The cost of your education, whether it is at CUNY or any other college, includes more than tuition. When we calculate your eligibility for financial aid, we assign you a “Cost of Attendance Budget.” This budget includes cost of books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses.
Most people believe that school is much more expensive than it really is. Although some are expensive, there is most likely a school near you that is within financial reach.
Adding the financial aid you receive will further reduce your cost of education. When you apply for federal student aid, the college uses your cost of attendance (COA) in determining how much aid you may receive. The COA is the total amount it will cost a student to go to school, usually expressed as a yearly figure.
The COA includes tuition and fees; on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students); and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and if applicable, dependent care; costs related to a disability; and miscellaneous expenses.
Think of College an Investment, people with a bachelor’s degree can earn more on average than those with only a high school diploma. The earning potential between a high school diploma and a B.A. could be considerably more. Sacrifices that you will make for a college education should pay off in the long run.
Families often make the mistake of calculating ...