In addition to the fixed direct cost listed in the Tuition and Fees section of the Academic Catalog, the CIA is required to estimate a cost of attendance (COA) that includes indirect cost such as personal expenses and transportation. While COA may be one of the more confusing aspects of the financial aid process, it gives students and their families an idea of what costs might be incurred beyond tuition and fees so they can plan accordingly. It is important to differentiate between direct and indirect costs, as indirect costs are simply estimates used by the Student Financial and Registration Services (SFRS) Office during the awarding process to determine a student's financial need, while direct costs are actual amounts that will be charged to the student's account.
Keep in mind that SFRS can only award an amount of aid equal to or less than a student's associated cost of attendance budget. If student have questions regarding their budget, would like consultation in planning their budget, or would like a copy of the cost of attendance, please contact SFRS. For more information about COA, view this video.
The cost of attendance for each campus can be found in Financial Aid section of the CIA Academic Catalog.