What will college cost?

Before you apply, it is important to consider the cost of the colleges you are considering applying to, potential aid and scholarships you may be eligible for, and your financial ability to pay for college. These costs and aid/scholarships may vary from student to student. Start by looking at each college's Cost of Attendance and then determine your estimated Net Price. Finally, learn how you can maximize Financial Aid and Scholarships.    

What does Cost of Attendance mean?

Each college publishes a Cost of Attendance on their website, which shows the estimated amount you will pay annually for that college.

Cost of attendance includes both direct costs and indirect expenses (source College Board):

• Direct costs are those paid directly to the college and include tuition and fees, housing, and meal plan.
• Tuition is the amount you owe to attend college for classes and instruction. Some colleges may charge one set tuition rate while others may charge per credit hour.
• Fees are additional charges to cover the costs of certain services, for example, technology or lab fees. It’s worth noting these types of fees will vary per college.
• Housing is a charge from the college to live on campus. Different housing options on campus will cost different amounts depending on the amenities offered. Be sure to look up the different housing options at your college.
• Meal plans are how you pay colleges to dine on campus. Colleges have different approaches to charging for meal plans, with some offering meal credits and others charging per food item. Check with your college to see what type of meal plans they offer and how they will impact the cost to you.
• Institutional health insurance may be required depending on the college. If it’s required, it will be automatically billed to you and can cost several thousand dollars. If you have a comparable health insurance plan, you can submit proof of your plan to waive this charge from your bill.
• Indirect expenses are educational costs not paid directly to the college. They can include textbooks, transportation, dorm furnishings, and other personal expenses.

Will I pay the full Cost of Attendance?

Most students do not pay the full cost of attendance, which may be reduced by scholarships and financial aid, as well as careful budgeting. Students should maximize scholarships and financial aid. Indirect expenses, and some direct expenses, such as meal plans, may be reduced by considering and budgeting your costs.

Your cost to attend each college after scholarships and using available financial aid is called the Net Price. This is the amount you will need to pay through savings or work. 

How can I estimate my Net Price?  

The most common ways to get help paying for college and trade or career school include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study. Visit the Types of Financial Aid page on the Federal Student Aid website to learn about funding you can get from the government, your school, and private sources, including:

Apply for federal student aid—grants, work-study, and loans—using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form.

Why complete a FAFSA?

If you don’t complete a FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid. Federal student aid from the Department of Education covers such expenses as tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid can also help pay for other related expenses, such as a computer and dependent care.  You may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, which is free money that doesn't have to be repaid. 

You can estimate your eligibility for federal student aid and your Student Aid Index with our Federal Student Aid Estimator.   Federal Student Aid uses the data on your FAFSA to calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is an index number that’s used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. The SAI is not the amount of money you will be eligible for nor the amount that your family must provide. The SAI is an index that the college will use to determine how much financial aid (grants, loans, or work study) you would receive if you were to attend that school.

Complete a FAFSA^® Form

The FAFSA form you fill out should correspond with the school year you’re planning to seek aid for. For example, if you’re applying for financial aid for the 2025‒26 school year, fill out the 2025‒26 FAFSA form. If you plan to take summer classes, contact your school's financial aid office to determine which FAFSA form you should fill out.

And remember, the first F in “FAFSA” stands for “free”—you shouldn’t pay to fill out the FAFSA form!

Florida State Financial Aid - FFAA

The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Finanical Assistance administers state-funded grant and scholarship programs. The Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) is the application students use to apply for state based financial aid. This application opens for Seniors Oct. 1. 

Any Florida student that is eligible for a Florida Bright Futures scholarship must complete the FFAA application prior to Aug. 31 after graduation. 

Institutional (College Awarded) Financial Aid

The colleges you apply to may also have financial aid for students that are accepted.  Most public universities and colleges will base these additional funds on your FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) results. Some state grants are allocated to colleges which in turn award them to students with the most financial need. These funds are limited, so it's important to apply to your colleges early, as well as complete your FAFSA as early as possible. 

Some private universities have endowments that provide funds for need-based aid awards.  Most of these institutions will ask for additional financial information to determine your need.  They may request the CSS Profile.