undergraduate cost of attendance heather mcdonnell sarah lawrence college
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Undergraduate Cost of Attendance
Heather McDonnell
Sarah Lawrence College
Cost of Attendance
Determined by law
HEA Act Section 472
“The cost of education is the estimate of a student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment”
Reasonable as determined by the institution
Cost of Attendance
The Cornerstone
COA
Minus EFC
Minus Resources
Equals Financial Need
Basics of Attendance
Must be reflective of “real” costs
The “Billables” Tuition Fees Dorm charges or rent & utilities Meal plan
Basics of Attendance
Must be reflective of the possible costs
The “non Billables” Books Supplies Travel Personal needs
Additional COA Allowances
Only if applicable: Dependent care Study Abroad Disbability needs Co-op related expenses Required loan fees Telecommunications
Basic Components
Tuition and Fees Tuition for the same courseload (can be average) Mandatory fees (required of all)
College Equipment Student Association Lab Studio Health Transportation Athletic
Basic Components
Book and Supplies Average costs can be used
Campus or local bookstore Local merchants
Average costs related to a curriculum Film students are required to produce an 8 minute reel
($1,200 per reel to develop) Computer purchase
A Word About Computers
COA amounts are determined by the institution
Adding a computer purchase is at the discretion of each institution
Can do it case by case (PJ) Is there a computer center on campus?
Room and Board
Need to know the student’s living arrangements On campus
Direct and billable charges Off campus but not with a relative
Actual or average rent, utilities and groceries Off campus with a relative
Maintenance costs $ per square foot Meals while on campus
Travel
Intended to cover the cost between the institution and the student’s primary residence
How many times per year Modest and economical travel by public means Align with residence calendar
Closed during winter break International students?
Personal Expenses
Reasonable upkeep Clothing
Change of climate from primary residence to institution Grooming
Pretty PLEASE! Medical and Dental Expenses
Maintenance and prescriptive Recreation
Modest and reasonable
Additional Allowances
Dependent care
Both Elderly and Child Care Affecting class, study, internship and commuting time
Actual expenses incurred Documentation easily obtained
Not to exceed reasonable costs in the community Not financing expensive choices
Additional Allowances
Study Abroad programs Increased transportation
Initial and recreational Visa and passport
Medical insurance Many insurance companies do not cover overseas
medical expenses
Disability
Special Services
Not covered by any one else
Personal assistance Adaptive equipment Medical needs Transportation
Loan fees and Telecommunications Loan fees actually assessed
DL. FFEL, and private Can use the average of borrowers assessed fees by
loan type
Distance Learning Tuition, fees and books & supplies, if required Travel, room and board
Only if specifically incurred while fulfilling residential training
Post Enrollment Expenses
Absolutely NOT!
Other Factors
Periods of Enrollment greater than 9 months Find the monthly cost (divide COA by 9)
36000 = 4000
9
Multiply 4000 by the extra months enrolled
Guiding Principles
After “reworking” a student’s COA
WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU HAVE TO MEET THE NEW UNMET NEED?
Guiding Principles
Nothing shall be construed to limit our professional judgment
Document (paper trail)
Case by case basis
Professional Judgment
Documentation may include but is not limited to: A statement from the student or parent describing the
unique circumstance; Receipts, copies of statements—such as a credit card
statement, utility bills, rent receipts, lease, cancelled checks, print of computer screen; and/or
Other third party documentation—such as car repair estimates, statements from faculty /staff, doctors, lawyers, or others who know the student’s situation.
“Reputable, disinterested, third-party individual
Acceptable Documentation
Statement from student regarding mileage to and from classes
Statement from mechanic for car repair(s) Copy of mechanic bill Public transportation receipts Airfare receipts
Guidelines
Reasonable
rea·son·able Function: adjective1 a : being in accordance with reason <a reasonable theory> b : not extreme or excessive <reasonable requests> c : MODERATE, FAIR <a reasonable chance> <a reasonable price> d : INEXPENSIVE2 a : having the faculty of reason b : possessing sound judgment <a reasonable man>
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
How do you determine “reasonable” “Modest but adequate” National or regional data BLS Regional adjustments College Board Information Survey of your students provides best
information
Electronic SurveysI Can’t Just Go Do That! Oh, yes you can! Come with me for a tour. Surveymonkey.com or other instrument. Design survey in your office. Questions apply to your specific population. Ask as much or as little as you need. Automatically tabulated for your use. Great documentation for when callers
complain.
The Process
If using a survey web site, will pay a minimal amount per month to leave survey “open” (less than $50 when we used it)
You chose the site, and e-mail students the link and time period.
University of Georgia had 4,000+ respond out of 19,000 who received e-mail this year.
What Does it Look Like?
Can be customized for particular populations Briefer is better Sent to all aid recipients; might want to
consider all students. Automatically tabulated; very cost efficient.
What are the Results?
Very detailed, broken down by however you word questions on survey.
University of Georgia asked for class by program of study. Costs were reported to increase as class standing increased, pharmacy students spend much less than other graduate levels, off-campus has become less costly than some of our residence halls.
More Results
As you develop several years of data you can see trends in categories of students.
Some years costs actually decrease. 193 COA’s at the University of Georgia Books and living expenses vary for
undergraduate, graduate, law, vet-met, pharmacy, etc. as well as tuition differences.
Resources
NASFAA Cost of Attendance Monograph, revised June 2007 – EXCELLENT!
Bureau of Labor Statistics – Consumer Expenditure Survey http://www.bls.gov/cex/home.htm#overview
The College Board Living Expense Budget http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/res/leb/leb.html
Search: electronic survey sites – definitely review list of 20 ways to design a good survey
Thank you for your kind attention
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