The cost of attendance (COA), otherwise known as a student budget, includes the educational expenses a student is expected to incur each year for directly billed school expenses and for allowable monthly living expenses. The monthly 'living expense' budget is based on student surveys and average costs for a single student living modestly in his/her community; it is developed in full compliance with Title IV Regulations for federal financial aid. Since total allowable educational expenses may differ based on the length of the academic year and on individual requirements for each class, a separate COA budget is calculated annually for each program and class.
Take care to establish your personal budget within the standard allowance limits.