Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

Our goal at The Citadel is to be transparent about what you can expect when it comes to the total cost of attending The Citadel. The total cost of attendance estimated below is the cost before any financial aid is applied for eligible students. 83% of students receive some type of financial aid, with the average aid package for enrolled cadet students being $22,910. The Citadel understands that individual circumstances vary, which may require a more personalized approach for some students. Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships if you need further assistance.

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What is Cost of Attendance?

The Cost of Attendance (COA) budget figure is different than the school’s catalog costs – or actual billing charges that the student pays to attend the college each year. The COA figure is an annual budget number regulated by the federal government that serves as a ceiling in each student’s financial aid account. This means that the COA limits the total amount of loans, grants, and scholarships (aid) that the school can award each year.

The individual budget line items used to establish the COA is the total cost of attendance. The COA is always higher than the school’s actual catalog costs, includes estimated costs that might be incurred each year beyond what the school charges, such as travel/transportation expenses, loan fees, and personal items. See the Student Business Services Office Tuition & Fees Webpage for more information about actual charges and per credit hour fees.

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Cost of Attendance Adjustment Policy

The Federal Financial Aid Cost of Attendance Budget (COA) factors in an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 include a provision that allows an institution, on a case-by-case basis, to include in a student’s COA other documented costs. Allowing inclusion of the cost is not based on any program of study or program requirement. However, this request will only be considered by the Citadel Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for full-time students enrolled in a degree program.

The following expenses can be considered for a cost of attendance adjustment:

• Book, course material, supply, and equipment costs that exceed the amount included in the cost of attendance.
• The cost of purchasing a computer/tablet; you can only request this once per undergraduate/graduate program.
• The cost of student health insurance on the Citadel’s bill.
• The cost of educational conferences.
• The cost of childcare expenses.

The following expenses will not be considered for a cost of attendance adjustment:

• Consumer bills (ie: cell phone, car payment, insurance, utilities, etc.)
• Costs associated with outstanding consumer debt
• Off-campus living expenses that exceed amount provided for housing
• Food and on-campus meal expenses for off-campus students
• Relocation expenses / expenses to travel to campus
• Interview expenses
• Clothing for self or family
• Pet or hobby expenses

The Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request Form includes information about which expenses can be claimed and the proper documentation required. Please ensure that you have properly documented your expenses, as any expenses that are not properly documented will not be considered. The review process will take up to ten business days, and you will be notified via your Citadel email once your adjustment form is reviewed. You can fill out the form HERE and it will outline what documentation is accepted for each item.