Costs

*If you live on campus in East Campus Village an additional $1,334 will be added to your housing cost for the year (Fall & Spring semester).

**Tuition for graduate students reflects a weighted average of the Standard Rate for Master & PhD candidates. Certain programs, such as Pharmacy (PharmD), Business Administration (MBA), Law (JD), Social Work (MSW), and Veterinary Medicine (DVM) for instance, may have a different rate. Please see the Tuition & Fees section of the Bursar’s website for information on a specific program.

Part-Time Enrollment and COA Adjustments

• Undergraduates taking fewer than 7 hours or graduates taking fewer than 12 hours will have their COA adjusted based on actual enrollment.
• If you enroll less than half-time, your COA will only include tuition, fees, books, and transportation (not housing or personal costs). Housing and food may only be included for up to three semesters of less-than-half-time enrollment, and only two of those can be back-to-back.
• A lower COA may reduce your federal, state, or university need-based aid.

Tuition and Fee Waivers

If you’re an out-of-state student with a full or partial tuition waiver, OSFA will use the Non-Resident COA and show the value of your waiver as a resource.
This same rule applies to graduate or professional students who receive in-state tuition waivers.

Cost of Attendance (COA) and Adjustments

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much it costs to go to school for the year. It includes things like:

• Tuition and fees
• Books and supplies
• Housing and food
• Transportation
• Personal or living expenses

Your COA is based on how many classes you take, your program, whether you live on or off campus, and if you’re a Georgia resident. Most students’ COA assumes full-time enrollment for fall and spring.

Common Reasons You Can Request a COA Increase

Commuting Costs

If you drive a long distance to campus, an internship, or another required site, you can ask OSFA to include your travel costs. You’ll need:

• Proof of miles traveled (like Google Maps directions)
• A letter from your advisor or supervisor showing dates and locations if the request is related to non-classwork, required experiential learning site, or an internship.

Note: You cannot include costs like buying a car, loan payments, insurance, or maintenance.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Computer Expenses

You can ask for help with buying a computer, printer, or software for school.

• You can request up to $2,500 per degree level. – For example, a sophomore may receive assistance of $1300 for computer expenses and then request $1200 as a senior. If that same student then enrolls at UGA as a graduate student, a new $2500 limit would apply.-
• The cost must be within 100 days before the start of the school year.
• The equipment must be purchased in advance and a copy of the paid receipt must be provided before OSFA can approve it.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Dependent Care

If you pay for childcare while you’re in class or studying, OSFA can include these costs in your COA.

• The child must be listed as a dependent on your FAFSA.
• Costs must be directly related to your time in school.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Disability-Related Expenses

If you have disability-related costs, OSFA can consider adding them. These may include:

• Personal assistance
• Special equipment or supplies
  OSFA may work with the Disability Resource Center to confirm average costs. You’ll need documentation of actual expenses.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Study Abroad

If you’re studying abroad through an approved program, OSFA can include extra costs from that program in your COA.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Health Insurance

If you must pay for your own health insurance plan, OSFA can include that cost. You’ll need to show proof of what you pay.
If you’re on a parent’s or spouse’s plan, those costs cannot be counted.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Housing Costs

If your rent or utilities are higher than the school’s estimate, OSFA may be able to adjust your COA.

• For 2025–2026, the most that can be added is up to $839 per month for undergraduates and $1,566 per month for graduate students.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

One-Time Professional License or Certification

If your program requires a license or certification (for example, nursing or teaching), OSFA can include that one-time cost if it happens while you are still enrolled.
Test prep courses cannot be included.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

Other Allowable Expenses

Students with special costs such as dependent care, computer, study abroad, or disability-related needs should contact OSFA for help documenting them.
Students who receive federal loans will automatically have average loan fees added to their COA.

To request this, submit a COA Adjustment Request Form and provide proof of your expenses; reviews usually take 7–10 business days.

What OSFA Cannot Include

Some expenses are not allowed to increase your COA, such as:

• Auto purchase or payments
• Auto repairs and routine maintenance
• Uber, Lyft, taxicab or rideshare services to and from campus
• Credit card or other consumer debt payments
• Moving expenses and security deposits
• Costs incurred outside of the current academic year
• Costs incurred by a family member or other person, including a spouse or roommate’s portion of rent, mortgage, or day care
• Child support and other such child care expenses (other than daycare)
• Legal fees, bail, traffic tickets, parking tickets, or fines
• Veterinary costs, unless for a service animal
• Sorority or fraternity dues

Pharmacy Student Costs

OSFA already includes the following expenses in the COA for students in the PharmD program so they are not eligible for a COA increase:

• Background check and drug screening;
• Database fee for records of immunizations;
• Malpractice Insurance;
• CPR Certification;
• Lab coat and name tag;
• Stethoscope;
• Intern license;
• Immunizations;
• Transportation for rotations.

Questions?

If you have extra education-related costs, the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) can review and possibly increase your Cost of Attendance (COA), which may help you qualify for more financial aid or loan funds.

Before spending money, you hope to have counted toward your aid, contact OSFA to confirm whether the cost can be approved.