporting loans to students, institutions should continue to report on loans that were awarded to and accepted by
the student.
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If a student is awarded more than one type of aid, do I count him/her twice?
Yes, students should be included in each category of aid that they are awarded. If a student is awarded both federal
and institutional aid, he/she should be counted under both types of aid.
However, in Part C, count students only once in the major aid category. For example, if a student is awarded both a
Pell Grant (Line 02a) and another type of federal grant (Line 02b), then count that student once for the major
category of Federal grants (Line 02).
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Where can I get living arrangement information for students?
Students indicate their intended living arrangement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an
institutional financial aid application. If a student did not complete the FAFSA or an institutional financial aid
application with living arrangement information, that student may appear as having an unknown living arrangement.
Institutions should use the most recently available information regarding student living arrangement.

12)

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How do I get information about students' income categories?
To assign the income category of the student, use the income that was used by your financial aid office to determine
the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For dependent students this will include the parents’ adjusted gross
income and the student’s adjusted gross income. For independent students this will include the student’s adjusted
gross income.
If your institution takes part in campus-based aid programs like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, then it might be easiest to tell your financial aid office that students
should be put in income categories as they are done on FISAP(Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate).
Institutions with campus-based aid programs must report annually to the Department of Education using the FISAP.
Part of the FISAP includes income-related information. Even if your institution does not file FISAP, the instructions
from it may be helpful (fields 26-39):

•

•

12

Use the FISAP Total Income (FTI), one of the intermediate computed values on the Student Aid
Record (SAR) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), to determine the proper cell for
each student. For dependent students, FTI is the sum of Total Income (TI) and Student’s Total
Income (STI). For independent students, the FTI will equal the TI. Remember, extract this
information only from the SARs/ISIRs of students who actually enrolled in your school.
You might need to correct or adjust a student’s income information and recalculate the EFC. If so,
you must use that corrected or adjusted information when determining the proper income cell for a
student. In such a case, to determine the income cell for a dependent student, you must use the
student’s and parents’ base year incomes, as reported on the SAR/ISIR.

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The institution awards grants funded by an affiliated foundation. How should these grants be reported?
If the foundation’s mission is to benefit the institution, then:  (1) those portions of the foundation-funded grants
where the institution designates the recipient should be reported as institutional grants; and (2) those portions of the
foundation-funded grants where the foundation designates the recipient should be reported as private grants. All
grants funded by foundations with missions other than to benefit the institution should be reported as private grants.