Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) includes tuition, fees, books and supplies, housing and food, transportation and personal expenses. The Student Aid Index (SAI) is established by the U.S. Congress, and is a government formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. The SAI is calculated in a consistent and equitable manner using Federal Methodology, and is used to determine how much financial support you may need.

The difference between the COA and the SAI is called the student’s “financial need.”

Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index = Financial Need

A student’s financial planning should begin with an estimate of the total cost of attending MMC for one academic year. Direct costs include: tuition, fees, housing and food charges. Indirect costs include: books, supplies, personal needs, and travel. The Office of Financial Aid establishes standard budgets, adjusted for such variables as enrollment status, dependency status, and whether the student lives at home or in MMC’s residence halls.