Student Financial Aid (SFA)

Survey Component Overview

The purpose of the IPEDS Student Financial Aid (SFA) component is to collect information about financial aid provided to various groups of undergraduate students in order to meet requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended. IPEDS collects data on the number of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who receive different types of student financial aid, including grants and loans, from different sources at each institution. IPEDS also collects data to show the average dollar amount of aid received by these students. Finally, as a result of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, IPEDS collects data to calculate the average net price at each institution for the following two groups: (1) first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who receive grant and scholarship aid; and (2) first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who receive Title IV federal student aid.