Introduction to Cost of Attendance and Financial Planning
To get a better idea of how much money you will need to cover tuition and fees, housing costs, food, and everything else for the upcoming academic year, use our financial planning calculator to budget your costs. This is only a rough estimate on the cost of university, but should give you an idea about how much to budget. Your university fees consist of tuition, incidental and ancillary fees, and are based on several factors. Find out more about the costs associated with university.
Understanding Cost of Attendance Calculation
Cost of attendance (COA) is the estimated amount of money it will cost you to go to college full-time for one academic year (nine months). It includes tuition, room and board, books, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses. Schools use COA to set the limit on how much financial aid a student can get from scholarships, Pell Grants, and student loans for the school year to cover those costs.
Components of Cost of Attendance
What is estimated cost of attendance? The Cost of Attendance typically consists of several components, which may vary depending on the institution. These components commonly include tuition fees, room and board (or housing and meals), books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and potentially loan fees.
Significance of Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance is the estimated total cost of attending college in a given year. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses, and it is an official number determined by each college.
Conclusion
Looking at the cost of attendance, or the total estimated expense you’ll incur overall during a year at college, can give you a more accurate picture of the financial impact of attending a particular school.