The Cost of Attendance (COA) is just an estimate and includes ALL expenses to attend the University for one year, not just expenses paid directly to UC Merced. The COA includes average tuition/fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses, transportation expenses and a health insurance allowance and varies depending on whether you live on-campus, off-campus or at-home with relatives. Your actual expenses may be different and most items are not paid directly to the University. The only Cost of Attendance items paid directly to the University are tuition/fees and on-campus room and board if you choose to live on-campus.
Standardized budgets are expressions of average costs. They are intended to provide sufficient funds for most students in most circumstances to pay for their educational expenses. The
budget worksheet for undergraduate students can assist you in determining your direct costs.
DIRECT COSTS
Direct costs are those costs paid directly to the University and billed through your UC Merced student account. Direct costs are different from the estimated Cost of Attendance. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of expenses and includes items not paid directly to the University. Direct costs typically only include fees/tuition and on-campus room and board,
items that you will receive a bill for. Your actual direct costs will vary depending on things such as whether you attend full or part-time, live on or off campus, etc.
NET COST
Net Cost is the amount of direct costs (items you are billed for) you must pay out-of-pocket that is not covered by your financial aid after financial aid is applied. Your net cost is always lower than the Cost of Attendance and in many cases, much lower or $0.
Listed below are the 2009-10 standard costs of attendance for undergraduate California residents living:
| On-Campus |
| ITEM |
UCM |
| Ed/Reg Fee* |
7,788 |
| Campus Fees* |
623 |
| Health Insurance |
967 |
| Living Expenses |
12,211 |
Books and
Supplies |
1,552 |
Personal
Expenses |
1,347 |
| Transportation |
1,352 |
| TOTAL COST |
$25,840 |
|
| Off-Campus |
| ITEM |
UCM |
| Ed/Reg Fee* |
7,788 |
| Campus Fees* |
623 |
| Health Insurance |
967 |
| Living Expenses |
8,164 |
Books and
Supplies |
1,552 |
Personal
Expenses |
1,481 |
| Transportation |
2,125 |
| TOTAL COST |
$22,700 |
|
| At-Home w/ Relatives |
| ITEM |
UCM |
| Ed/Reg Fee* |
7,788 |
| Campus Fees* |
623 |
| Health Insurance |
967 |
| Living Expenses |
4,277 |
Books and
Supplies |
1,552 |
Personal
Expenses |
1,854 |
| Transportation |
1,946 |
| TOTAL COST |
$19,007 |
|
*Fees are subject to legislative and gubernatorial action and therefore, may change without notice. Non-California residents pay at least an additional $22,669 in non-resident tuition and fees.
For more information on how you can afford to attend UC Merced, please visit UC Merced's
affordability website.
It is impossible to take into account all the situations in which people find themselves or all the consumer choices they make. Students who feel that their "allowed" budget does not reflect their actual expenses should submit an Budget Increase Form.
If there are unusual documented expenses, the OFAS can sometimes allow a higher individualized budget. Whether additional financial aid can be made available to the student based on the revised budget depends on the availability of funds. Since scholarship and grant assistance is limited, an increase in the budget will usually be reflected in an adjustment to self-help financial aid (loans and/or work).
