The distinctions between the estimated cost of attending and tuition are:
Table Of Contents
What Is Cost Of Attendance (COA)?
The cost of Attendance (COA) is the approximate cost of attending college for one year. It includes room and board, tuition, transportation, supplies, miscellaneous expenses, and loan fees. The COA is a significant figure as it is used to calculate a pupil's eligibility for financial aid vehicles such as loans and grants.

You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc.. Please provide us with an attribution link.
Most colleges publish COA on their websites, which makes it straightforward for students and parents to compare the expenses of different colleges. Moreover, since federal law directs the specifics of what expenses to include in the COA figure, it is most often authentic. In fact, most students end up paying a considerably lesser price as COA is just a sticker price or an estimation.
Key Takeaways
- The cost of attending, or COA, refers to the forecast of all direct and indirect costs of attending college in a given year. Most colleges publish this figure on their websites.
- It includes expenses such as room and board, tuition, fees, supplies, books, and loan fees.
- COA is a significant figure in ascertaining how much financial aid, like loans and grants, a student is eligible for. It is calculated based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is derived from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- It is just a “sticker price”. The actual prices may differ.
Cost Of Attendance Explained
The cost of attendance refers to the expenses of attending college that a student is expected to incur in a given year. The COA figure includes expenses such as tuition, transportation, personal expenses, room and board, and loan fees.
Most colleges publish the COA figures for different situations, such as boarding on-campus or off-campus or in-state or out-of-state students. In fact, many colleges provide a cost of attending calculator on their website for students to figure out the most viable option.
It is vital to note that COA is the "sticker price," or the total cost of attending college for a given year. The figure excludes any financial aid the student might be eligible for. Students who are eligible for loans or grants end up paying less than the sticker price.
The COA is significant for parents and students who wish to enroll in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, the Student Aid Index (SAI) plays a pivotal role in deciding how much financial aid a student might be awarded.
The SAI is deducted from the COA of a specific college to decide how much financial aid can be granted. The SAI figure is derived from the information the student or parents fill out in the FAFSA application.
While grants and loans allow students short-term relief, it is worthwhile to remember that they will have to be repaid at some point in the future. However, students can use non-federal resources like scholarships to cover the gap between their SAI and COA.
What It Includes?
An estimated cost of the appeal of a college is an estimate of different costs directly or indirectly associated with the student attending college. The list of expenses included in a COA figure includes:
- Tuition
- Fees
- Course materials, books, equipment, and supplies
- Living expenses (Food and housing)
- Disability-related costs
- Loan fees (Does not include non-federal student loans)
- Allowances for child or other dependent care
- Transportation expenses
- Equitable costs of study abroad programs (Subject to eligibility)
- Costs of securing certifications, licenses, or initial professional credential
- Miscellaneous expenses (Might include a reasonable sum for the use of a personal computer)
How To Calculate?
The COA is a significant figure for parents and students as they determine the future concerning their education and professional ventures. The COA figure shows if the college is within their cost of attending budget. Below is an explanation of the expenses the calculation must include:
- Tuition and Fees: Start with the cost of tuition and any mandatory fees associated with enrolling in the program, which vary by institution and program type.
- Room and Food: Include the estimated cost of housing and meals, whether on-campus or off-campus, in the total cost.
- Books and Supplies: Add the cost of textbooks, lab materials, and other supplies necessary for completing courses.
- Transportation: Consider the cost of commuting, whether through public transportation, gas, or parking fees, especially for off-campus students. This shall depend primarily on whether the student stays on campus or elsewhere.
- Personal Expenses: Estimate personal costs such as laundry, entertainment, and other day-to-day necessities.
- Loan Fees: If student loans are part of the financial plan, include any origination fees or other charges tied to borrowing.
Calculating the COA involves adding up all these expenses to provide a comprehensive view of the financial requirements for attending school.
Examples
Now that the theoretical aspects of the cost of attending calculators are well-established, it is time to clarify the concept's practical applicability through the examples below.
Example #1
Michael Clarke is looking to study psychology and is on the lookout for the best colleges to pursue the degree. He compares the COA of two colleges – College A and College B. Their COA breakdown is:
Expense | College A | College B |
Tuition & Fees | $12,000 | $18,000 |
Room (on-campus) | $7,000 | $6,000 |
Food | $6,500 | $5,500 |
Books & Course Material | $6,000 | $6,500 |
Transportation | $1,200 | $1,750 |
Loan Fees | $1,500 | $1,000 |
Personal Expenses | $3,400 | $3,300 |
Miscellaneous Expenses | $2,100 | $2,200 |
Total | $39,700 | $44,250 |
Therefore, Mr. Clarke decided to go with College A.
Example #2
In April 2024, a few colleges in the United States forecasted that the cost of attending might exceed $90,000 a year. Even after adjusting costs for inflation, the tuition and fees at multiple universities in the US have been steeply rising.
In the past twenty years, the COA has increased by over 40% if the inflation adjustment is taken into account. However, if the inflation adjustment is not taken into consideration, the COA of private institutions has risen a whopping 132% in the same period. Given the rising cost of education and the rise of unconventional sources of income, the newer generation, better known as Gen Z, is wondering if college education is actually worth it.
Importance
Despite this article having multiple references to the influence and importance of COA on curating the cost of attending budget, below are a few points that reiterate the importance of the metric. They are:
- The foremost role that COA plays is that it gives parents and students a clear picture of the overall costs of education for one year. As a result, they can enroll in a college that is within their budget.
- The COA figures of different colleges help students compare the costs of different colleges before deciding on an affordable and worthwhile option.
- COA helps calculate scholarships, loans, and other grants, especially for students with financial need.
- Generally, only the tuition fee is considered when planning for higher education. However, COA provides students with a complete picture of what a year at college would be like in reality.
- With a reliable COA figure, students can decide how much debt they want to take on, as balancing debt at an early stage becomes highly critical for students.
Cost Of Attendance vs. Tuition
Basis | Cost of Attending | Tuition |
---|---|---|
1. Definition | COA refers to the direct and indirect forecasted cost of attending college for a given year. | COA refers to the direct and indirect forecasted cost of attending college for a given year. |
2. Purpose | Provides a complete view of expenses to ensure students can plan their budget accordingly. | Provides a complete view of expenses to ensure students can plan their budget accordingly. |
3. Components | COA includes tuition, fees, books, room and board, personal expenses, transportation, and loan fees, if any. | COA includes tuition, fees, books, room and board, personal expenses, transportation, and loan fees, if any. |
4. Usability | It is essential for the calculation of financial aid and budgeting. | It is essential for the calculation of financial aid and budgeting. |
5. Variability | It may significantly vary based on lifestyle, personal choices, and living arrangements. | It may significantly vary based on lifestyle, personal choices, and living arrangements. |