Methodology of Cost of Attendance Database: University financial aid offices set figures for the actual cost of attendance (COA) at their respective colleges. It’s largely done so students can determine how much financial aid they may need or are allowed to obtain in order to attend that institution. The U.S. Department of Education provides guidelines -- money can be calculated for tuition and fees; room and board; books; supplies; transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses. However, financial aid offices at each school decide the amounts of each type of cost.
The five wealthiest conferences have now expanded the definition of an athletic scholarship to include COA. Every Division I school is allowed, but not required, to provide COA. CBS Sports surveyed all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision schools (128 playing football, plus UAB) for their 2015-16 COA information. Here is how we defined the terms in our database:
Highest Average New Cost Per Scholarship: This is the highest average additional dollar amount that a school’s athletes could receive in 2015-16 due to the NCAA’s new COA definition, according to figures schools provided to CBS Sports. It’s important to note: The numbers in the CBS Sports database are not necessarily the definitive COA figure for every school, nor do they mean a school is providing COA. (The “Estimated New Costs” category shows whether a school is providing COA or not.)
Many universities listed multiple COA numbers, such as for whether a student lives on or off campus and comes from in state or out of state. When schools noted these differences, CBS Sports marked those universities with an asterisk (*) and listed variances in footnotes. The COA numbers that are listed can still vary based on individual needs, such as transportation allowance. These numbers are for full-scholarship athletes. Schools vary on whether they are providing COA to partial-scholarship athletes. If they do, the award is sometimes based on the percentage of scholarship a player receives in relation to the COA number. An athlete with a 25-percent scholarship might receive 25 percent of COA.
Estimated New Costs: This shows how much money each university’s athletic department is budgeting for new COA expenses in 2015-16. Some amounts schools provided were exact budget figures, others were estimates. Budget dollars can vary based on the figures set by financial aid offices, how many athletes are on scholarship, and how committed schools are to implementing COA. Some lower-resourced universities are either not providing COA yet, undecided on what their figures will be and/or how much they will spend, or phasing in the new costs over multiple years.
This database will be updated periodically as schools provide additional survey information. Figures in the database are applicable for other sports besides football.
| AAC 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Cincinnati | $6,082 | $600,000 | Ohio |
| Memphis | $5,373 | Did not provide | Tennessee |
| Central Florida | $4,944 | $685,890 | Florida |
| Houston | $4,544 | $1,030,000 | Texas |
| South Florida* | $4,100 | $750,000 | Florida |
| East Carolina* | $4,025 | $720,000 | North Carolina |
| UConn * | $3,350 | $1,000,000^ | Connecticut |
| SMU | $2,676 | Declined to provide | Texas |
| Temple | $2,500 | Did not provide | Pennsylvania |
| Tulane | $2,500 | Did not provide | Louisiana |
| Tulsa | $2,500 | Declined to provide | Oklahoma |
| Navy | Not applicable | Not applicable | Maryland |
AAC Footnotes
* UConn’s COA is $3,350 out of state and $2,850 in state.
^ UConn’s estimated new costs range from $800,000 to a maximum of $1 million.
* East Carolina plans to increase COA costs from $720,000 in 2015 to $970,000 in 2016.
* South Florida says additional expenses under university and NCAA rules can allow its COA number to grow from $4,100 to $4,500.
| ACC 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Florida State* | $6,018 | $2,000,000 | Florida |
| Louisville | $5,364 | $1,300,000 | Kentucky |
| Virginia* | $4,450 | $1,330,000 | Virginia |
| Clemson | $3,906 | $975,000 | South Carolina |
| North Carolina* | $3,703 | $1,000,000 | North Carolina |
| Virginia Tech* | $3,620 | $950,000 | Virginia |
| Wake Forest | $3,062 | Declined to provide | North Carolina |
| NC State | $2,706 | $800,000 | North Carolina |
| Georgia Tech | $2,000 | $500,000 | Georgia |
| Boston College* | $1,250 + travel | Declined to provide | Massachusetts |
| Duke | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | North Carolina |
| Miami | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | Florida |
| Pittsburgh | Did not provide | $800,000 | Pennsylvania |
| Syracuse | Did not provide | Did not provide | New York |
ACC Footnotes
* Boston College’s full athletic scholarship is $1,250 for miscellaneous expenses plus travel allowance if from outside New England (travel amount determined by home residence).
* Florida State’s COA is $6,018 out of state and $4,500 in state.
* North Carolina’s COA averages are $3,703 out of state and $2,745 in state (numbers will vary for every student).
* Virginia’s COA is $4,450-$3,470 out-of-state undergraduate (varies by travel allowance), $3,180 in-state undergraduate, $4,785 graduate student.
* Virginia Tech’s COA is $3,620 out of state and $3,280 in state.
| Big Ten 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Wisconsin* | $4,916 | $2,000,000 | Wisconsin |
| Rutgers* | $4,900 | $950,000 | New Jersey |
| Penn State | $4,700 | $1,750,000^ | Pennsylvania |
| Purdue | $4,250 | $1,000,000 | Indiana |
| Maryland* | $4,196 | $1,000,000 | Maryland |
| Minnesota* | $3,700 | $1,300,000 | Minnesota |
| Nebraska | $3,604 | $1,000,000 | Nebraska |
| Iowa* | $3,305 | $700,000^ | Iowa |
| Indiana | $3,126 | $1,000,000 | Indiana |
| Ohio State* | $2,970 | $1,650,000 | Ohio |
| Michigan State* | $2,916 | $1 million | Michigan |
| Illinois | $2,900 | $750,000 | Illinois |
| Michigan* | $2,354 | $1,030,000 | Michigan |
| Northwestern | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | Illinois |
Big Ten Footnotes
* Iowa’s COA is $3,305 off campus and $2,051 on campus.
^ Iowa’s estimated new costs range from $650,000 to a maximum of $700,000.
* Maryland’s COA is $4,196 off campus and $2,820 on campus.
* Michigan’s COA is $2,354 undergrad and $4,690 grad student.
* Michigan State’s COA is $2,916 out of state and $2,164 in state.
* Minnesota’s COA is $3,700 out of state and $2,200 in state.
* Ohio State’s COA is $2,970 out of state and $2,602 in state.
^ Penn State’s estimated new costs range from $1.7 million to a maximum of $1.75 million.
* Purdue’s COA is $2,200 in state, $2,360 for Midwest states, $4,250 all other states and international.
* Rutgers’ estimated COA is $4,800-$4,900 out of state and $4,100-$4,200 in state.
* Wisconsin’s COA is $4,916 out of state/on campus, $4,032 out of state/off campus, $4,316 in state/on campus, $3,432 in state/off campus, $4,656 Minnesota resident/on campus, $3,772 Minnesota resident/off campus.
| Big 12 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Texas Tech | $4,820 | $1,000,000 | Texas |
| TCU | $4,700 | Declined to provide | Texas |
| Oklahoma State | $4,640 | $1,100,000 | Oklahoma |
| Oklahoma* | $4,605 | $1,000,000 | Oklahoma |
| Texas | $4,310 | $1,500,000 | Texas |
| Kansas State* | $4,216 | $925,000 | Kansas |
| Kansas | $2,908 | $697,000 | Kansas |
| West Virginia* | $2,700 | $570,000 | West Virginia |
| Iowa State | $2,430 | $575,000 | Iowa |
| Baylor | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | Texas |
Big 12 Footnotes
* Kansas State’s COA is $4,216 out of state and $3,916 in state.
* Oklahoma’s COA is $4,605 on campus and $2,497 off campus.
* West Virginia’s COA is $2,700 out of state and $2,400 in state.
| Conference USA 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Florida Atlantic* | $6,060 | $300,000^ | Florida |
| Florida International | $6,000 | Not offering until 2016 | Florida |
| UAB* | $5,668 | Not offering until 2016 | Alabama |
| North Texas* | $3,982 | Did not provide | Texas |
| Southern Miss | $3,970 | Undecided it offering | Mississippi |
| Texas-El Paso | $3,216 | $655,099 | Texas |
| Old Dominion | $2,900 | Not offering in 2015 | Virginia |
| Charlotte* | $2,892 | $220,000 | North Carolina |
| Texas-San Antonio | $2,506 | Not offering until 2016 | Texas |
| Marshall | $2,000 | $500,000 | West Virginia |
| Louisiana Tech | Did not provide | Not offering in 2015 | Louisiana |
| Middle Tennessee | Did not provide | Did not provide | Tennessee |
| Rice | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | Texas |
| Western Kentucky | Did not provide | Not offering in 2015 | Kentucky |
Conference USA Footnotes
* Charlotte’s COA is $2,892 out of state and $2,474 in state.
* Florida Atlantic’s COA is $6,060 off campus and $4,876 on campus.
^ Florida Atlantic’s estimated new costs range from $200,000 to a maximum of $300,000.
* North Texas’ COA is $3,982 off campus and $3,074 on campus.
* UAB’s COA is $5,668 out of state and $4,979 in state. UAB is not playing football again until 2017.
| MAC 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Bowling Green* | $4,486 | $450,000 | Ohio |
| Buffalo* | $3,854 | $376,000 | New York |
| Toledo | $3,830 | $830,000 | Ohio |
| Ohio | $3,282 | $750,000 | Ohio |
| Ball State | $3,200 | $800,000 | Indiana |
| Eastern Michigan* | $3,154 | $694,000 | Michigan |
| Northern Illinois | $3,084 | $800,000 | Illinois |
| Miami* | $1,873 | $375,046 | Ohio |
| UMass | $1,600 | $315,000 | Massachusetts |
| Akron | Did not provide | Undecided if offering | Ohio |
| Central Michigan | Did not provide data | Undecided if offering | Michigan |
| Kent State | Did not provide | Did not provide | Ohio |
| Western Michigan | Did not provide | Did not provide | Michigan |
MAC Footnotes
* Bowling Green’s COA is $4,486 off campus and $3,530 on campus.
* Buffalo’s COA is $3,854 off campus and $2,776 on campus.
* Eastern Michigan’s COA is $3,154 out of state/off campus, $2,814 out of state/on campus, $2,554 in state/off campus and $2,214 in state/on campus.
* Miami of Ohio’s COA is $1,873 out of state and $763 in state.
| MWC 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Boise State | $5,100 | $1,150,000 | Idaho |
| Nevada | $4,800 | Not offering until 2016 | Nevada |
| Wyoming | $4,240 | $718,956 | Wyoming |
| Hawaii* | $3,925 | Did not provide | Hawaii |
| San Jose State | $3,900 | $1,100,000 | California |
| UNLV* | $3,800 | $123,000 | Nevada |
| Utah State | $3,720 | $783,432 | Utah |
| San Diego State* | $3,659 | $675,000 | California |
| Fresno State | $3,500 | $1,000,000 | California |
| Colorado State* | $3,374 | $654,000 | Colorado |
| New Mexico | $2,700 | $700,000 | New Mexico |
| Air Force | Not applicable | Not applicable | Colorado |
Mountain West Footnotes
* Colorado State’s COA is $3,374 out of state and $2,674 in state.
* Hawaii’s COA is $3,925 on/off campus and $2,544 living at home.
* San Diego State’s COA is $3,659 on campus and $1,787 off campus.
* UNLV’s estimated COA will range from $3,500 to a maximum of $3,800.
| Pac-12 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| UCLA* | $5,941 | $1,500,000 | California |
| Stanford* | $5,610 | Declined to provide | California |
| Colorado* | $3,970 | $460,000 | Colorado |
| Utah | $3,574 | $857,760 | Utah |
| Washington State | $3,542 | $818,202 | Washington |
| Arizona State* | $3,499 | $700,000^ | Arizona |
| Washington | $3,085 | $830,000 | Washington |
| California | $2,800 | $800,000 | California |
| Oregon State | $2,484 | $621,000 | Oregon |
| Oregon | $2,382 | $572,000 | Oregon |
| Arizona | $1,602 | $400,000 | Arizona |
| USC* | $1,580 | Declined to provide | California |
Pac-12 Footnotes
* Arizona State's COA is $3,499 on campus and $1,941 off campus.
^ Arizona State’s estimated new costs range from $500,000 to a maximum of $700,000.
* Colorado’s COA is $3,970 out of state and $3,294 in state.
* Stanford’s personal expenses stipend for athletes is $2,625 and its travel stipend ranges from $405-$2,985 (varies based on domestic and international travel needs).
* UCLA’s COA is $5,941 off campus and $5,242 on campus.
* USC’s COA is $1,580. USC says its COA can rise to $2,151 based on factors such as new/continuing student and on/off campus.
| SEC 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Tennessee | $5,666 | $1,400,000 | Tennessee |
| Auburn | $5,586 | $2,100,000 | Alabama |
| Alabama* | $5,386 | Did not provide | Alabama |
| Mississippi State | $5,156 | $1,300,000 | Mississippi |
| Ole Miss | $4,890 | $1,370,000 | Mississippi |
| Arkansas | $4,500 | $1,200,000 | Arkansas |
| Missouri | $4,290 | $1,000,000 | Missouri |
| South Carolina | $4,201 | $1,300,000 | South Carolina |
| Florida | $3,830 | $1 million | Florida |
| LSU* | $3,800 | Did not respond | Louisiana |
| Georgia* | $3,746 | $950,000 | Georgia |
| Kentucky* | $3,598 | $1 million | Kentucky |
| Texas A&M* | $3,528 | $1,000,000 | Texas |
| Vanderbilt | Declined to provide | Declined to provide | Tennessee |
SEC Footnotes
* Alabama’s COA is $5,386 out of state and $4,172 in state.
* Georgia’s COA is $3,746 out of state and $3,221 in state.
* Kentucky’s COA is $3,598 out of state and $3,330 in state.
* LSU’s COA is $3,800 off campus and $3,200 on campus. Those figures came from the Baton Rouge Advocate.
* Texas A&M’s COA is $3,528 out of state and $3,000 in state.
| Sun Belt 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| Louisiana-Monroe | $6,056 | Undecided if offering | Louisiana |
| Georgia Southern* | $5,880 | Not offering until 2016 | Georgia |
| South Alabama | $5,470 | $850,000 | Alabama |
| New Mexico State* | $4,046 | Not offering in 2015 | New Mexico |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | $4,036 | Undecided if offering | Louisiana |
| Arkansas State* | $4,000 | $816,000 | Arkansas |
| Idaho | $3,604 | Not offering in 2015 | Idaho |
| Georgia State* | $3,570 | Not offering in 2015 | Georgia |
| Appalachian State | $3,400 | Not offering until 2016 | North Carolina |
| Texas State | $3,060 | Not offering until 2016 | Texas |
| Troy | Did not provide | Did not provide | Alabama |
Sun Belt Footnotes
* Arkansas State could pay up to $4,533 based on its COA number, but the actual stipend amount to players is $4,000.
* Georgia Southern’s COA is $5,880 out of state and $5,664 in state.
* Georgia State’s COA is $3,570 on campus and $1,538 off campus.
* New Mexico State’s COA is $4,046 out of state and $4,045 in state.
| Independent 2015-16 Cost of Attendance | |||
| School | Highest Avg. New Cost / Scholarship | Estimated New Costs | State |
| BYU | $4,500 | Declined to provide | Utah |
| Notre Dame* | $2,200 | $650,000 | Indiana |
| Army | Not applicable | Not applicable | New York |
Independent Footnotes
* Notre Dame’s average COA is $1,200 for personal expenses and $750 for transportation, which is individualized based on home state. The transportation allowance generally ranges from $500-$1,000.
