College Research Terms
The percentage of students who graduate within 6 years at a 4-year school, and within 3 years at a two year school unless otherwise noted.
What is the graduation rate?
A college admissions test with three sections - critical reading, math, and writing. Scores range from 400 to 1600.
What is the SAT?
The price of classes. Does not include room and board, textbooks, or other fees.
What is tuition?
An option for earning course credits off campus, via cable television, internet, satellite devices, videos, correspondence courses or other means.
What is distance learning?
A student’s primary field of study. All students must pick one and complete a specific set of classes required by the department.
What is a major?
How many students a school has per teacher. For example, a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 would mean that there are 10 students for every 1 teacher.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
A college admissions test with four sections - English, math, reading, and science, with an optional writing section. Scores range from 1 to 36.
What is the ACT?
The approximate total cost for attending a school for an academic year, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and miscellaneous costs.
What is the Cost of Attendance (COA)?
A group of courses, in varied areas of the arts and sciences, designated by a college as one of the requirements for a degree.
What is core curriculum?
Coursework that is not as extensive as that in a major, but gives students some specialized knowledge of a second field. Students may choose one in the department of their major or in a different department.
What is a minor?
The percentage of applying students who are accepted into the college or university.
What is the acceptance rate?
A website where you can accomplish a multitude of tasks including: applying for admission to any Texas public university, as well as to participating community and private colleges, and copying a submitted application to another institution.
What is ApplyTexas?
Financial aid that doesn’t need to be paid back. Given out as wages in exchange for working for the college, a government agency, or a private business.
What is work-study?
Any program in which a student completes the requirements of two majors at a time.
What is a double major?
A course that is not required for one’s chosen major or the college’s core curriculum and can be used to fulfill the credit hour requirement for graduation.
What is an elective?
The percentage of freshman who enroll in classes for their sophomore year at the same or different college or university without a lapse in taking classes.
What is the persistence rate?
The option to apply early to a school and find out their decision earlier. This is non-binding, meaning that you don’t have to go to that school if you get in.
What is Early Action?
The fees for on-campus housing and food from the dining hall.
What is room and board?
An arrangement in which a student completes coursework, typically for a semester or a summer session, studying in another country.
What is study abroad?
An enrolled student who is carrying a full academic workload. This is usually 12 or more credit hours per fall or spring semester. A full time workload is determined by the institution and is applicable to all students enrolled in a program.
What is a full time student?
The percentage of freshmen who enroll in classes for their sophomore year at the same university without a lapse in taking classes.
What is the retention rate?
The option to apply early to a school and find out their decision earlier. This is binding, meaning that you have to go to that school if you get in, even if you don’t get enough financial aid.
What is Early Decision?
The remaining amount of the cost of attendance that is unaccounted for by financial aid. Must be met by additional scholarships or additional family contributions.
What is unmet need?
A professor assigned to help students choose appropriate courses each semester.
What is an academic advisor?
A course that must be taken as preparation for more advanced coursework in a particular field.
What is a prerequisite?