Helpful Terms and Definitions

VA Facility Code: A unique identifier for an educational institution approved for VA education benefits, found on the GI Bill® Comparison Tool.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System): A system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
OPEID (Office of Postsecondary Education Identification): An identification number used by the U.S. Department of Education to identify schools that have Program Participation Agreements so that its students are eligible to participate in Federal Student Financial Assistance programs.
ED OPE Code: Another form of the OPEID used specifically by the Department of Education.
College Navigator: A consumer information tool provided by the NCES that helps students and families find information about nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions.
CIP Code (Classification of Instructional Programs): A taxonomy of academic programs used to facilitate the organization and reporting of fields of study and program completions.

Accreditation: A process of review that ensures an institution meets certain standards of quality and excellence.
Probation (Accreditation): A status indicating that an institution has been identified as not meeting certain standards set by its accrediting agency.
Caution Flag: Indicators determined by the VA to alert potential students to increased regulatory or legal scrutiny applied to a program of education.
Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM): A checks-and-balances process that allows the Department of Education to provide additional oversight over institutions for financial or federal compliance issues.
- HCM1: Allows a school to draw down Federal Student Aid funds after making disbursements to eligible students.
- HCM2: Requires a school to submit a Reimbursement Payment Request after making disbursements from its own funds.
85/15 Rule: A violation occurring when more than 85% of students in a program have their tuition and fees paid by the VA or are receiving restricted institutional aid.

Retention Rate: The percentage of a school's first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year.
- Note: For military populations, the "first-time" filter should be removed because most enter with previous credits.
Graduation Rate: The percentage of first-time, first-year undergraduate students who complete their program within 150% of the published time.
Loan Default Rate (Cohort Default Rate): The percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain loans during a federal fiscal year and default within a specified period.
Transfer Rate: The percentage of first-time, first-year undergraduate students who transfer to another college within 150% of the published time.
Exclusions: Students removed from a cohort due to specific reasons such as death, permanent disability, or military service.

Yellow Ribbon Program: A provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the annual tuition cap.
Tuition Assistance (TA): A Department of Defense program providing active-duty service members with financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education.
8 Keys to Veterans' Success: Federal guidelines designed to help veterans succeed in higher education.
Principles of Excellence: Guidelines outlined by the VA to ensure quality and accountability for veterans using the GI Bill.
MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts): A workforce development program providing financial assistance to eligible military spouses for licenses, certifications, or associate degrees.
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB): A federal TRIO program designed to assist veterans in developing skills necessary for success in postsecondary education.
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program): A series of exams that allow students to earn college credit for introductory-level subjects.
DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests): Examinations that allow individuals to demonstrate knowledge and earn college credit for learning outside a traditional classroom.

Here is a dictionary of key terms and definitions for your HubSpot Knowledge Base, derived from the Military Friendly® Schools Survey Help Documentation.