Cost of Attendance FAQ

What is the Cost of Attendance for 2007-2008?
What is Cost of Attendance (also sometimes called Cost of Enrollment, or COE)?
Why is it important?
What expenses are included in my Cost of Attendance?
How does the OSU Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid determine what "average expenses" are?
How can I find out what my Cost of Attendance is?
What if I think my personal costs are more than the average Cost of Attendance?
Why would I ask the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to increase my Cost of Attendance?
I'm living off-campus now, instead of on-campus. Does that make any difference in my Cost of Attendance?
Can I have my car payments included in the Cost of Attendance?
Are the costs of correspondence courses included in my Cost of Attendance?
What other expenses might I have that cannot be included in my Cost of Attendance?
I have unusual costs that aren't addressed in any of the questions above, and would like to receive additional financial aid to help meet them. What should I do?

What is Cost of Attendance (also sometimes called Cost of Enrollment, or COE)?

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total, average amount of money it will reasonably cost a student to attend OSU during one school year (fall and spring semesters). Students are grouped in Cost of Attendance categories based on:

Residency status (Is the student paying in-state OR out-of-state tuition?);
Type of academic program (Is the student an undergraduate, graduate OR Veterinary Medicine student?);
Housing status (Is the student living on/off campus or in fraternity/sorority housing OR with his/her parents?); and
Number of hours enrolled (Is the student full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time OR less than 1/2 time?).

Why is it important?

Your Cost of Attendance is the foundation of your financial aid awards. The Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid cannot determine your eligibility in financial aid programs without first determining what your educational costs are likely to be. Our goal is to help you meet your Cost of Attendance at OSU.

What expenses are included in my Cost of Attendance?

Your Cost of Attendance, sometimes referred to as your “budget,” usually includes these components:

Tuition and fees,
Room and board,
Books and supplies,
Travel/transportation, and
Miscellaneous expenses. Miscellaneous expenses include clothing, laundry and cleaning, personal hygiene and grooming, recreation, etc.

How does the OSU Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid determine what "average expenses" are?

The tuition and fees component of Cost of Attendance is based on official OSU tuition and fee rates. The other components—room and board, books and supplies, travel/transportation, and miscellaneous expenses—are mathematically derived, based on OSU student research.

Since Cost of Attendance is used to determine student eligibility for federal financial aid programs, federal laws have been established regarding the determination of a particular institution's Cost of Attendance. In general, the Cost of Attendance is constructed so that financial aid recipients can live comfortably (but not luxuriously!) while attending OSU.

How can I find out what my Cost of Attendance is?

You can view the Cost of Attendance that is being used to figure your own financial aid eligibility in SIS. Simply click on Estimated Cost and Enrollment Information within your Personal Scholarships and Financial Aid Information page.

What if I think my personal costs are in excess of the average Cost of Attendance?

Your Cost of Attendance may be adjusted by the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid at your request (in writing or via email to finaid@okstate.edu) for the following reasons:

If you are enrolled in fifteen or more hours, and your actual tuition and fee charges are greater than the Tuition and Fees component of the Cost of Attendance for students like yourself;
If your required costs for books and supplies are greater than the Books and Supplies component of the Cost of Attendance for students like yourself (documentation may be requested by a Financial Aid Counselor);
If you have day care expenses not covered by some other source of assistance (you must submit our Request for Dependent Care Allowance for the year assistance is requested);
If you live in another city and commute to OSU and incur travel costs;
If you have expenses related to a disability not already paid by some other source of assistance;
If you purchase a computer for educational purposes (This is allowed one time only during your OSU degree program and is limited to $1000 unless enrolled in a program of study that requires a special PC or software. Documentation will be required from the department to confirm that requirement.);
If you have flight lab costs and are enrolled in the Professional Pilot option of the Aviation Education program;
If you are participating in a Study Abroad program (you must make an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor to submit this request);
If you are participating in a cooperative education program; or
If you take out student loans and want the loan fees to be included in the COA.

Why would I ask the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to increase my Cost of Attendance?

If you are unable to pay your bills with your financial resources, including your financial aid for the current school year, you may want to request that the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid determine whether your Cost of Attendance can be increased so that you can receive additional financial aid.

However, the additional financial aid will most likely be in the form of some type of a loan. If you have already received the maximum Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans for your current class level, you cannot receive more in those programs despite your increased Cost of Attendance. If you are a dependent student, your parents may become eligible for an additional Parent Loan amount. Both dependent and independent students could potentially borrow through the alternative student loan program (non-federal, private lender loans).

I'm living off-campus now, instead of on-campus. Does that make any difference in my Cost of Attendance?

No, because OSU averages the cost of on and off campus housing (including fraternity/sorority housing) together to determine the “room and board” component of Cost of Attendance. However, students who live with their parents do have a different cost for “room and board.” If you change your housing status from “with parent” to either “on campus” or “off campus,” or vice versa, you are obligated to notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid so the correct Cost of Attendance can be used in determining your continued financial aid eligibility. The answer you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) regarding housing at OSU determines the Cost of Attendance that the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will use in awarding your financial aid.

Room and board is an allowance for the student only during periods of enrollment (fall, spring, and/or summer semesters). Students who have dependents, such as a spouse or children, cannot include the room and board costs of those dependents in the room and board allowance. These costs are actually taken into account when the Expected Family Contribution is calculated off the results of a student's FAFSA.

Can I have my car payments included in the Cost of Attendance?

No, purchase costs of a vehicle (which would include car loan payments) are specifically prohibited from being included in the Cost of Attendance. (An allowance for car insurance and maintenance is provided for in the Travel/ Transportation component of the Cost of Attendance.)

Are the costs of correspondence courses included in my Cost of Attendance?

No, because OSU students can enroll in correspondence courses at any time and are allowed to take up to one year to complete them. Since they do not fall within a specified term of enrollment our Office is unable to include them in the COA.

What other expenses might I have that cannot be included in my Cost of Attendance?

Refundable deposits for housing or utilities cannot be included, nor can debt on a credit card, job search costs or Greek membership fees and associated costs. This list is not comprehensive; please contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid if you are not sure whether some of your educational costs are included in the components described above.

You may have costs for medical care for yourself, or your family if you are an independent student. Medical expenses, along with other family expenses, are taken into account when the Expected Family Contribution is calculated off the results of a student's FAFSA. Because these expenses have been accounted for, they cannot be included in a Cost of Attendance adjustment unless they are excessive.

I have unusual costs that aren't addressed in any of the questions above, and would like to receive additional financial aid to help meet them. What should I do?

You should make an appointment to see a Financial Aid Counselor! There are likely other types of expenses that individual students may incur which are not discussed above. If you are having difficulty meeting your financial obligations or if you feel your particular educational expenses are unique, a Financial Aid Counselor can evaluate your expenses and determine if they are allowed as adjustments to your Cost of Attendance.

Who should I contact if I have a question not addressed above?

You may contact our office via e-mail at finaid@okstate.edu, phone at (405) 744-6604, or in person at 119 Student Union (Stillwater) or Room 130 North Hall (OSU-Tulsa).