Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of the average cost to attend Boise State for one academic year.

How Cost of Attendance Affects your Financial Aid Award

Your entire financial aid award (loans, grants, work-study, scholarships, outside assistance, private loans) cannot exceed your estimated Cost of Attendance, even though your actual expenses may be more than what we estimate.

You could receive the full estimated Cost of Attendance, or you may receive less. In cases where you have additional expenses that aren’t included in the Cost of Attendance, you can ask us about Budget Increase options. Examples of extra expenses are the purchase of a computer, daycare, medical, or significant transportation expenses.

How Cost of Attendance is Determined

Your Cost of Attendance is estimated based on your overall expenses for a year. The estimate includes the direct costs that you can expect, like tuition, fees and housing. It also considers indirect costs like books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.

Your Cost of Attendance takes into consideration:

• Your degree – undergraduate, graduate
• Your residency – Idaho resident, non-resident
• Your housing plans disclosed on FAFSA – on campus, off campus, living with parents
• Your enrollment level – full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time

Enrollment Impact on Financial Aid

Your initial aid award will be based on full time enrollment (12+ undergraduate, 9+ graduate credits) and assigned a full-time Cost of Attendance budget. If you attend less than full-time, you may see reductions to your aid based on Cost of Attendance adjustments.

In some situations, when awarded or disbursed financial aid exceeds the Cost of Attendance, you may need to repay some financial aid or have spring loans reduced so that you stay within your allotted budget.