One Big Give

Here's your opportunity to join us in support of our students and the future of Cumberlands - ONE BIG GIVE November 3, 2026! 

Cost of Attendance

Cost of attendance is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need.

The cost of attendance (COA) is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive. Each student has a Cost of Attendance budget that determines the amount of financial aid you are allowed to receive. This budget includes both direct and indirect costs. The COA is not the bill that you get; it is the total amount it may cost you to go to college each year. 

Direct costs are the charges you incur at the university. Because of our commitment to clarity and transparency, direct costs at Cumberlands only includes tuition and food and housing (for residents). 

Indirect costs are living expenses you may incur. These include transportation, food, and housing (for commuters and online students), and other miscellaneous expenses. You may be eligible for additional financial aid to cover these indirect costs. 

You can view these indirect costs here, or on your MyUC account. Please contact the studentfinancial [at] ucumberlands.edu (Student Financial Center) if you have any questions.

Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

2025-2026 Academic Year

 

 

 

 

1To meet new federal guidelines for our cost of attendance, we have added two extra meals per week to our on-campus students’ budgets, going from 19 meals per week to 21 meals per week! This does not affect our resident students’ direct costs, so we placed the allowance as a separate budget item. Per the FAFSA Simplification Act, the food and housing allowance is based on the student’s situation as described below. 

  • For students who choose institutionally owned or operated food services (e.g. board or meal plans), a standard allowance that provides the equivalent of three meals per day 
  • For students who do not choose institutionally owned or operated food services, a standard allowance for purchasing food off campus that provides the equivalent of three meals per day 

Off-campus/with parent students will not see an additional food and housing cost item as their food and housing costs already account for three meals per day. Cost of attendance is based on full-time enrollment. 

The Cost of Attendance amounts are estimated based on full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 hours per semester. After enrollment begins these figures will be updated to the actual amounts based on enrollment. If a student is enrolled less than full-time (12 hours) or 16 weeks per semester there will be an adjustment to their Cost of Attendance. 

2025-2026 Academic Year

 

The Cost of Attendance amounts are estimated based on full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 hours per semester. After enrollment begins these figures will be updated to the actual amounts based on enrollment. If a student is enrolled less than full-time (12 hours) or 16 weeks per semester there will be an adjustment to their Cost of Attendance. 

The Cost of Attendance amounts are estimated based on full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 6 hours per semester. After enrollment begins these figures will be updated to the actual amounts based on enrollment. If a student is enrolled less than full-time (6 hours) or 16 weeks per semester there will be an adjustment to their Cost of Attendance. 

Use the accordions below to determine the cost of attendance for each graduate program. 

Students walk to class on Cumberlands campus

Federal Student Aid Handbook

For more information on the cost of attendance and other federal processes that impact your financial aid, check out this handbook.