Glossary of Student Loan Related Terms

Half-time

Most financial aid programs require that the student be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for aid. Some programs require the student to be enrolled full-time.

Half-Time Enrollment

A student's enrollment status indicates whether the student attends school full- , half- , or part-time. Half time usually refers to at least six credit hours. In most cases, a student must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for financial aid.

HEA

Higher Education Act (of 1965)

HEAL

Health Education Assistance Loan

Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL)

A low interest loan administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is available to medical school students pursuing medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, clinical psychology, health administration, and public health. Undergraduate pharmacology students are also eligible.

Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL)

A low interest loan administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is now known as the Primary Care Loan (PCL).

HHS

US Department of Health and Human Services

Holder

The lender, institution or agency that holds legal title to a loan. The holder may be the bank that issued the loan, a secondary market that purchased the loan from the bank, or a guarantee agency if the borrower defaulted on the loan.

Home Equity

Current market value of a home less the mortgage's remaining unpaid principal. It is based on the market value, not the insurance or tax value. 

Horizontal Equity

The principle of horizontal equity is that families with similar financial circumstances should pay the same amount, regardless of how their assets, investments and income are defined.

HPSL

Health Profession Student Loan