Topic: Cost of Attendance (COA)
Don’t choose a college based on the sticker price
"Sticker prices" of colleges these days are so high that the numbers can make one's heart skip a beat or two in financial fear. Well, we're here to tell you that the intimidating cost of college shouldn't stop you from… More »
Demystifying the FAFSA
By John Whelan, Sophomore at Tufts University
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA. You might have seen that odd-looking, strange-sounding acronym before, somewhere during your planning-for-college process. Perhaps you heard your parents discussing it, and at the very mention of a form you shut your ears off.… More »
What is Self-Help Aid?
Unless you are sure that you can pay the yearly costs of every college you're considering, you should plan to apply for financial aid by completing the required applications. Check the aid section of each college's Web site to find… More »
Preparing For Your Tuition Bill
Getting ready to take on your tuition bill doesn’t have to be hard; if you follow these simple outline steps, it won’t be. These are key steps to take when you’re planning how to cover the cost of attendance.
Planning… More »
Tips on evaluating your financial aid award
Congratulations on getting into college! But now you're trying to evaluate your financial aid award, right? In order to know how good (or bad) it is, you need to consider a few things:
The cost of the college (called the… More »
What college costs should I consider outside of the COA?
The COA (Cost of Attendance) is the figure people generally prepare for when they plan out their college finances. However, there are many additional costs of college that aren’t included in the COA: read on to learn more about these… More »
Financial Aid Articles
Information on student loans, financial aid, and planning for and managing college expenses.
From how to save for the cost of a college education to consolidating your student loans, you’ll find many resources here on all aspects of paying for college.… More »
Reflecting on how we prepared for college costs
By Jane, Empty Nester / Mother of Twins
Now that our twins have been accepted at their dream school, they've moved on to other pressing college questions. For Mom and Dad, of course, the most urgent question is how to pay. But for our son and daughter -… More »
Cost of attendance, i.e. What is college really going to cost?
By Kevin Walker, Co-Founder & CEO of SimpleTuition
What is college really going to cost? That's a question on the minds of lots of students and (especially) parents. It is sometimes hard to get a sense for the total cost because there are so many components that add… More »
What is the cost of attendance (COA)?
The cost of attendance (COA) is a number (generally a yearly figure) that is designed to help summarize the various costs of attending a school that takes into account:
Tuition and fees
On-campus room and board (or an allowance for… More »
