Cost of Attendance and the Student Aid Index (SAI)
Cost of Attendance (COA or budget) represents a reasonable estimate of the cost of attending the university for a 9-month academic year (fall and spring semesters). The Financial Aid Office determines student budgets every year as a basis for offering financial aid funds. The student's budget includes direct costs: tuition, fees, room, and board; and indirect costs: allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous expenses. Direct costs are charges for which the student will be billed directly by Stevenson. Indirect charges are costs incurred as a result of going to college, but for which a student is not necessarily billed. Actual charges vary depending on the choice of program, enrollment, and living arrangements (for example, apartment vs. double occupancy).
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that a college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid the student would receive if the student attended the school. This number results from the information that the student provides in their FAFSA® form