College Costs Uncovered: An Examination of the Accuracy of College Cost of Attendance Budgets and Implications for Student Success.

It is without question that college is unaffordable for many students, particularly those with the least resources. While crucial work is being done to expand the availability of financial aid, a less understood issue is how higher education institutions approach setting cost of attendance (COA) budgets, which impact how much financial aid students can receive. 

This report explores how COA budgets compare to students’ true college costs and includes recommendations to support access to critical financial aid that supports student academic success.