The Cost of Attendance (COA) Calculator helps students and parents estimate the total cost of attending a school or university. It includes all major expenses like tuition fees, housing, and meal plans, as well as optional fields for transportation and miscellaneous costs.
How to Use the Cost of Attendance Calculator
Follow these steps to calculate the total cost of attending a school or university:
- Enter the tuition fees in USD, which covers the cost of your courses.
- Input housing costs, which include dormitory fees or rent for off-campus housing.
- Optionally, you can add meal plan costs, transportation expenses, and any miscellaneous costs like books, supplies, and personal expenses.
- Click the 'Calculate Total Cost' button to view the total estimated cost of attendance.
COA Formula
The formula used for calculating the total cost of attendance is:
- Total Cost of Attendance (COA): COA = Tuition Fees + Housing Costs + Meal Plan Costs + Transportation Costs + Miscellaneous Costs
Example Calculation
For example, if the tuition fees are $20,000, housing costs are $8,000, and meal plan costs are $3,000, the total cost would be:
Total COA = $20,000 + $8,000 + $3,000 = $31,000
This estimate helps in financial planning and determining the total expense of attending a school or university.