Cost of Attendance (COA) Appeal

What is a Cost of Attendance (COA) Appeal? 

The Cost of Attendance (COA) for an academic program provides a realistic estimate of the costs a student may incur while attending the University of South Alabama. If the standard COA does not accurately reflect basic educational expenses, students may submit a COA Appeal and upload supporting documentation of their expenses.

Please Note: COA Appeals will open June 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 aid year. 

A COA Appeal may be considered for the following expenses if a student is incurring increased costs that are not captured within the standard COA:

• Required tuition
• Required books, course materials, supplies & equipment 
• Housing (student's share only and will take the average of the specific location if living off-campus)
• Educational transportation costs
• Participation in a study-abroad program
• Dependent care expenses
• USA Student Health Insurance (if required for course of study)
• Purchase of a computer/laptop (one-time reasonable purchase)

Expenses that cannot be considered for a COA Appeal but are not limited to:

• Consumer bills (i.e., credit card debt, car payments)
• Food and on-campus meal expenses for off-campus students
• Expenses for extracurricular activities (i.e., sports, internships)
• Relocation expenses
• Expenses for other family members
• Pet or hobby expenses

If the appeal is approved, the amount the student or their parent is eligible to borrow will increase.  Due to annual and aggregate Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan limits, it is possible that eligibility could be restricted to a PLUS Loan and/or Private Student Loans.  

Submitting a COA Appeal does not guarantee that the COA will change. If loans are increased due to a COA Appeal, it is the student's responsibility (or, the parent if the increase is in Parent PLUS Loan eligibility) to take the necessary steps to secure the additional loan funds.

Steps to Submit a COA Appeal

1. Log into the Verification Portal using your JagNet credentials;

2. Confirm the 4 key identifiers from the FAFSA (first name, last name, date of birth and social security number);

3. Click the Manage Requests box in the upper right hand corner of the page and select the blue plus sign for Cost of Attendance (COA) Appeal  for the appropriate aid year. 

4. Complete the COA Appeal and upload documentation to support the circumstances.

NOTE: COA Appeals for College of Medicine students should be directed to the Associate Director of Financial Aid for the College of Medicine. 

COA Appeal FAQs