Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students


What is the Cost of Attendance?

  • The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate designed to help students determine what it may cost to attend Appalachian for an academic year. The COA (sometimes referred to as a “budget”) is not a final bill but is an estimate of education expenses.
  • This budgeting tool is based on full-time enrollment and is made up of direct and indirect costs.
    • Direct costs are the expenses that are billed to the student by the university. These expenses include tuition and fees, on-campus housing, meal plans, and book rentals.
    • Indirect costs are expenses a student will likely incur, but will not pay to the university. Indirect costs vary from student to student and may include off-campus housing, transportation to and from campus, books, and personal expenses.
  • Each student's cost of attendance is based upon full-time enrollment and residency status. The Office of Financial Aid reviews enrollment each semester after the Add/Drop period ends and makes adjustments to a student's COA if needed.
  • The cost of attendance is not a final bill but is an estimate of educational expenses for the period of enrollment.

Watch this video to learn more.