Cost of Attendance

Understanding the Cost of Attendance 

The cost of attendance (COA)—sometimes called the "student budget"—estimates what it costs a typical student to attend a college or university for one academic year. Don't be alarmed by the COA you see on your financial aid offer from N.C. A&T State University. Your cost of attendance doesn't only include tuition; it also takes your basic living expenses into account.

Why is this listed on my financial aid offer?

Every student who applies for aid is assigned a cost of attendance. This COA serves two purposes:

  1. To give you an estimate of the cost of attending N.C. A&T State University for one year.
  2. To limit the amount of financial aid you can receive during the academic year (which federal regulations require us to do).

This means your actual expenses may differ from what's listed on your aid offer, and in most cases, the total amount of your aid—including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study—can't exceed your total cost of attendance.

What's included in my COA?

Your cost of attendance is made up of two different types of costs: direct and indirect.

  • Direct costs will appear on your University bills, such as tuition, fees, student insurance, housing, and food (if you live on campus).
  • Indirect costs will not appear on your bill but are estimated costs associated with going to college and should be included in your budget. These include items like books, transportation, and personal expenses.

A closer look at direct and indirect cost:

  • Tuition and Fees: These figures reflect the cost of tuition and fees for a student taking 12-18 credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Tuition and fees are set by the University of North Carolina System. Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect actual hours enrolled.
  • Housing and Food: N.C. A&T State University calculates this figure by using the weighted average of campus residence halls and the cost of Meal Plan U. 
  • Student Insurance: Student insurance is set by the University of North Carolina System.
  • Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: This is an estimate of books, course materials, supplies, and equipment for a typical student for the entire academic year. You will not be billed directly by N.C. A&T State University for books, course materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Transportation: This estimates the cost of traveling to and from campus or operating and maintaining a vehicle. You will only be billed directly for transportation costs if you buy a student parking permit.
  • Personal Expenses: This is an estimate of costs for clothing, haircuts, entertainment, etc., for the year. Money spent on these types of items will vary from student to student. These items will not appear on your N.C. State A&T bill.
  • Loan Fees: There is an origination fee of 1.057% for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans, which is taken out of the loan before funds are sent to N.C. A&T State University. Only students who borrow these loans will have the actual loan origination fees after the loans are processed. Actual fees will depend on the amount you borrow (if any).
  • Professional Licensure, Certification, or a First Professional Credential: An allowance for the costs associated with obtaining a license, certification, or a first professional credential, for a student in a program that prepares them to enter a profession that requires such a qualification.

Glossary of Terms

  • Distance Learning – A student enrolled in a degree program where all courses are online and not part of the Main Campus curriculum.
  • Graduate – A student enrolled in a degree program where course levels are 500 and above. 
  • In-State – A student who is a North Carolina resident or with an in-state provision waiver.
  • Living at Home – A student who lives at home with their parents or legal guadrians.
  • Main Campus – A student enrolled in a degree program that is not Distance Learning. 
  • Off-Campus – A student who does not live in a campus residence hall and does not live at home with their parents. 
  • On-Campus – A student who resides in a campus residence hall. 
  • Out-of-State – A student who is not a resident of North Carolina or with an in-state provision waiver. 
  • Undergraduate – A student enrolled in a degree program where course levels are 400 and below.

2023-2024 Cost of Attendance

Main Campus

Undergraduate – In-State

On Campus Living at Home Off Campus
Tuition $3,540.00 $3,540.00 $3,540.00
Fees $3,208.00 $3,208.00 $3,208.00
Student Insurance $2,786.00 $2,786.00 $2,786.00
Housing $6,770.00 $4,000.00 $7,776.00
Food $4,218.00 $4,218.00 $4,218.00
Books, Course Materials, Equipment, Supplies $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Transportation $1,200.OO $1,200.00 $1,200.00
Personal $2,400.00 $2,400.00 $2,400.00
Total $25,622.00 $22,852.00 $26,628.00
 

The cost of attendance (COA) estimates what it costs a typical student to attend N.C. A&T State University. These figures reflect yearly amounts for students taking 12-18 credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled. You are encouraged to read “Understanding the Cost of Attendance” by clicking here. For actual tuition and fees, click here.

Undergraduate – Out-of-State

 

On Campus

Living at Home

Off Campus

Tuition

$17,200.00

$17,200.00

$17,200.00

Fees

$3,208.00

$3,208.00

$3,208.00

Student Insurance

$2,786.00

$2,786.00

$2,786.00

Housing

$6,770.00

$4,000.00

$7,776.00

Food

$4,218.00

$4,218.00

$4,218.00

Books, Course Materials, Equipment, Supplies

$1,500.00

$1,500.00

$1,500.00

Transportation

$1,200.00

$1,200.00

$1,200.00

Personal

$2,400.00

$2,400.00

$2,400.00

Total

$39,282.00

$36,512.00

$40,288.00

The cost of attendance (COA) estimates what it costs a typical student to attend N.C. A&T State University. These figures reflect yearly amounts for students taking 12-18 credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled. You are encouraged to read “Understanding the Cost of Attendance” by clicking here. For actual tuition and fees, click here.

Graduate

In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,896.00 $17,696.00
Fees $3,208.00 $3,208.00
Student Insurance $2,786.00 $2,786.00
Housing $10,350.00 $10,350.00
Food $4,218.00 $4,218.00
Books, Course Materials, Equipment, Supplies $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Transportation $1,200.00 $1,200.00
Personal $2,400.00 $2,400.00
Total $30,558.00 $43,358.00

The cost of attendance (COA) estimates what it costs a typical student to attend N.C. A&T State University. These figures reflect yearly amounts for students taking nine (9) credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled. You are encouraged to read “Understanding the Cost of Attendance” by clicking here. For actual tuition and fees, click here.

2023-2024 Cost of Attendance

Distance Learning

Undergraduate

In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $2,880.00 $13,944.00
Fees $262.00 $262.00
Housing $4,000.00 $4,000.00
Food $2,110.00 $2,110.00
Books, Course Materials, Equipment, Supplies $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Transportation $1,200.00 $1,200.00
Personal $2,400.00 $2,400.00
Total $14,352.00 $25,416.00

The cost of attendance (COA) estimates what it costs a typical student to attend N.C. A&T State University. These figures reflect yearly amounts for students taking 12-18 credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled. You are encouraged to read “Understanding the Cost of Attendance” by clicking here. For actual tuition and fees, click here.

Graduate

In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,320.00 $15,606.00
Fees $250.00 $250.00
Housing $4,00.00 $4,000.00
Food $2,110.00 $2,110.00
Books, Course Materials, Equipment, supplies $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Transportatiom $1,200.0 $1,200.00
Personal $2,400.00 $2,400.00
Total $15,780.00 $27,066.00

The cost of attendance (COA) estimates what it costs a typical student to attend N.C. A&T State University. These figures reflect yearly amounts for students taking nine (9) credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled. You are encouraged to read “Understanding the Cost of Attendance” by clicking here. For actual tuition and fees, click here.

Cost of Attendance Budgets