The Cost of Attendance (COA) for a student is an estimate of that student's educational expenses for the period of enrollment. The COA is not the same as a bill. The COA is the college’s estimate of what your total costs will be for the year. Typically, you will be billed (direct charges) only for tuition and fees, and room and board if you live in campus housing.

Catholic University Cost of Attendance (COA) includes:

• Tuition and fees based on enrollment status
• Allowance for an average room and average board costs (student must be registered at least half-time)
• Allowance for books and supplies for a student carrying the same academic workload
• Allowance for transportation costs (student must be registered at least half-time)
• Allowance for personal expenses (student must be registered at least half-time)
• Average Federal Loan Fees (student must be registered at least half-time)

Adjustments to Standard Cost of Attendance (COA) For the Purchase of a Computer

Federal Regulations give the Office of Student Financial Assistance the ability to adjust a student's COA, on a case-by-case basis, for the purchase of a computer for educational use. The maximum COA increase for the purchase of a computer is $3,000 which may include the cost of a printer and other peripheral devices.

To request an COA adjustment for the purchase of a computer, please download and complete the Computer Purchase Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request  available on the Forms page. Return the form with the required documentation to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Aid and Budgeting Assumptions

Aid for undergraduate students is projected assuming full-time enrollment. All university scholarships and grants for undergraduate students require full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours). If a student fails to enroll full time by the end of the add/drop period, all university grant and scholarship assistance will be canceled and federal aid eligibility will be recalculated based on actual enrollment status for that semester. If you plan to attend a semester registered for fewer than 12 credit hours, please make an appointment with your financial aid counselor to discuss how your federal aid may be impacted.

Metropolitan College student aid is projected assuming half-time enrollment (six credit hours). All Metropolitan College student aid is reviewed at the end of the add/drop period. If you plan to attend a semester with an enrollment status other than half-time, please make an appointment with your financial aid counselor to discuss how your federal aid may be impacted.

Graduate students federal aid eligibility is projected assuming half-time enrollment (six credit hours). If you plan to attend a semester with an enrollment status other than half-time, please make an appointment with your financial aid counselor to discuss how your federal aid may be impacted.

Aid for graduate students in the National Catholic School of Social Services (NCSSS) is projected assuming full-time enrollment. If a student fails to enroll full-time by the end of the add/drop period, his or her federal aid eligibility will be recalculated based on actual enrollment status for that semester. If you plan to attend a semester registered less than a full-time, please make an appointment with your financial aid counselor to discuss how your federal aid may be impacted.