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NCU reviews student budgets each year to determine current and reasonable expenses to attend NCU. NCU has chosen to use CollegeBoard guidelines, based on data from the most recent Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) and the Indexes of Comparative Costs, both produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because a standardized budget is used, students are not asked to provide receipts to prove expenses. The budget will not be increased unless unusual or exceptional circumstances exist and are approved through a Professional Judgment decision.
A student budget consists of anticipated charges. These charges include average tuition and fees based on degree level, average books and supplies, and an estimated amount for indirect costs. Indirect costs include items such as room and board, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. The institution uses a standardized amount for indirect costs to determine financial aid eligibility.
There are times when students have additional educational expenses based on program requirements. NCU will consider adjustments to cost of attendance in these situations, if requested by a student, on a case-by-case basis.
Costs in the budget include:
- Tuition and fees: The average tuition amount for the loan period is based upon degree level, mandatory fees including a one-time learning management fee, and estimated loan fees
- Books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses; these expenses are based on estimates from CollegeBoard
- Room and board: The standardized amount is based upon the student attending a distance education University; it includes the estimated cost for such things as rent, utilities and food
The budgets for 2019-2020 are:
| |
Number of Courses in the Loan Period |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6(+) |
7 |
8(+) |
| Undergraduate |
$3,833 |
$7,666 |
$11,499 |
$15,332 |
$19,165 |
$22,998 |
$26,831 |
$30,664 |
| Master’s and Post-Bachelors Certificates |
$5,674 |
$11,348 |
$17,022 |
$22,696 |
$28,370 |
$34,044 |
|
| Doctoral and Post-Master’s Certificates |
$6,338 |
$12,676 |
$19,014 |
$25,352 |
$31,690 |
$38,028 |
The budgets for 2020-2021 are:
| |
Number of Courses in the Loan Period |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6(+) |
7 |
8(+) |
| Undergraduate |
$3,917 |
$7,834 |
$11,751 |
$15,668 |
$19,585 |
$23,502 |
$27,419 |
$31,336 |
| Masters and Post-Bachelors Certificates |
$5,860 |
$11,720 |
$17,580 |
$23,440 |
$29,300 |
$35,160 |
|
| Doctoral and Post-Masters Certificates |
$6,487 |
$12,974 |
$19,461 |
$25,948 |
$32,435 |
$38,922 |
Budget Restrictions
Certain student categories are restricted with regard to allowable budget components:
| Student Category |
Restriction(s) |
| Correspondence students |
N/A - NCU is an online education institution and does not offer correspondence courses |
| Incarcerated students |
- Are limited in COA determination to tuition and fees, required books, and supplies
- Are ineligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA) loans
- If in a federal or state penal institution are ineligible for Pell grants
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| Less-than-half-time students |
N/A - All students at NCU are considered full-time. |
| Active Military Students and Students Receiving Military Tuition Assistance |
Active Military students and students receiving military tuition assistance may have reduced budgets to allow for BAH payments and reduced tuition, when applicable. |
| Employee Voucher |
Employees with approved vouchers are charged for tuition - therefore the student’s budget may be adjusted to ensure the student does not exceed COA. |
| Students using Title IV funding concurrently at another institution. |
NCU will only award direct cost to student using Title IV funding at another institution. |
Budget Appeals
A written appeal can be submitted to the Student Financial Services Team if the student believes they have unusual expenses not reflected in the standard budget. The appeal letter must include a description of the unusual circumstances and in some cases, additional documentation may be required. The Student Financial Services Team will notify the student of the decision.
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