Cost of Attendance

We get it—college can be expensive. But a college degree is a lasting investment, not just in your education, but in your career and future. 

To help you understand your investment, the Office of Student Financial Aid provides an estimated budget of the average educational costs associated with attending the university.

This estimated budget is called the cost of attendance (COA). Your total financial aid package and outside resources/scholarships may not exceed the COA. The university will bill for tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meal plans, but financial aid also may be used to pay for items that the university does not bill for directly, such as books, off-campus housing, transportation, and personal expenses.

The Office of Student Financial Aid calculates an estimated budget of the average educational costs associated with attending the university. Your actual cost will vary depending on your number of credits, fees, your choice of housing and meal plan, and other variables.

This estimated budget is called the cost of attendance (COA). Your total financial aid package and outside resources/scholarships may not exceed the COA. The university will bill for tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meal plans, but financial aid may also be used to pay for items that the university does not bill for directly, such as books, off-campus housing, transportation, and personal expenses.

Tuition

*Undergraduate estimated tuition costs are based on full-time status of 12–15 credits per semester.

**Graduate estimated tuition costs are based on 9 credits per semester. Tuition may vary depending on your academic program. Please review your program’s current, actual tuition and fees for more information.

Please view the Law School’s site for the cost per credit.

Living Expenses (Food and Housing)

*Based on an average of the Traditional Double and Suite Double rooms. Food and housing costs vary based on your choice of residence hall and meal plan.

**Students living at home do not have room costs.

Estimated Transportation

Mason students have access to free public transportation aboard the Mason Shuttles system, as well as Fairfax City’s CUE Bus system.

Estimated Personal Expenses

Estimated Additional Costs

Note: Several courses require additional course or lab fees.

Additional information on fees is available through the Student Accounts Office.

New Student Fee

This is a mandatory, nonrefundable, one-time fee that is charged to the account of every newly admitted, degree-seeking student at the time of registration, regardless of orientation attendance or enrollment status.