Cost of Attendance

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Policy Number:
UW-1042
Old Policy Number:
OSFA 701
Responsible Office:
Office of Student Financial Aid

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

To establish policy for estimating costs to attend UW–Madison for the purpose of determining eligibility for financial aid.

Scope:

Applies to all UW–Madison students.

Policy:

  1. Policy 

    1. Title IV regulations require UW–Madison to construct a cost of attendance (COA) each academic year for students.
    2. The cost of attendance is created for students based on the following unique categories and is published on the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) Cost of Attendance web page each academic year: undergraduates, graduate students, dissertators, business graduate students, law students, pharmacy students, veterinary medicine students, and medical students.

  2. Cost-of-Attendance Creation

    1. UW–Madison divides students’ cost of attendance into several categories:

      1. Tuition and Fees

        • Based on estimated tuition and fee rates prior to the approval by the UW System Board of Regents.
        • Presumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise informed by the student.

      2. Books and Supplies

        • Estimated for students based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, local textbook store rates, and input from the schools and colleges.

      3. Room

        • Estimated cost for housing in Madison, Wisconsin, based on information from the Division of University Housing, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data, and local rental management company rates.

      4. Board

        • Estimated cost for food at UW–Madison's campus dining facilities and off-campus stores and restaurants based on meal plan rates, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data, and U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

      5. Transportation/Travel

        • Organized into three undergraduate categories (Wisconsin resident, Minnesota resident, and non-resident) as well as grad/professional.
        • Estimated based on Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data, Internal Revenue Service data, and Federal Aviation Administration information regarding the cost of transportation.

      6. Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

        • UW–Madison divides the miscellaneous category into several groups for analysis including clothing and upkeep, recreation and personal, health care, and cell phone.
        • Health insurance estimates are added to the cost of attendance for graduate and professional students.
        • Expenses are estimated based on Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data and the cost of the UW–Madison Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

      7. Loan Fees

        • For students who borrow Federal Direct Loans, UW–Madison includes the cost of origination fees in their cost of attendance estimate based on the average amount paid in origination fees in the previous academic year.

      8. Additional Expenses

        • Additional expenses for books and supplies may be added at the request of a school, college, or department.
        • OSFA has the authority to use professional judgment to make reasonable adjustments to allowable expenses for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis. A budget adjustment may be requested to cover certain additional costs above the standard budget. Professional judgment is the discretion granted by law to adjust costs within the cost of attendance components.
Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Executive Director of Student Financial Aid
Policy Manager:
Associate Director for Federal Awards
Contact:
Associate Director for Federal Awards -- Shane Maloney, SHANE.MALONEY@WISC.EDU, (608) 262-3384
Revised Dates:

01-01-2020

Reviewed Dates:

01/01/2020

Retrieved:
01-12-2025 15:15:25