Cost of Attendance Adjustments

Financial aid staff can adjust a student's Cost of Attendance (COA) for non-standard expenses. If the COA is increased, the student has the potential to receive more aid.

This is only helpful to students who are already funded up to the COA and have another source of aid available, such as the Federal Direct PLUS Loan or a private student loan.

All adjustments are made at the discretion of staff in the financial aid office.

COA Adjustment Requirements

Students with dependents may have their COA adjusted to include childcare/eldercare expenses. The childcare/eldercare can include times when the student is not in class, but is studying.

To request this increase, a student should submit the Request for Consideration of Childcare/Eldercare Expenses form.

The COA can be increased for special equipment or supplies related to a disability or a specific course or major, e.g. art supplies.

For course/major related supplies, a student may often be required to provide a letter from the faculty member indicating the need for the item and an appropriate cost.

To request this increase, a student should send a letter or email detailing the need and cost of the items they intend to purchase.

Students can receive a one-time increase to the COA for the purchase of a computer. If granted, the student will be advanced the funds via an aid refund and then will be required to provide proof of purchase or the resulting changes will be reversed.

The student can choose between a PC, laptop or tablet. Funding is not provided for multiple items. A student who has been granted the request as an undergraduate may make the request again as a graduate student if a sufficient time period has passed.

To request this increase, a student should send a letter or email detailing the cost of the computer they intend to purchase. If a student makes a request for unusually expensive equipment, they will need to provide a letter from their academic department verifying the need for such hardware.

The COA can be increased to account for the purchase of the university's health insurance. Increases will not be made until the purchase of insurance has been confirmed.

To request this increase, a student should send a letter or email noting that they are purchasing the university's insurance and would like the COA increased.