Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets represent the University of Kentucky’s (UK’s) best estimate of both institutional (directly billed) and non-institutional (variable and not billed by UK) costs, students will incur during the 2025-26 academic year and should help students budget their resources effectively.

COA budgets help to define the parameters the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) must use to determine a student’s financial need. The student’s COA budget and a student’s financial need affect how much aid, as well as what type of aid, a student may receive. Students may not receive aid in excess of their cost of attendance.

Standard COA budgets have been developed as required by regulations for students in different fee categories and programs. These budgets represent costs that should allow students to maintain a moderate standard of living:   

Direct and Indirect Costs: The amounts provided are averages and may or may not reflect the exact charges or expenses you may incur.  The cost of attendance includes both the direct charges, and the indirect expenses.  Direct charges are the actual charges for which you will receive a bill from the university, such as, tuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing, and an on-campus meal plan.  Indirect expenses include the average cost of books and supplies, transportation, an estimate of your personal expenses or incidentals.  Housing, and food expenses may be included if you are living off-campus. You will not receive a bill from the university for the indirect expenses so you must budget accordingly.  

COA calculations are typically based on costs for a full-time student for a full academic year. COA budgets are recalculated when a change in enrollment status takes place:

• When projected enrollment status changes during the payment period (fall semester, spring semester, summer term) before the student begins attendance in all classes originally scheduled for the payment period; or
• Between semesters or terms within the same academic year.

For students attending less-than half-time, COA components are restricted to:  Tuition and fees; books, course materials, supplies, and equipment; transportation; professional licensure, certification or credential if program leads to professional licensure, certification or credential; dependent care, disability-related expenses, study abroad expenses, and cooperative education costs, if applicable upon request of the student; and an allowance for living expenses for up to three semesters with not more than two semesters being consecutive.

For incarcerated students, COA components are restricted to: Tuition and fees; books, course materials, supplies, and equipment; and  professional licensure, certification or credential if program leads to professional licensure, certification or credential.

When a student is living in housing located on a military base or for which a basic allowance is provided under Section 404(b) of Title 37, the housing component is removed from the student’s COA budget.

COA recalculations are also performed to resolve overaward situations (when aid exceeds the COA budget), if applicable.

The below costs represent the average amounts paid by degree-seeking students who attend UK. Costs for fall and spring terms are estimated unless otherwise noted.

These averages are updated annually and are used to determine how much financial aid to award to a student.

Students are given an allowance for the costs associated with obtaining a license, certification, or a first professional credential, for programs that prepare them to enter a profession that requires such qualification.  Data provided by associate deans has been used to add these costs to COAs as appropriate.  OSFAS recognizes that some exams may not be included in the compiled list.  Students may submit documentation for required examinations obtained from an academic advisor or college administrator that verifies their profession requires the qualification, that the exam fee is paid before the student graduates, and the cost of the exam. Students may request that the cost be increased for multiple attempts to pass an exam.   

By submitting a Budget Appeal Form and including documentation, students shall be provided additional reasonable allowance for the following items for which the student incurs expenses and they are not paid for by other assisting agencies during the academic year: 

1. Laptop/Computer: $2,000 maximum allowance;
2. Dependent care expenses: see chart for allowances;
3. Disability-related expenses;
4. Cooperative education program expenses; and
5. Study abroad expenses.