Office of Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) provides you with a list of anticipated expenses on your Award Notification. These expenses, referred to as your Cost of Attendance (COA) or budget, reflect costs you may encounter during the regular nine month academic year and may include:

Tuition

Fees

Tuition Differential (if applicable)

Books and Supplies

Room and Board

Travel

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to request a review of their cost of attendance if actual expenses are significantly different from the costs listed with their financial aid award notification. Child care, computer, study abroad and disability related expenses can be taken into consideration with the submission of the proper paperwork.

The total COA is not the amount that you owe the university for the year. Some items in your COA are indirect costs, and some are estimates. Please note that an average loan fee will be added to your COA for those that borrow a Federal Direct Loan. The amount of the loan fee added will depend on the type of Federal Direct Loan.

Direct vs. Indirect Costs:

Direct Costs are those you pay directly to the university and include tuition, fees, and tuition differential. Room and board are direct costs for those living in campus housing.

Indirect Costs are costs you will likely face during the academic year but which are not owed directly to the university. Indirect costs include books and supplies, travel, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Room and board are indirect costs for those not living in campus housing.

Exact Figures vs. Estimates:

Your COA contains both exact figures—tuition, fees, and differential—and inexact estimates—books and supplies, room and board, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.