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How Low Income Undergraduates Financed Postsecondary Education:1992-93
Appendix A
Glossary
This glossary is arranged in alphabetical order. The variables were taken directly from the NCES NPSAS:93 Undergraduate Data Analysis System (DAS), as well as the NPSAS:90 DAS and the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study Second Followup (BPS:94) DAS. These are NCES software applications that generate tables from the NPSAS:93, NPSAS:90, and BPS:94 data, respectively. A description of the DAS software can be found in appendix B. The labels in parentheses correspond to the names of the variables in the DAS.
Age as of 12/31/92 (AGE)
Less than 24 Student was 23 years old or younger as of 12/31/92. 24 to 29 years Student was between 24 and 29 years old as of 12/31/92. 30 years old or older Student was 30 years old or older as of 12/31/92.
Attendance pattern (ATTNSTAT)
Attendance pattern describes the student s full- or part-time attendance while enrolled, as defined by the institution, and the number of months a student was enrolled during the year. Students were considered to have been enrolled for a full year if they were enrolled at least 9 months between July 1992 and June 1993.
Full-time, full-year Student was enrolled full time, for the full year, at one or more institutions. Full-time, part-year Student was enrolled full time, for part of the year, at one or more institutions. Part-time, full-year Student was enrolled part time, for the full year, at one or more institutions. Part-time, part-year Student was enrolled part time, for part of the year, at one or more institutions.
Attendance status: intensity (ATTEND2)
Student s attendance status, as defined by the institution, during the fall or during the first month enrolled after October 1992.
Full-time Student was enrolled full time in the first term enrolled.
Half-time or more Student was enrolled less than full time, but at least half time in the first term enrolled.
Less than half-time Student was enrolled less than half time or an unknown amount in the first term enrolled.
Considerations in Selecting the Institution (COURSOFF; SCHNWRK; LIVEHOME; GD_REP; SCHCLOSE; TUITLESS; PLACEMNT; SHORTER; FINAID)
Students were asked to indicate whether certain reasons were very important, somewhat important, or not important to them in deciding upon the school they attended in fall 1989. Table 4 reports the percentages of students who reported the following reasons were very important :
The school offered the course of study the student wanted. The student
could work while attending the school.
The student could live at home.
The school had a good reputation.
The school was close to home.
The tuition and other direct school expenses were less at the school than
at other schools.
The school had a good reputation for placing its graduates.
The student could finish the course in a short period of time.
The student obtained the financial aid needed at the school.
Contribution from parents (SPARSPRT)
Student-reported amount of direct monetary contribution from both parents for academic year 1992-93 school expenses, not including loans or income-in-kind.
Degree program (PROGRAM)
Degree program in which the student was enrolled; reported by the institution.
Associate's Student was pursuing an associate s degree.
Bachelor's Student was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor
of Science degree.
Certificate/formal award Student was pursuing a certificate or other formal
program other than an associate s or bachelor's degree.
Other undergraduate Student was not in any of the above programs.
Delayed enrollment in postsecondary education (DELAYENR)
Student delayed enrollment into postsecondary education. Immediate enrollment is defined as entry into PSE the same calendar year as graduating from high school or receiving a GED. The assumption is that high school graduation takes place in May or June and entry into PSE takes place the subsequent summer or fall of the same year.
Did not delay Student entered PSE the same calendar year as high school graduation or GED receipt.
1 year Student entered PSE in the year after the year of high school graduation or GED receipt. Note that in the rare event a high school student graduated in December and entered PSE the following January, the
student would be considered a delayed entrant.
2-4 years Student entered PSE 2 to 4 years after the year of
high school graduation or GED receipt.
5 years or more Student entered PSE 5 years or more after the year of high school graduation or GED receipt.
Dependency status for financial aid (DEPEND2)
Dependent Student was considered financially dependent for financial aid purposes.
Single independent Student was considered financially independent for
financial aid purposes and had no dependents. Independent with Student was considered financially independent for dependents financial aid purposes and had dependents. Spouses were considered dependents.
Enrollment status in 1994:
Persistence toward a bachelor s degree (PERABA)
Persistence and attainment toward a bachelor s degree. Includes all undergraduates who were first-time beginners in the 1989-90 academic year and who reported at any time during their postsecondary careers that they were seeking a bachelor s degree (not institution-based). This variable tracks their persistence and attainment toward a bachelor s degree from the first time undergraduates indicated that they were seeking a degree.
Completer, no interruption Student earned the bachalor's degree without any interruptions longer than 4 months.
Completer, with interruption Student earned the bachelor s degree with at least one interruption of more than 4 months.
Still enrolled, Student was still seeking the bachelor's
no interruption degree in 1994, and had not interrupted study for more than 4 months.
Still enrolled, Student was still seeking the bachelor's degree in 1994, and had not interupted study for more than 4 months.
No longer enrolled Student was seeking the bachelor's degree, had
stopped enrollment and had not re-enrolled.
Changed degree objective Student had been seeking the bachelor's degree but had since stated a different goal.
Enrollment status in 1994:
Persistence toward any degree (PERADEG)
Persistence and attainment toward any degree or certificate. Includes all undergraduates who were first-time beginners in the 1989-90 academic year who were seeking a degree or certificate. This variable shows where students ended up by the second followup with respect to specific degree attained and current enrollment.
Completed any degree Student earned a certificate, associate's
degree, or bachelor s degree.
Still enrolled Student was enrolled in a degree or certificate program in 1994.
No longer enrolled Student had stopped enrollment and was not enrolled in 1994.
Expected family contribution (EFC4)
Expected family contribution (EFC) as recorded by the institution. EFC is the amount of financial support for the student s undergraduate education that is expected to be provided by the student s family, or directly by the student if the student was financially independent. This amount is used to determine financial need, and is based upon dependency status, family income and assets, family size, and the number of children enrolled in postsecondary education. If this information was not available from the institution, then it was gathered from the financial aid system, from the student interview, or was imputed from student income. The average EFC is the average for all undergraduates.
Federal aid amount (TFEDAID)
Total amount of federal financial aid, including loans, grants, work study, and all other federal aid, excluding VA/DOD aid.
Federal aid/total aid (FEDPCT)
The proportion of total aid from federal sources, expressed as a percentage. The average ratio of federal aid to total aid is the average ratio for all students who received any aid.
Federal grants (TFEDGRT)
Total federal grants, including Pell grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and other federal grants, scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships. These are all forms of student financial aid that do not require repayment or employment. This information was taken from financial aid records, as well as directly from the students.
Federal loans (TFEDLN)
Total federal loans to undergraduates, except PLUS loans (which are made to parents). Loans are a type of student financial aid that advances funds that are evidenced by a promissory note requiring the recipient to repay the specified amounts under prescribed conditions. Includes Perkins, Stafford, Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), and all other federal loan programs. If this information was not available from financial aid records, student-reported information was used.
Financial need (Student budget minus expected family contribution) (SNEED3)
Financial need, equal to the sum of tuition actually charged and total non-tuition budget components, adjusted for attendance status (BUDGETAJ) less expected family contribution (EFC4). Students whose EFC exceeded need were assigned a value of zero for this variable. The average need is the average for all students, including those whose EFC was zero.
Grants (TOTGRT)
Total grants received in 1992-93. Grants are a type of student financial aid that does not require repayment or employment. Grants include scholarships and fellowships. Employer aid is also considered a grant.
Grants/total aid (GRTPCT)
The proportion of total aid that was grant aid, expressed as a percentage. The average ratio of grants to total aid is the average ratio for all students who received any aid.
Gender of student (GENDER)
Male
Female
Highest level of education ever expect to complete (ANYHILVL)
The highest level of education students reported they hoped to achieve.
Certificate/formal award Student expected to earn a vocational
certificate or license; or to attend college,
but not to earn a bachelor's degree.
Associate's degree Student expected to earn an associate's degree
but not a bachelor s degree.
Bachelor's degree Student expected to earn a bachelor's degree but not an advanced degree.
Advanced Degree Student expected to earn a master's, doctoral,
or first-professional degree.
Highest level of parent education (PAREDUC)
The highest level of education completed by the student s parents (mother or father, whichever was highest).
High school or less Neither parent had any postsecondary education.
Both parents graduated from high school or
received a General Educational Development certificate (GED), or did not complete high school.
Some college One or both parents had some postsecondary education, less than a bachelor's degree but including an associate s degree.
Bachelor's degree One or both parents earned a bachelor's degree
as their highest award.
More than a bachelor's degree One or both parents earned an advanced degree
including a master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., and so on.
Hours worked per week while enrolled in 1992-93 (EMWKHR3)
The average number of hours worked per week while enrolled (including work study). If a student reported being employed during the month, the average number of hours worked per week was derived based on the starting and ending dates and the hours reported for each job during the survey interview. Note that this variable only represents the average hours a student worked while working and enrolled. Thus, if a student worked an average of 20 hours per week while enrolled for 6 months and then did not work for the remaining 3 months of enrollment, the average hours would still be 20 hours per week.
Income: percent of poverty level (PCTPOV91)
Total income in 1991 as a percentage of federal poverty level thresholds for that year, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, based upon income, family size, and dependency status. (Income in 1991 was reported on financial aid applications for the 1992-93 academic year.) If the student was independent, the student s income and family size were used. If the student was dependent, parents income and family size were used. The maximum ratio was set at 1,000 percent, and all values above that were set at 1,000 percent. A value below 100 percent means the family was below the poverty income level in 1991. Poverty cutoffs for 1991 were based upon family size as follows:
Family size Poverty threshold
1 $7,086
2 $9,165
3 $10,860
4 $13,924
5 $16,456
6 or more $18,587
Income: percent of poverty level (PCTPVRTY): Tables 4, 17, and 18 only
Total income in 1988 as a percentage of federal poverty level thresholds for that year, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, based upon income, family size, and dependency status. (Income in 1988 was reported on financial aid applications for the 1989-90 academic year). If the student was independent, student s income and family size were used. If the student was dependent, parents income and family size were used. A value below 100 percent means the family was below the poverty income level in 1988. Poverty cutoffs for 1988 were based upon family size as follows:
Family size Poverty threshold
1 $ 6,155
2 $ 7,958
3 $ 9,056
4 $12,092
5 $14,305
6 or more $16,149
Institutional aid/total aid (INSTPCT)
The proportion of total aid that was institutional aid, expressed as a percentage. The average ratio of institutional aid to total aid is the average ratio for all students who received any aid.
Institutional aid amount (INSTAMT)
Total institutional aid amount. Institutional aid includes grants and loans from the institution attended, work-study positions, and research and teaching assistantships. It also includes assistantships funded by federal research grants.
Institutional grants (INGRTAMT)
Total amount of grants provided by the institution. Grants are a type of student financial aid that do not require repayment or employment. This aid includes both need-based and non- need-based tuition waivers, employee-related tuition waivers, and school-based academic and athletic scholarships.
Institutional level and control (SECTOR_B)
Institution type by level and control. Institution level indicates the institution s highest offering (length of program and type of certificate, degree, or award), and control indicates the source of revenue and control of operations.
Public less-than-4-year Public less-than-4-year institution. Public 4-year Public 4-year institution. Private, not-for-profit Private independent less-than-4-year institution. less-than-4-year Private, not-for-profit Private independent 4-year institution. 4-year Private, for-profit Private, for-profit institution.
Local residence (LOCRES2)
On campus Student lived in institution-owned living quarters
for students on campus.
Off campus, with parents Student lived with parents or other relatives off or relatives campus.
Other Student lived off campus, not with parents or other relatives.
Loans/total aid (LOANPCT)
The percentage of total aid that was loans, expressed as a percentage. This variable is based on the ratio of TOTLOAN to TOTAID. The average ratio of loans to total aid is the average ratio for all students who received aid.
Loans (TOTLOAN)
Total loans received between 1992-93. This includes all loans through federal, state, or institutional programs except PLUS loans (which are made to parents). Loans are a type of student financial aid that advances funds evidenced by a promissory note requiring the recipient to repay the specified amounts under prescribed conditions.
Longitudinal sample weight (BPS94AWT)
Primary cross-sectional and longitudinal weight for BPS data used in the multivariate analysis. This weight allows for analysis of trends up through the 1993-94 academic year among the population of students who were first-time beginners in postsecondary education in the 1989-90 academic year. This weight takes advantage of both the BPS first followup (1991-92) and second followup (1993-94) surveys.
Marital status in 1992-93 (SMARITAL)
Student s marital status as of NPSAS interview date.
Not married or separated
Married
Net Cost: Total costs minus aid (NETCST1)
Net costs of attendance after all financial aid, adjusted for attendance. Equal to student-reported total costs of attendance (tuition and non-tuition expenses), adjusted for attendance status (TOTCOSTA), minus the total amount of all aid (TOTAID). The average cost is the average for all students, including those who did not report costs that exceeded total aid.
Pell grants (PELLAMT)
Total Pell grant amount. Grants are a type of student financial aid that does not require repayment or employment. Pell grants are awarded to undergraduates who have not yet earned a bachelor s degree and are intended as a financial base to which other forms of aid may be added. Award amounts were based upon need, the cost of the institution attended, and attendance status. To be eligible, students must attend at least half time. The maximum award in 1992-93 was $2,400.
Perkins loan amount (PERKAMT)
Amount of federal Perkins loan. The Perkins loan is a campus-based low interest loan for students who show exceptional financial need. Total awards, including awards from all previous years, cannot exceed $9,000 for undergraduate students.
Race ethnicity (RACE)
Asian/Pacific Islander A person having origins in any of the original
peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or Pacific slands. This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, Samoa, India, and Vietnam.
Black, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa, not of Hispanic origin.
Hispanic A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
American Indian/ A person having origins in any of the original people of North Alaskan Native America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
White, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin).
Single parent (SINGLPAR)
Students who had dependents but were not married. Note that in the rare case a student was caring for dependents who were not the student s children (e.g., elderly parents or relatives) and the student was not married, the student is identified as a single parent.
Stafford amount (STAFFAMT)
Amount of Stafford loans during 1992-93. This includes all Stafford loans taken out at all institutions the student attended during the year. Stafford loans are long-term, low-interest loans administered by the federal government. Students borrow money for education expenses directly from banks or other lending institutions. The loans are guaranteed by the federal government. This program was formerly known as the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program.
Stafford loan amount categories (STAFFCAT)
Stafford loan amounts, ordered into three categories:
None Student did not receive a Stafford loan. Some Student received a Stafford loan of less than $4,000 (the maximum amount). Maximum Student received the maximum Stafford loan amount.
State aid amount (STATEAMT)
Total amount of state aid received in 1992-93. State aid includes state-based grants, loans, workstudy, and other state-based awards.
State aid/total aid (STAPCT)
The proportion of total aid that was state aid, expressed as a percentage. The average ratio of state aid to total aid is the ratio for all students who received any aid.
State grants (STGTAMT)
Total state-based grants, scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships, including the federal portion of State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG). These are all forms of student financial aid that do not require repayment or employment. If this information was not available from financial aid records, student-reported information was used.
Student budget, attendance-adjusted (BUDGETAJ)
Total student budget, equal to the sum of tuition actually charged and total non-tuition budget components, adjusted for attendance status. The average budget is the average for all students who had tuition and/or non-tuition expenses.
Student earnings, academic year (WKINC)
Total student income from all jobs between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 1993, including workstudy and assistantships, regardless of dependency status. These data were based upon student-reported information.
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOGAMT)
The Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a campus-administered federal grant available to undergraduates who show exceptional financial need. Grants are a type of student financial aid that does not require repayment or employment. The SEOG is intended to supplement the Pell grant, and priority is given to undergraduates who have received a Pell grant. The maximum award is $4,000 per year. Eligibility for a SEOG grant does not guarantee receipt of an award, as funds available to each institution are limited. Eligibility is not based upon intensity of enrollment, so undergraduates who are enrolled less than half time may be eligible for a SEOG grant.
Supplemental Loan for Students amount (SLSAMT)
Amount of federal SLS (Supplemental Loan for Students). SLS loans are variable-interest rate (maximum 12 percent) loans that are awarded to independent undergraduates who are attending school at least half time. For students in full-year programs, the maximum loan amount is $4,000, provided the total of all loans does not exceed $20,000. SLS loans are offered by commercial lenders and interest accrues while the student is enrolled.
Total aid (TOTAID)
Total amount of all financial aid received from all sources, including federal, state, institution, and other sources. The percentage of students who received any financial aid is the percentage with positive amounts recorded for this variable. The average amount received is the average for all students who received any financial aid.
Total aid/student-reported cost (AIDCST2)
Ratio of total aid to student-reported total cost, adjusted for attendance. The average ratio is the average for all students who reported having costs of attendance.
Total amount of parent loans to student (SPARLOAN)
Student-reported sum of loans from both parents for 1992-93 academic year.
Total costs (TOTCOSTA)
Student-reported total costs, including tuition and fees and all other costs. The average amount is the average for all students, including those who did not report having any of these costs.
Unmet need: Student budget minus expected family contribution and aid (SNEED4)
Unmet need, equal to the sum of tuition actually charged and total non-tuition budget components, adjusted for attendance status (BUDGETAJ) less expected family contribution (EFC4) and total aid received that is subject to EFC limitations. Students whose expected family contribution and EFC-based aid exceeded need were assigned a value of zero for this variable.
Work study (TOTWKST)
Total work-study aid received. Work-study programs provide partial reimbursement of wages paid to students. They may be sponsored by the federal or state governments or by the institution.
[Summary and Conclusion]
[Appendix B]
