Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (COA)

Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated total cost of attending Virginia Tech for one academic year. It includes:

Direct costs – charges billed by Virginia Tech, like tuition, fees, housing, and food.

Indirect costs – expenses you’ll likely have but aren’t billed by the university, such as books, transportation, groceries, personal items along with your housing and food, if off campus.

Your financial aid offer, provided by Virginia Tech based on your financial need— including any scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study (if eligible)—is designed to help cover these estimated costs.

However, many students and families will need to explore loan options or other resources to fully cover the COA. It’s a planning tool to help you understand and prepare for the full cost of college—not just what’s on your bill.

What is the Cost of Attendance?

COA = Direct Costs + Indirect Costs

Direct Costs

These are charges billed by Virginia Tech. You'll see these on your university bill each semester.

Direct Costs = On Your Bill

Tuition
Fees
Housing(if you live on campus)
Food (if you have a meal plan)

Your actual bill might vary depending on your major,
residence hall, or meal plan—so think of this as a ballpark estimate!

Indirect Costs

These aren't billed by Virginia Tech, but are real expenses you should consider when budgeting for the academic year.

Indirect Costs = Not On the Bill, But Still Real

Groceries
Course Materials
Transportation
Direct Loan Fees*
Personal Expenses (cell phone, laundry, toiletries, entertainment, clothing)

Indirect costs are estimates. What you actually spend will vary, and you can make choices to help reduce them—borrow books, carpool, skip a few late-night delivery orders—every little bit helps.

*Direct Loan Fees: Although not billed by Virginia Tech, if you borrow Federal Direct Loans, these fees are deducted from the loan amount before the funds reach your student account. The amount included in your COA is based on average loan fees from the previous academic year and only applies if you choose to borrow.

COA Components- Direct & Indirect Based on Your Choices!

Housing: What You Choose Matters

Not all residence halls cost the same. Virginia Tech has housing for all budgets from traditional residence halls to suites. We estimate the housing COA budget component based on the average or the median of each option available.

Once you select your room, your actual cost will update on your bill!

Off-campus or living at home? Housing becomes an indirect cost—you’ll need to budget for rent, utilities, internet, etc.

Food: Campus Meal Plan & Grocery Budget

If you have a campus meal plan, it is a direct cost and it will be on your bill. But since your meal plan does not cover every meal, we budget for groceries to make sure your food needs are met.

Your grocery budget is an indirect cost, because it is not on your bill.

From all-you-can-eat dining to budgeting your grocery runs, your choices will impact your food costs.

Personal Expenses: The Costs You Don’t Think About

These costs may not be on your bill, but they definitely show up in real life:

Toiletries
Laundry
Clothes
Cell phone bills
Entertainment
Medical/dental costs

You decide how much you spend, but we include these in the COA to help you plan smart.

Cost of Attendance Estimates

Cost of Attendance Estimate 2025-2026

In-State	Out-of-State
On Campus	On Campus
Off Campus	Off Campus
Living with Parent	Living with Parent

Cost of Attendance Estimate 2024-2025

In-State	Out-of-State
On Campus Freshman	On Campus Freshman
Off Campus Freshman	Off Campus Freshman
Living with Parent Freshman	Living with Parent Freshman
On Campus Continuing Student	On Campus Continuing Student
Off Campus Continuing Student	Off Campus Continuing Student
Living with Parent Continuing Student	Living with Parent Continuing Student

Summer Cost of Attendance Estimate 2025

In-State	Out-of-State
On Campus Undergraduate	On Campus Undergraduate
Off Campus Undergraduate	Off Campus Undergraduate
Virtual Campus	Virtual Campus

Winter Cost of Attendance Estimate 2024-2025

In-State	Out-of-State
On Campus Undergraduate	On Campus Undergraduate
Virtual Campus	Virtual Campus

Net Price Calculator

Freshman	Transfer
Calculator Tool	Calculator Tool

Cost of Attendance Appeals

Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to complete a Cost of Attendance Appeal if your actual costs exceed our estimate.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Review Your COA

Before submitting an appeal, take time to review your Cost of Attendance (COA) details. Your COA is based on estimated expenses, but we understand that some students may have higher-than-average costs due to unique situations—such as additional housing expenses, medical needs, or required educational materials.

Start by reviewing the COA figures available on this site to see if your current Cost of Attendance already accounts for the full amount you expect to pay for the academic year in direct and indirect costs.

NOTE: Submitting a Cost of Attendance Appeal doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive additional financial aid. It simply allows us to adjust your COA to reflect your higher expenses—making it possible for you to receive or apply for additional aid, if you're eligible.

Step 2: Understand the Cost of Attendance Appeal Process

If your actual costs exceed the standard COA, and you've already received the maximum amount of aid allowed, you may submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal. This process allows our office to review your situation and determine if your higher costs can be included to increase your Cost of Attendance.

Step 3: Submit the Appeal Form

If you’ve reviewed your COA and your actual costs are higher than our estimate, you can access the appeal form using the link below.

Submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal

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