What is the cost of attendance (COA)?
The cost of attendance (COA) is a number (generally a yearly figure) that is designed to help summarize the various costs of attending a school that takes into account • tuition and fees • on-campus room and board (or an allowance for these amounts for off-campus students) • allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and if applicable, dependent care, It also generally includes various miscellaneous and personal expenses including an allowance for a purchase or rental of a personal computer and can also include additional costs related to a disability. Most schools publish the COA annually in brochures and online college search sites, so it may help to check with some of these resources. Additionally, if you have unusual circumstances which have higher costs, it might help to discuss these with the financial aid office.
The Cost of Attendance, also referred to as a financial aid budget, is an estimate of your educational expenses for the period of enrollment. This budget is consists of two parts, direct costs and indirect costs. Direct Costs are paid to the University and include tuition, university fees, and average room and meal costs (if living on campus). Indirect Costs are estimated additional educational expenses that you may incur during the enrollment period. These costs are not paid directly to the University and include budget category items such as books and supplies, transportation, personal expense allowance, average loan fees, and a living allowance for room and meals (if living off-campus). Additional educational expense allowances (such as childcare expenses) may be added to the standard budget upon receipt of request and supporting documentation.
