Cost of Attendance Budgets
The following provides budget information for students who are admitted to the University as California residents, non-residents, or Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program participants.
CSUB develops Cost of Attendance (COA) annually in accordance with guidance from section 472 of the Higher Education Act that outlines the costs that may be included. Each student is provided with a standard budget based on their living arrangement (on-campus, off-campus, or with parent/relative). The standard COA consists of five categories:
- Tuition/Fees
- Books/Course Materials and Equipment
- Transportation
- Living Expense (Food and Housing)
- Miscellaneous/Personal
If a student has additional “exceptional” expenses beyond the standard Cost of Attendance (COA), an appeal may be used to document and potentially include the expenses to increase the (COA). While this does not always result in additional aid, it does increase the maximum limit of aid a student may receive. The appeals are considered as professional judgement on a case-by-case basis per federal regulation.
Those eligible categories are:
- Cost of obtaining a license, certification, or first professional credential
- Costs of study abroad
- Disability related expenses
- Costs for dependent care
- The purchase of a personal computer needed for school
- Transportation expenses in excess of standard budget amount as a result of commuting from outside of Bakersfield
- Medical, dental, or optical expenses not covered by insurance
- Vehicle repair expenses for the car you use to commute to and from school
If you have any of the eligible and wish them to be considered, please log in to Student Forms to complete the appeal.
Eligibility for financial aid is based on one's estimated financial need, which is calculated using a simple formula:
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need
It is important to note that a student is not required to have financial need to be eligible to receive unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, PLUS loans, or merit-based scholarships.
Based on a formula approved by Congress, the U.S. Department of Education uses the information you reported on the FAFSA to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI). This number appears on your Student Aid Report (SAR) and represents the amount the student and his or her family are expected to contribute to the Cost of Attendance (COA).
Registration Fees
View the Tuition Fee Detail.
CSU Disclaimer
The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after fees are initially charged or initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a semester has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, or the Presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).