Cost of Attendance
Federal laws require colleges to establish a Cost of Attendance (COA) for students receiving financial aid. This COA helps students plan for their educational expenses and helps schools determine financial aid eligibility. Remember, the COA is just an estimate, and students and families do not have to pay the total amount directly to the College.
Tri-C's standard COA components are estimated expenses and allowances that reflect the cost a student and family should reasonably expect to incur to attend the institution for an academic year (fall and spring semesters).
2025-2026 Cost of Attendance
| COA Component | In-County | Out-of-County | Out-of-State |
| Tuition and Fees | $3,249 | $3,958 | $7,248 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,700 | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Living Expenses | $9,200 | $9,200 | $9,200 |
| Transportation | $1,725 | $1,725 | $1,725 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,725 | $1,725 | $1,725 |
| Total | $17,599 | $18,308 | $21,598 |
All COA components are estimated based on full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester). Students enrolled with less than half-time status (1 to 5 credit hours) will have living and personal expenses removed from their COA budget. Tri-C uses average cost figures when determining eligibility for financial aid. The actual cost may be different and varies from student to student.
Standard Cost of Attendance Components
The following standard allowances will be included in a student's COA regardless of dependency status.
- Tuition and Fees: Allowance for tuition, which is based on 12 semester credit hours enrollment plus an expected $70 institutional fee per semester for the academic year.
- Books and Supplies: Allowance based on a full-time course load and includes the estimated cost of books, course materials, supplies and equipment (including the purchase of a personal computer).
- Living Expenses: Allowance for food and housing costs. Half-time students are eligible for this allowance, but students enrolled less than half time (1 to 5 credit hours) will have living expenses removed from their budget.
- Transportation: Allowance includes transportation costs for travel between campuses, home and the workplace.
- Personal Expenses: Allowance includes miscellaneous personal expenses a student may incur, such as prior learning assessments, grooming/personal hygiene or recreation. Students enrolled less than half time (1 to 5 credit hours) will have personal expenses removed from their budget.
- Loan Fees: Allowance for loan fees for students who are offered or have accepted federal direct loans. This allowance will equal the average loan fees charged to a student at the institution.
Additional Cost of Attendance Allowances
Students who incur the following costs while attending college can request that they be included in their COA. All requests must be made to the Financial Aid office and will require supporting documentation.
- Professional Licensure, Certification or Credential: Allowance for the costs associated with obtaining a license, certification or first professional credential. It only applies to programs that prepare a student for a profession that requires such a qualification.
- Dependent Care Expenses: Allowance based on actual costs expected to be incurred for dependent care during periods that include but are not limited to class time, study time, fieldwork, internships and commuting time for the student.
- Disability-Related Expenses: Allowance for expenses related to a student's disability, such as special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment and supplies. These costs must be reasonably incurred and not paid for by other agencies.
- Cooperative Education Program Expenses: Allowance for reasonable costs associated with employment for a student engaged in a work experience under a cooperative education program.
- Study Abroad Expenses: Allowance for reasonable costs for a student in a Tri-C credit-approved study abroad program. For example, the allowance for a student who is a U.S. citizen studying at a foreign school may include visa or passport costs.
Requests for additional allowances are not a guarantee or approval. An approved COA appeal does not guarantee that students will be eligible for additional financial aid.
Cost of Attendance Adjustments
Students who have educational expenses that exceed, or are not included in, the standard COA can request an increase in allowances through a COA adjustment. Examples of allowable adjustments include expenses related to excessive travel due to school-related experiences, dependent care expenses, or unusually high expenses for required course materials. For more information on COA adjustments, view our professional judgments web page.
Summer Cost of Attendance
The summer term has an adjusted COA to reflect the 10-week session length. Students enrolled in all terms (fall, spring and summer) will have a budget reflecting both the Standard COA and Summer-Only COA.
| COA Component | In-County | Out-of-County | Out-of-State |
| Tuition and Fees | $1,625 | $1,979 | $7,248 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,700 | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Living Expenses | $9,200 | $9,200 | $9,200 |
| Transportation | $1,725 | $1,725 | $1,725 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,725 | $1,725 | $1,725 |
| Total | $17,599 | $18,308 | $21,598 |
Less Than Half-Time Enrollment
The federal government has established regulations that limit the COA for students enrolled less than half time (1 to 5 credit hours). As a result, the Financial Aid office will remove allowances for living and personal expenses at the end of the semester for students enrolled less than half time in the preceding term. Students who are over-awarded will be responsible for making payment arrangements for any account balance.
Net Price Calculator
Tri-C values affordability. The Net Price Calculator helps students estimate their cost of attendance based on the most recent year's costs. It provides an early approximation of what a new first-year student can expect to pay to attend Tri-C.
