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Module 5. Cost of Attendance. Basic Need Equation. Cost of attendance (COA) – Expected family contribution (EFC) = Need. Purposes of Student Budget Construction. Develop realistic budgets Accurate cost projections Equity Not intended to be an enrollment management tool
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Module 5 Cost of Attendance
Basic Need Equation Cost of attendance (COA) – Expected family contribution (EFC) = Need
Purposes of Student Budget Construction • Develop realistic budgets • Accurate cost projections • Equity • Not intended to be an enrollment management tool • Budgets for different categories
Setting Costs • Institutional costs • Fixed and set by school (e.g., tuition and fees) • Noninstitutional costs • Not set by school (e.g., off-campus room and board) • Reflect local market conditions
Student Budget Sources • Primary sources • Sensitive to specific student circumstances and provide data on actual student expenses • Example: student surveys • Secondary sources • Verify student data and final budget figures • Examples: published sources, faculty/staff, community sources, and various indices
COA Components and Allowances • Set by statute • Apply to all Title IV programs • Three basic components • Six additional allowances, as applicable • May use average or actual costs
COA General Concepts • Federal Pell Grant Program • Always use full-time, full-year COA • All other Title IV programs • Typically based on full-time, full-year COA • Adjusted for summer as needed • Adjusted for less-than-full-time enrollment and less-than-full-year attendance
COA General Concepts For simultaneous enrollment at multiple schools under consortium agreements, including study abroad, values of like budget items must be: • Combined into a single amount for each cost component to prevent double counting • Applied on full-time, full academic year basis when awarding Title IV aid
Basic COA Component Allowances Tuition and fees • Amounts normally assessed students carrying same academic workload, as determined by institution • May include costs for rental or purchase of equipment, materials, or supplies required of all students in same program of study
Example:Weighted Average Tuition Charge • Tuition: in-state = $2,000; out-of-state = $4,000 • 9,000 in-state students; 1,000 out-of state students • Weighted average: • Weighted average tuition charge for COA = $2,200 $2,000 x 9,000 = $18,000,000 + $4,000 x 1,000 = 4,000,000 $22,000,000 $22,000,000 ÷ 10,000 = $2,200
Basic COA Component Allowances • Books and supplies costs • Transportation costs • Miscellaneous personal expenses • Personal computer rental or purchase
Basic COA Component Allowances Room and Board • Students without dependents living at home with parent(s) • Students without dependents living in institutionally-owned or operated housing • Students living in on-base military housing or in off-base housing for which a military basic housing allowance is provided • All other students
Additional COA Allowances • Dependent care • Disability-related • Cooperative education • Study abroad • First professional credential • Educational loan fees
COA Restrictions Certain cost components are excluded for students who are: • Enrolled less than half time • Enrolled in correspondence programs • Incarcerated
COA Recalculations Rules differ among Title IV programs: • Federal Pell Grant, IASG, and TEACH Grant programs • Campus-based programs • Direct Loan Program
Non-Title IV Aid and COA • Prepaid tuition plans have no effect on COA • State-provided non-Title IV aid designated to cover a specific COA component may be excluded from estimated financial assistance (EFA), if also excluded from COA, and vice versa