Cost of Attendance
There is more to the cost of education than just tuition and fees. Whether you are planning to attend Brooklyn College as a half-time or full-time student, you can approximate your own expenses for the academic year (nine months) by considering the items below. Your cost of attendance includes the budget below in addition to your tuition and fees.
Cost of Attendance (9-month Budget)
Students Living at Home or with Relatives
| Item | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $1,188 | $1,188 |
| Meals | $1,700 | $4,332 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,928 | $2,005 |
| Housing | $5,080 | $6,610 |
| Total costs before tuition and fees | $11,396 | $15,635 |
Students Living Away from Home
| Item | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $1,188 | $1,188 |
| Meals | $4,184 | $4,332 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,646 | $2,768 |
| Medical Expenses | $2,381 | $2,260 |
| Housing | $17,604 | $17,928 |
| Total costs before tuition and fees. | $29,503 | $29,975 |
Exceptions
- If your costs exceed these amounts, you may be eligible for a Special Circumstance Cost of Attendance Expense Adjustment.
- Students Taking Fewer Than Six Credits
- Summer 2023: $406
- Fall/Spring 2023-2024: $1,218
- Summer 2024: $414
- Fall/Spring 2024-2025: $1,243
Cost of Attendance for Summer (3-Month Budget)
Students Living at Home or with Relatives
| Item | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Books and Supplies | $500 | $500 |
| Transportation | $396 | $396 |
| Meals | $567 | $1,444 |
| Personal Expenses | $643 | $668 |
| Housing | $1,693 | $2,203 |
| Total costs before tuition and fees. | $3,799 | $5,211 |
Students Living Away from Home
| Item | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Books and Supplies | $500 | $500 |
| Transportation | $396 | $396 |
| Meals | $1,395 | $1,444 |
| Personal Expenses | $882 | $923 |
| Medical Expenses | $794 | $753 |
| Housing | $5,868 | $5,976 |
| Total costs before tuition and fees. | $9,835 | $9,992 |
Understanding Financial Need and Net Price
What is Financial Need?
Your financial need determines eligibility for federal campus-based aid programs like Federal Work-Study and subsidized loans federal direct loans.
- In the 2023-2024 academic year, financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
- In the 2024-2025 academic year, financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and your Student Aid Index (SAI).
How to Calculate Financial Need
Use the index number generated when you filed your FAFSA (called EFC for 23-24 and SAI for 24-25). Subtract your EFC from your COA to calculate your financial need (COA – EFC = Financial Need).
Understanding Net Price and Estimating Aid
The CUNY Net Price Calculator provides you and your family with an early estimate of the financial aid for which you might qualify.
A net price is an estimate of the actual cost you and your family need to pay in a year to cover education expenses for you to attend college. It is the cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships for which you may be eligible.
More Information
- Detailed COA information is available in CUNYfirst.
- Refer to the CUNYfirst Student Financial Aid Guide for more instructions.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) represents the estimated total cost of attending the college. Federal law requires that the college provide you an estimate for the expense categories outlined in the charts below.
To determine your financial need, you need the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number generated when you filed your FAFSA. Then you can subtract your EFC from your COA to figure out your financial need (COA – EFC = Financial Need).
Your COA can change based on the semester (summer, fall, winter, spring), enrollment status, loan fees, and other expenses, including, but not limited to, child care, study abroad, and disability-related expenses.
If you have costs that exceed the estimated amounts indicated below or an expense that is not listed below, you may be eligible for a Special Circumstance Cost of Attendance Expense Adjustment.
COA for Students Enrolled in Six or More Credits
Fall/Spring COA
These estimates represent the approximate costs to attend Brooklyn College for a nine-month period (the fall and spring semesters combined), assuming you attend at least half-time (six credits). To determine the single-semester amount for fall or spring, simply divide the numbers below in two.
If you live with your parents:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,364 |
| Transportation (MetroCard) | $1,122 |
| Lunch | $1,700 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,928 |
| Housing | $5,080 |
| Basic Cost | $11,194 |
Basic Cost + Tuition and Fees = Cost of Attendance
If you live away from your parents:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,364 |
| Transportation (MetroCard) | $1,122 |
| Lunch | $1,700 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,646 |
| Medical Expenses | $2,381 |
| Housing | $17,604 |
| Food (at home) | $2,484 |
| Basic Cost | $29,301 |
Basic Cost + Tuition and Fees = Cost of Attendance
*To determine the single semester amount for fall or spring, simply divide the Basic Cost in half.
Summer COA
The summer is considered a nonstandard three-month term. Because the summer term is shorter than the fall and spring terms, the summer has prorated expense amounts.
If you live with your parents:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $455 |
| Transportation (MetroCard) | $396 |
| Lunch | $567 |
| Personal Expenses | $643 |
| Housing | $1,693 |
| Basic Cost | $3,754 |
Basic Cost + Tuition and Fees = Cost of Attendance
If you live away from your parents:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $455 |
| Transportation (MetroCard) | $396 |
| Lunch | $567 |
| Personal Expenses | $882 |
| Medical Expenses | $794 |
| Housing | $5,868 |
| Food (at home) | $828 |
| Basic Cost | $9,789 |
Basic Cost + Tuition and Fees = Cost of Attendance
COA for Students Enrolled in Fewer Than Six Credits
Fall/Spring COA
According to the federal COA guidelines, if you enroll in fewer than six credits you will have a lower cost of attendance due to exclusions of certain expense categories. This lower COA includes allowances for books, supplies, and transportation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Part-time COA for nine months | $1,150 |
Summer COA
The summer is considered a nonstandard three-month term. Because the summer term is shorter than the fall and spring terms, the summer has prorated expense amounts.
According to the federal COA guidelines, if you are enrolled part-time (fewer than six credits) you will have a lower cost of attendance. This lower COA includes allowances for books, supplies, and transportation. The amount for summer is $383 (books, supplies, and transportation) + child care ($1,020 if applicable) + Tuition and Fees.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Part-time COA for three months | $383 |
You can view more detailed COA information by logging into CUNYfirst to review your financial aid package.
You may also review the CUNYfirst Student Financial Aid Guide.