Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)

A student’s estimated cost of attendance is used to establish financial need and sets a limit to the amount of  financial aid a student may receive.

The COA is an estimate/average dollar amount which includes estimates of standard expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, and personal expenses, such as clothing, transportation, etc. Students must have unmet need to qualify for Title IV aid.

COA (cost of attendance) – EFC (expected family contribution) – Other Aid =    Unmet Need

Cost of Attendance is NOT a bill and is provided for planning purposes only. Additional cost information and estimates are available via the Net Price Calculator.

Cost of Attendance includes both direct (billable) and indirect (estimated) costs for two semesters, generally fall and spring. Direct costs may include tuition, fees, room, board, books, and some supplies which are billed by the College.  Indirect costs include off campus living expenses, transportation, loan fees, and other personal/miscellaneous expenses. All these costs associated with COA vary by student and that is why the COA is an estimate of costs, not an actual cost. COA figures are estimates and are subject to change. COA is originally estimated based on full-time enrollment and will adjust according to actual enrollment status.

Student expense budgets are constructed for each of the following populations:

• In-State – Living with Parents
• In-State – Living On Campus
• In-State – Living Off Campus (not with parent)
• Out-of-State – Living with Parents
• Out-of-State – Living On Campus
• Out-of-State – Living Off Campus (not with parent)

All COA budgets are considered good‐faith estimates of the projected educational expenses that the majority of students may incur while attending Coastal Alabama. Individual students may experience varying costs because of special educational expense needs. Adjustments to a student’s budget will be based on special educational expenses and must be documented by the student. All documentation will be evaluated by the Director and/or Assistant Director of Financial Aid on a case-by-case basis. Examples of items that may need to be increased are dependent care expenses, cost of a personal computer, tool costs, other excessive costs not included in the COA calculation.

Estimated costs of attendance are based on full-time enrollment of 15 hours each semester for two semesters.  Budgets are automatically adjusted in the College system based on actual enrolled hours – full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, and/or less than half-time.  Financial aid offers will be adjusted accordingly. The following COA budgets are estimates and subject to change.