When you apply for federal student aid, the Student Financial Aid office uses your cost of attendance (COA) in determining how much aid you can receive. The COA is the total estimated cost for a student to attend a particular school - expressed as a yearly figure. It is determined using rules established by law.

The cost per credit hour is established annually by the JCCC Board of Trustees.

Because amounts may vary, the following budget illustrates estimated academic year costs for an independent student who is a Johnson County resident living in an apartment and enrolled in a total of 24 credit hours for the 2012-2013 school year.

$ 1,992 - tuition and fees
$ 1,200 - books and supplies
$ 5,816 - room and board
$ 3,632 - transportation and personal expenses

$12,640 = Total cost of attendance

COA includes tuition and fees; and allowances for housing and food, books, supplies, transportation, and loan fees. Other costs that can be added to COA are dependent care, study-abroad expenses, and costs related to a disability. If you have these or other expenses, please contact the Financial Aid office to see if you qualify to have these included in your cost of attendance.

How Cost of Attendance Budgets are Calculated:

The following factors are taken into consideration by the Director of Financial Aid when determining the Cost of Attendance budget for a student:

1. Tuition is established annually by the JCCC Board of Trustee’s on a per credit hour basis for 3 residential categories: Johnson County Resident, Non-Johnson County Resident and Non-Resident.   For the 2011-2102 academic year, rates are $81, $96 and $189 respectively.
2. Book Costs are based on estimated amounts determined by the JCCC Bookstore for either purchase or rental.  That amount currently averages $50 per class.  Current rates: Fall or Spring - $600; Fall and Spring - $1200; and Summer - $300.
3. Room and Board is based on the average cost of rent for a Studio or 1-Bedroom apartment which is currently $500.  For 1 person the monthly amount at 25% of poverty level is $227.  Therefore, $727 monthly is allowable for room and board. 
4. Miscellaneous is determined from the federal poverty level guidelines.  For 2011, the amount for 1-person is $453.75 at 50%.  We are using this monthly amount to create our miscellaneous line item. 
5. Childcare is based on the average cost of child care at the Hiersteiner Child Development Center on campus.  The current costs are:  Fall or Spring - $1440; Fall and Spring - $2880; Fall, Spring and Summer - $3600; and Summer - $720.

If a student has additional expenses not adequately covered in the standard Cost of Attendance budget, they must contact the Financial Aid office and provide documentation to request their budgets be increased.  The decision of the Financial Aid office is final and limited to expenses while attending JCCC.

Students can also use the Net Price Calculator. This calculator provides an estimated net cost of attendance. It  includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, room and board (meals), and other related expenses — minus estimated grant and scholarship aid for current and prospective students and their families based on what similar students paid in a previous year.