Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of attendance (COA) is a budget for estimated billable and non-billable expenses to attend Penn State for one academic year and will vary based on the number of credits you take, the courses you choose, and your living arrangements. Your COA is one determining factor of your financial aid eligibility. Financial aid, including loans, may never exceed a student's COA.

• Billable Expenses (appear on account statement)

  • Tuition and fees

  • Food and Housing (on-campus)

• Non-Billable Expenses (flexible expenses based on your circumstances)

  • Food and Housing (off-campus)

  • Books, course materials, books, and supplies

  • Transportation

  • Miscellaneous

For a full list of cost of attendance items and the most up-to date tuition and fees visit Tuition and Fees Schedules.

Financial Planning

When making the decision of whether you will attend Penn State, it is important to determine how you will pay for your education costs not only for the first year, but for all four years, by looking at both the billable and non-billable educational expenses you will incur. You can control the non-billable expenses to some degree by making smart spending choices.

The College Financing Plan, a standardized financial aid notification designed by the federal government, is also available for your use when comparing financial aid packages and costs between universities. If you are admitted for summer, you should note that your summer costs and aid are included on your Financial Aid Offer, but they are not included on your financing plan.

Access your Financing Plan within your initial 'Financial Aid Offer' in LionPATH.

Request an Adjustment to Your Cost of Attendance

Sometimes adjustments are required to be made to your cost of attendance budget. Some are based on federal regulation while others can be reviewed by Office of Student Aid staff on a case-by-case basis.

Report Military BAH Benefits

Students living in housing located on a military base or housing for which they receive a military housing allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing or “BAH”) must contact the Office of Student Aid. This includes:

• Independent students who receive or whose spouse receives a BAH or who live on a military base

• Dependent students who are living with parents who are receiving a BAH or who live on a military base

Increase Requests

Allowable requests include:

• If you purchased a computer for school and have a total of financial aid that already covers your total cost of attendance, please consider contacting the Penn State Office of Student Aid to submit a request for a cost of attendance increase review for a computer purchase. If you can obtain additional aid to cover the cost of a computer purchase, this increase will ensure that any existing financial aid award is not impacted.

• If your on-campus food and/or housing expenses exceed your food and housing budget, and you have financial aid that already covers your total cost of attendance, please consider contacting OSA for a food and/or housing cost of attendance increase review. If you can obtain additional aid, this increase will ensure that any existing financial aid award is not impacted.