Budgeting for Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance is designed to reflect the average expenses of students enrolled at Claremont Graduate University. Students are encouraged to create and follow a personal budget plan as they navigate the costs and expenses related to financing a graduate education. Creating and maintaining a budget can assist students in achieving financial wellness during their graduate journey and beyond.
Below you will find a series of tools and resources that may assist in the creation and management of your personal student budget:
Federal Aid regulations permit a student to receive aid up to their respective Cost of Attendance. Institutional, federal, and external student aid count towards the Cost of Attendance. Examples of such aid can include but are not limited to: departmental fellowships, federal or private loans, work-study, grants and scholarships. It is imperative that students budget within their respective Cost of Attendance each term as receipt of aid beyond these figures is not guaranteed.
Cost of Attendance Adjustments in Consideration of Special Circumstances
Current students with extenuating circumstances have the option of seeking an increase to their Cost of Attendance by submitting a Budget Increase Request to the Office of Financial Aid. Budget Increase Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are intended to be used for unexpected expenses relative to a student’s Cost of Attendance. Only expenses directly related to student’s educational and living expenses can be considered. The Office of Financial Aid renders decisions on requests based on federal regulations and institutional policy. Please note submission of a Budget Increase Request does not guarantee its approval. The Cost of Attendance is designed to reflect the average expenses of students enrolled at Claremont Graduate University; as such, this framework does not allow us to fully accomodate personal and/or individual expenses beyond that scope.
In instances where a Budget Increase Request is approved, this typically results in receipt of additional aid in the form of federal or private loan funding.
Additional considerations include:
- Incoming students are expected to budget within the standard Cost of Attendance and therefore ineligible for submission of a Budget Increase Request.
- Budget Increase Requests may result in adjustment of Cost of Attendance to reflect actual charges and fees.
- Students may be considered for no more than 2 budget increase requests per academic term and no more than 3 budget increase requests per academic year.
Expenses that may be considered as part of a budget increase request include:
| Out of Pocket Medical, Dental, Vision Expenses for Necessary Services | Annual Limit $3,000
|
| Medical Insurance Premiums | Annual Limit $10,000 |
| Automobile Repair Expenses | Limited to 1 primary vehicle of student |
| Automobile Insurance Premiums | Limited to 1 primary vehicle of student |
| Computer Hardware/Software | Limit 1 computer purchase per 3 academic years of enrollment. Maximum increase of $3,000 which may include purchase of a computer, printer or other peripheral devices. Not intended for purchase of non-educational devices and/or software |
| Childcare/Elderly care | Only dependents included on tax return may be considered. |
| Direct Costs Not Reflected in Standard COA | Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), program-specific fees |
| Other/Academic Research Expenses | Must be considered academically necessary and part of the student’s academic plan. |
Expenses ineligible for budget increase consideration include but are not limited to:
- Groceries
- Clothing
- Citations
- Car Payments
- Mortgage Payments
- Credit Card Payments
- Phone and Utility Payments
Submission Deadlines
Deadlines to submit a Budget Increase Request are as follows:
Fall – November 15th
Spring – April 15th
Summer – July 15th
If you are unable to meet the published submission deadline of the term, please contact financialaid@cgu.edu to discuss potential next steps.
How to Submit a Budget Increase Request
To initiate the Budget Increase Request process, please email financialaid@cgu.edu to request the necessary documentation. Once you have compiled the appropriate documentation, please submit the following to financialaid@cgu.edu:
- Completed Budget Increase Request form
- A personal statement describing extenuating circumstances which prompted the request, as well as how the expenses in your request are relative to your Cost of Attendance
- Supporting documentation for each requested expense, as specified in the Budget Increase Form
Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Standard review time is 5-7 business days.