Estimating Your Costs
In addition to the budget estimates (view term links on the left-hand menu), you may want to review the FSU Net Price Calculator for an estimate of costs and average aid awarded. The FSU Net Price Calculator is a broad estimator of cost and financial aid, and does not represent an individual offer of aid. (The calculator is intended for undergraduate students only, and does not represent costs or average aid awarded to graduate, medical or law students).
The Cost of Attendance is our best estimate of what it will cost you to attend FSU for an academic year (typically includes fall and spring terms). Typically, your Cost of Attendance includes the following components:
- Tuition and Fees (may be updated again if the state legislature alters the final costs for tuition and fees)
- Housing and Food Costs
- Allowances for Books and Supplies
- Transportation
- Personal Expenses
These costs form the basis for financial aid calculations and are an estimate of the average student’s costs. Actual costs may vary depending on individual choices and circumstances. We encourage you to use our budget worksheet to get a more accurate assessment of your costs depending on your career (undergraduate, graduate, law or medical school), enrollment, residency and other factors that impact your cost. Cost of attendance values are based on the assumption that a student will be enrolled full time. We recommend 15 hours of enrollment each term. Cost of Attendance amounts may be prorated based on a student’s actual enrollment after drop/add.
The cost of attendance is used when determining a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The Cost of attendance minus the Expected Family Contribution (from the FAFSA) determines the amount of need based aid a student can receive. Need based aid, such as Federal Grants, Work-Study, Subsidized Federal Loans, State Grants and University Grants, can be awarded up to the amount of need. Non-need based aid such as the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) or Graduate PLUS loan can be awarded beyond the calculated need, up to the amount of the cost of attendance. The total of all aid awarded, however, cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
