Tuition Discounting Study Glossary and Help Text

Survey Help Text

Question 1: To respond to this question, enter the total number of first-time, first-year degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who matriculated at your institution in academic year 2021-22, as of your fall 2021 census date. For the second part of this question, enter the preliminary number of first-time, first-year degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who matriculated at your institution in academic year 2022-23, as of your fall 2022 census date. Part-time students, guests, and special students, or students in non-degree or non-certificate programs should NOT be included. First-year students enrolled in off-campus or other "non-traditional" programs may be included ONLY if they are enrolled full-time in undergraduate certificate or degree programs. Please use the same census date that you use for IPEDS survey responses (approximately October 1 for many institutions).

Question 2: Include the final number of first-time, first-year undergraduates (as reported in Question 1) who received institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships in 2021-22. For the second part of this question, enter the preliminary number of first-time, first-year undergraduates who were awarded institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships in 2022-23. Include institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded on the basis of students' demonstrated financial need, academic merit, athletics, or any other criteria your institution may use. Also include any grants, scholarships, or fellowships that were funded by restricted and unrestricted institutional endowment funds. DO NOT include any aid from the following programs: federal or state grant aid; private grants, scholarships or fellowships; institutional matches for externally funded student grants, scholarships, or fellowships; transfers from the current fund to student loan funds; tuition waivers/tuition remission; tuition benefits for institutional employees or their dependents; or tuition exchange programs. Also do NOT include any aid students received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) programs.

Question 3: Include the total dollar amount of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded to first-time, first-year undergraduates in 2021-22 (see Question 2). In the second part of this question, include the estimated total dollar amount of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded to first-time, first-year undergraduates in 2022-23 (see Question 2). Include the dollar amounts of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded on the basis of students' demonstrated financial need, academic merit, athletics, or any other criteria your institution may use. Also include the dollar amounts of any grants, scholarships, or fellowships that were funded by restricted and unrestricted institutional endowment funds. DO NOT include the dollar amounts of any aid from the following programs: federal or state grant aid; private grants, scholarships or fellowships; institutional matches for externally funded student grants, scholarships, or fellowships; transfers from the current fund to student loan funds; tuition waivers/tuition remission; tuition benefits for institutional employees or their dependents; or tuition exchange programs. Also do NOT include any aid students received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) programs.

Question 4: Include the total number of undergraduates in academic year 2021-22, as of your fall 2021 census date. For the second part of this question, enter the preliminary number of undergraduates in academic year 2022-23, as of your fall 2022 census date. Students in non-degree or non-certificate programs should NOT be included. Undergraduates enrolled in off-campus or other "non-traditional" programs may be included ONLY if they are enrolled in undergraduate certificate or degree programs.

Question 5: Include the final number of undergraduates (as reported in Question 4) who received institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships in 2021-22. For the second part of this question, the preliminary number of undergraduates who received institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships in 2022-23. Include institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded on the basis of students' demonstrated financial need, academic merit, athletics, or any other criteria your institution may use. Also include any grants, scholarships, or fellowships that were funded by restricted and unrestricted institutional endowment funds. DO NOT include any aid from the following programs: federal or state grant aid; private grants, scholarships or fellowships; institutional matches for externally funded student grants, scholarships, or fellowships; transfers from the current fund to student loan funds; tuition waivers/tuition remission; tuition benefits for institutional employees or their dependents; or tuition exchange programs. Also do NOT include any aid students received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) programs.

Question 6: Enter the total dollar amount of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded to all undergraduates in 2021-22 (see Question 5). For the second part of this question, enter the estimated total dollar amount of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded to all undergraduates in 2022-23. Include the dollar amounts of institutionally funded grants, scholarships, or fellowships awarded on the basis of students' demonstrated financial need, academic merit, athletics, or any other criteria your institution may use. Also include the dollar amounts of any grants, scholarships, or fellowships that were funded by restricted and unrestricted institutional endowment funds. DO NOT include the dollar amounts of any aid from the following programs: federal or state grant aid; private grants, scholarships or fellowships; institutional matches for externally funded student grants, scholarships, or fellowships; transfers from the current fund to student loan funds; tuition waivers/tuition remission; tuition benefits for institutional employees or their dependents; or tuition exchange programs. Also do NOT include any aid students received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) programs.

Question 7: Responses should be based on total institutional grants, scholarships, and fellowships awarded to undergraduates in 2021-22 (see Question 6). Responses should indicate the percentages of total institutional grant aid funded by your institution from the follow the sources: endowment earnings and withdrawals; donations and contributions to your institutional scholarship funds; transfers to financial aid/scholarship funds from your institutional reserves/reserve funds; and the proportion of grant aid that is unfunded (i.e., there is no dedicated source of funding; it is foregone tuition revenue, for example).

Question 8: Include the published price of tuition plus all mandatory fees (or "sticker price") for undergraduates for the academic year (that is, during the regular academic year, not including summer or other "non-traditional" academic terms). This rate SHOULD NOT charges for room, board, books, supplies, or any other education-related expenses. If tuition charges differ by class level or academic program (differential tuition), please report on the tuition and mandatory fee rate that the majority of undergraduate students pay. This figure should be the same as the amount reported in IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Survey Part D, Price of Attendance.

Question 9: Include the price of on-campus room and board for undergraduates for the academic year.

Question 10: Include the gross revenue from tuition and fees from all undergraduate students (including students enrolled in summer or other "non-traditional" academic terms or programs) during the full academic year. At most institutions, the academic year is defined as the period between July 1 and June 30. Gross revenue should also include funds for differential tuition and fees charged to undergraduates in specialized arts, sciences, engineering, or other degree or non-degree or non-certificate programs. However, the figure should NOT include any revenue from room, board, or any other charges not related directly to tuition and fees.

Question 11: Include the gross revenue from room and board charges for all undergraduate students living in on- or off-campus residence halls or other related college/university-owned facilities  during the full academic year. At most institutions, the academic year is defined as the period between July 1 and June 30. The gross revenue for room and board figure SHOULD NOT include revenue from summer or other "non-traditional" academic terms. The figure should NOT include any revenue from tuition and fees.

Question 13: Enter the total percentages of first-time, first-year degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who matriculated at your institution in academic year 2016-17 (as of your fall 2016 census date) and 2020-21 (as of your fall 2020 census date). NOTE: To the best extent possible, responses to this question should be based on undergraduates who were U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Percentages should sum to 100%.

Question 18: Total Institutional Revenue should include operating and non-operating revenue from restricted and unrestricted sources. Total revenue from all sources would include total investment return (net gains, losses, dividends and endowment pay-out). 

Definitions of Key Survey Terms

Demonstrated Financial Need: For institutionally funded financial aid, financial need is determined by institutions, based on undergraduate students’ income, assets, and other financial resources that are reported by students on their applications for institutionally awarded financial aid.

First-Generation Students: Undergraduates whose parents have no postsecondary education, regardless of other family members' level of education.

Institutional Grant Aid: The total dollar amount of institutionally funded scholarships, fellowships, and grants awarded to undergraduate students. This figure includes athletic scholarships, grants funded by restricted and unrestricted endowment income, and all other grant-based aid that is distributed by institutionally specific criteria. It does NOT include tuition remission and tuition exchange programs, institutional matches for externally funded federal or state student aid programs, or transfers from the current fund to student loan funds. It also does NOT include institutional matches for any aid students received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) programs.

Institutional Grant Aid that Meets Demonstrated Students’ Financial Need: Any institutional scholarships, grants, or fellowships that were used to meet students’ financial need. Any non-need-based grants (athletic scholarships or merit aid) that were used to meet students’ financial need should be counted as aid that meets need.

Institutional Discount Rate: The total institutional grant aid awarded to undergraduates a percentage of the gross tuition and fee revenue the institution would collect if all students paid the full tuition and fee sticker price. The TDS includes separate institutional discount rates for first-time, full-time, first-year undergraduates and for all undergraduates.

Net Tuition Revenue: The net tuition rate is calculated as the aggregate gross tuition revenue undergraduates minus institutionally funded financial aid grants for undergraduates, divided by the number of undergraduates.  The TDS includes separate net revenue rates for first-time, full-time, first-year undergraduates and for all undergraduates.

Percentage of First-time Undergraduates Receiving Institutional Grants: The percentage of first-time undergraduates aided is calculated as the number of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking first-year undergraduates receiving institutional grants divided by the total number of these first-time undergraduates.

Percentage of Undergraduates Receiving Institutional Grants: The percentage of all undergraduates aided is calculated as the number of undergraduates receiving institutional grants divided by the total number of all undergraduates.

Reserves: Reserves are total accumulated fund balance, also thought of as unrestricted net assets or excess unrestricted cash for the institution. Such amounts are essentially residual resources that are accumulated over time (i.e. from prior years). Every institution approaches how such reserves are used differently. For example, some institutions require at least enough of a residual to cover three-months of operating expenses – others may require two, four, or six months – but allow discretionary spending of amounts that exceed a reserve target. Institutional grant aid to students is an example of an internally directed discretionary use of reserves. 

Student Aid Rate: For students who receive aid, the student aid rate is the average institutional grant awarded as a percentage of the sticker price those students would have had to pay for tuition and fees. This measure illustrates changes in institutional grant amounts relative to changes in tuition and fee sticker prices. The TDS includes separate student aid rates for first-time, full-time, first-year undergraduates and for all undergraduates.

Undedicated Resources: Undedicated resources are unrestricted contributions or auxiliary / programmatic / other net revenue in the current year that is used for institutional grant aid to students. Foregone revenue is another way of looking at undedicated resources in that the institution discounts the price (provides grant aid to students) with an understanding that net tuition revenue will be lower, but the institution believes it will be able to cover all fiscal year expenses with other revenue sources.