Glossary of Terms

Undergraduate tuition is charged at a flat rate for 12-18 credits per semester.

Graduate and Professional's tuition is charged per unit.

Mandatory, non-refundable fees include:

• ASCLU Fee (UG-only) - Student governance fee
• Technology Fee - Covers student wifi usage, technology used in classrooms, etc.
• Wellness Fee - Covers various health services for students

These fees are assessed each semester for students enrolled in one or more credits.

On-Campus Housing allowance for institutionally owned or operated housing which is based on the median amount assessed to such residents for on-campus housing charges. Actual charges will vary based on residence hall assignment. 

• Cal Lutheran has 15 suite-style residence halls, along with three residential Living Learning Communities. The on-campus housing experience includes access to helpful residence life staff, programming, and helpful resources to integrate into our university community. Cal Lutheran also offers on-campus housing for PLTS students.
• Cal Lutheran does not provide housing for students with dependents.

Off-campus housing refers to accommodations that are not owned or operated by the university and situated outside of the university's designated residential facilities.

• For students living with parents/family, the housing allowance includes reasonable standard allowance for living expenses which includes an allocation for snacks, and meals.
• For students living off-campus, not with parent/family, the housing allowance includes estimated rent or other housing costs.
• For students living in housing on a military base or for which they receive a basic allowance under section 403(b) of title 37, United States Code, we include a reasonable allowance for food on-campus or off-campus, but cannot include housing costs.

Cal Lutheran offers a number of meal plan options available to students living on or off campus. 

• Meal plans are pre-paid agreements that offer students access to on-campus dining services, providing a structured means to cover daily meals. These plans typically include a set number of meals per week or semester, offering flexibility and convenience in catering to students' dietary needs during their academic stay. 
• Payment is made directly to Cal Lutheran.

The credential/exam cost must be incured while the student is still enrolled even if the credentialing/exam activity occurs after the enrollment period ends.

Credentialing/exam examples may include:

• The cost of obtaining the teacher certification required for teaching in the state of California.
• Examination fee for taking a certified financial planning exam

The California Dream Act Application. This application is used by undocumented students who meet the eligibility requirements of California Assembly Bill 540 and come from a lower income household or qualify for need-based aid. The California Student Aid Commission process the application and any aid received can be used at eligible California public or private institutions.

The financial aid application administered by the College Board required by some independent colleges and scholarship organizations to award private aid. Please note that you do not need to complete a CSS application for Cal Lutheran. Only available online.

The FAFSA is the primary application for applying for financial aid from the federal government, states and colleges.

Campus-Based Aid is comprised of the two federal programs administered by colleges: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Federal Work-Study. Both require the submission of the FAFSA and are need-based.

Grants are financial aid that doesn't need to be repaid; usually based on financial need. These can come from the federal government, state government or your university.

Financial assistance offered and controlled by the individual colleges, such as alumni scholarships and endowments from private donors; also called university or college-based aid.

Financial aid that is based on merit — grades, test scores, athletic ability, talents or other criteria — and not income or assets.

Financial aid that is based on your own or your family's income and assets; most financial aid offered by states and the federal government is need-based.

A scholarship is money for college you don't have to repay, awarded based on grades, test scores, major, heritage or other criteria, but usually not financial need.

You're considered a California resident if you're an unmarried student, under 18, and your parents have been legal California residents for one year prior to the year in which you are applying for state financial aid; if you've lived for two years with a legal California resident, other than a parent; or if a parent is in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed in California and on active duty when you enroll. All married students, regardless of age, and unmarried students 18 or older, must establish their own residency.

U.S. citizens — those born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or abroad to a U.S.citizen — and nationals — citizens of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and natives of American Samoa and Swain's Island — are eligible for most federal aid; citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands are eligible only for Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work-Study.

A U.S. permanent resident who has a Permanent Resident Card (I-551 or I-151); a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or a noncitizen who has an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (the I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), or Cuban-Haitian Entrant. Those in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations) are not U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens and so are ineligible for federal aid.

Students who live in the United States and are not U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who don't have an Alien Registration Card, visa or other legal documentation; includes students or their families who entered the country legally on tourist or work visas and chose to stay after their visas expired.