Cost of Attendance Components

Your cost of attendance (COA) is an estimate of your educational expenses for the relevant period of enrollment. The standard COA is based on several components. Below are the components and their definitions.

Cost of Attendance Components

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  • The average cost of tuition and fees for a typical student based on enrolling for 30 hours per year as an undergraduate (or 18 hours as a graduate). The actual costs that a student incurs will vary depending on the student's degree or certificate program. To determine your actual tuition and fees charges, visit Texas State Tuition & Fees.

  • A reasonable estimate of what it would cost to live in San Marcos while attending school. Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location. To determine actual on-campus housing and food costs, visit Housing and Food Rates.

  • The average cost of books and supplies for a typical student for an entire academic year.

  • The travel allowance is allocated for the expenses you incur traveling to and from campus. It is not designed to include such expenditures as vehicle maintenance and the purchase of a vehicle.

  • These expenses include miscellaneous items you will purchase throughout the academic year that are related to your educational costs. Your actual miscellaneous expenses will vary from the budgeted average depending on your spending habits.

  • Your actual costs will vary depending on the following factors:

    • Number of credit hours
    • Residency (Texas resident or non-Texas resident)
    • Housing and Food choices
    • Degree plan
    • Personal expenses