What is the Cost of Attendance?
Cost of Attendance (COA) is the price of a student to go to school; it is not the amount a student actually pays. There are many factors that go into calculating a school’s Cost of Attendance; including enrollment, residency, and living situation.
The annual college budget is based on 9 months of instruction, represented by a 16-week Fall term and a 16-Week Spring term. Single term budgets are based on 4½ months of school, represented by a 16-week Fall or Spring term. Students in modular courses (courses whose start and end dates do not span the whole 16-week term) will have their budgets prorated. This is also true for Summer budgets, as they are based on the actual weeks of school a student’s schedule has.
COA includes:
- Tuition and fees
- Room and board
- Books and supplies
- Transportation to and from school
- Personal expenses
This budget determines how much aid a student can receive by comparing their Cost of Attendance with their FAFSA eligibility. The Financial Aid Office will then use this data to assess Student Need, and process awards based on regulatory guidelines. But a student cannot get aid that is more than the school’s Cost of Attendance. Their FAFSA eligibility is based on standard budget allowances - NOT on individual preferences and spending habits. They must also be enrolled and participating in an eligible degree or certificate program to receive aid.
How much will it cost?
Use the Maricopa Net Price Calculator to estimate your Cost of Attendance (COA) for a year of college! It will take any estimated grant and scholarship aid you may be eligible for into consideration. Note: Cost of Attendance varies slightly for each student, modular courses are not considered and Senior Citizen Tuition Rates are not reflected in this calculator.
Please note that some students will spend more than the standard amounts while others will spend less, depending on individual lifestyles and circumstances. Very few students receive aid to cover the full amount of their Cost of Attendance. For questions regarding Cost of Attendance, please contact the Financial Aid Office.