Cost of Attendance and Student Expenses

Cost of Attendance & Student Expenses 

The Cost of Attendance (COA), or budget, is the estimated amount a student may pay for the academic year. The COA includes direct costs, such as tuition and fees, billed by the university and indirect costs, such as books and transportation, that are not typically billed by the university but are still an expected educational expense. Direct and indirect costs will vary per student depending on their program, course enrollment and housing. Both direct and indirect costs of attendance should be included when budgeting for attendance.

In determining a student’s COA, we break down general student expenses into five broad categories: tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. All students applying for financial aid have all five of the above expense categories included in the student’s annual estimated expense budget, regardless of whether the student is living on campus or commuting. 

Tuition

The payment of tuition helps support facilities, instructional and non-instructional salaries, equipment, and other services associated with Lakeland’s educational and extracurricular programs. Tuition rates and charges are based on the academic program type the student is enrolled in.

• Summer term enrollment tuition and fees for all programs are charged per credit.
• For Special Registration Classifications, please see this section of the catalog.

Lakeland University Home Campus

Full-Time Undergraduate Traditional Program

• Students participating in traditional, on-campus programs pay a flat tuition and fee amount for course registrations between twelve (12) to eighteen (18) semester hours of credit during the fall and/or spring terms.
• Students who register for greater than eighteen (18) credit hours over the course of a fall or spring term will be charged an overload cost for each additional credit hour.

Part-Time Undergraduate Traditional Program

• Students participating in this program pay per credit tuition and fees for course registrations under (12) semester hours of credit during the fall or spring term.

Lakeland University Center Locations & Graduate Programs

• Students in an undergraduate or graduate program at a Lakeland University Center location are charged per credit.

Fees

Fees are dependent on a student’s program, location, and course registrations. A student may be charged the following:

• Application Fee: (Lakeland Center Locations & Graduate Programs): Students in these programs pay a one-time application fee: Graduate: $50.00 or Undergraduate: $35.00.

• Enrollment Fee (Traditional Programs/Home Campus): Upon acceptance to the University, students pay a one-time, non-refundable $100 fee showing their commitment to enroll.
• General Fee (Traditional Programs/Home Campus): Covers information technology services (including WI-FI), parking, health services, counseling, fitness center and library access, and roadways.
• Student Activities Fee (Traditional Programs/Home Campus): Covers expenses associated with student government, entertainment programs and activities, shuttle services, and student newspaper.
• Housing Application Fee (Traditional Programs/Home Campus): A non-refundable $200 fee is required for all students who wish to live in on-campus housing. This one-time fee is non-refundable regardless of enrollment.
  • All students who wish to reside on campus complete an agreement with the university through the room and board application and payment of initial Housing Application Fee.
  • Agreements are valid for one full academic year, not including winter and summer, and must be renewed for each academic year.
  • Students complete separate room and board contracts for each winter and summer stay. 
• Course Fees (Any Location): Some courses offered may include additional course/lab/material/recital fees for any location and any term of instruction. These fees cover per student supplies, subscriptions, course/lab materials, or other equipment costs related to a course.
• Administrative Withdrawal Fee (Any Location): Any student who does not complete an official drop of a course(s) during/before the add/drop dates or do not commence enrollment in their classes are administratively withdrawn by the university and charged a $100 per term course administrative fee.

All fees are non-refundable after the first day of class.

• Specific tuition and fees rates for the academic year can be found on the university website and my.lakeland.edu.
• All tuition rates are reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees each year.

Room and Board

• A full list of housing and meal plan options and costs is available on the Lakeland University website. 

On Campus Housing (Room)

• There are many options available for on-campus housing including traditional (community-style), pod, and apartment-style halls. As such, the amount used for the financial aid budget is based on the average cost of the most common room and board choices by students at Lakeland University (double occupancy room in a traditional hall).
• Actual room and board costs will vary based on each student’s selections.

Meal plans (Board)

• Plans vary based on a student’s class year, residential status, and housing selection.
• Contracts for room and board are completed simultaneously.

Books and Supplies

• Students should expect to spend an average of $1,100 on textbooks and supplies each academic year as part of the cost of full participation in the educational experience of the college classroom. This cost is above and beyond the tuition and fee rates.
• Books, supplies, and textbook rentals are made available at the Follett Virtual Store through Lakeland University.

Book Vouchers

• Financial Aid: Students receiving financial aid who are eligible for a refund (aid exceeds charges) may also be eligible to use all or a portion of their excess aid to purchase textbooks using a book voucher on Follett’s Virtual Store.
• Third Party/Outside Organization: Students eligible for book funding through a tribe, military, or other outside entity should provide documentation to the Bursar’s Office.
  • The student will then be able to purchase textbooks using a book voucher on Follett’s Virtual Store for the amount specified on the voucher.
• All books purchased using a voucher will be charged to the student’s account. The cost will then either come out of the financial aid refund or will be billed to a third party per documentation provided.
  • Should the third party choose not to pay, the student is responsible for the cost of the books charged per voucher.

For more details on how to use a book voucher please visit the student accounts page on my.lakeland.edu.

Personal Expenses

• Students should budget for an average of $2,752 per academic year in additional expenses for typical personal supplies such as clothing, snacks, travel, and entertainment.

Transportation Expenses

• Per financial aid budget estimates, on campus and surrounding area students may spend an average of $1,730 per academic year on transportation expenses (e.g., cost of fuel, car maintenance expenses, airfare).
  • Those who live more than 60 miles from Lakeland University’s main campus should plan for additional costs accordingly.