Glossary
Admissibility
Refers to the types of students an institution matriculates relative to the
average preparation of the students in that state, as measured by standardized
test scores. In this study an institution is "admissible" if it enrolled
students with test scores consistent with the 25th to 75th percentile range
of test scores for college-bound high school graduates from its own state.
Affordability
Refers to the price of attending a specific institution relative to the financial
resources of prospective low- and median-income dependent and independent students.
This study focuses on college prices and students' resources, as well as the
extent to which federal, state and institutional financial aid helps several
types of students at more than 2,800 degree-granting colleges and universities.
Accessibility
Refers to the ultimate classification of each institution in terms of its admissibility
and affordability for different types of students. An institution is deemed
"accessible" only if it is both affordable and admissible. Otherwise,
it is deemed "not accessible." In other words, an accessible school
is one that the average college-qualified student is academically and financially
able to attend.
Low-income dependent students
Are generally 18- to 23-year-olds from families whose incomes were in the bottom
quartile of all families with dependents and whose heads of household were 45
to 64 years of age.
Median-income dependent students
Are 18- to 23-year-olds from families whose heads of household were 45 to 64
years old and whose incomes were around the median for all such families.
Low-income independent students
Are those between the ages of 25 and 34 whose own income ranks them in the bottom
quartile of all households in that age range.
Median-income independent students
Are those between the ages of 25 and 34 with incomes around the median for all
households in that age range.
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