Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance (COA) is established for use in determining Federal Student Aid eligibility. The COA below is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for a 9-month, 36 quarter credit hour basis, full-time enrollment status, applicable program of study, and housing status.  

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines COA components for all federal student aid programs. These components include direct costs, such as tuition and fees, and indirect costs, like food and housing.  COA can be adjusted annually to reflect changes to these cost components.

Cost of Attendance will vary depending on your program of study, credit hour enrollment, and housing status. Students are not allowed to receive aid that exceeds their COA. It is important to budget wisely and make responsible borrowing decisions. Please email [email protected] for COA information for enrollment other than full-time.

The COA below is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for a 9-month, 36 quarter credit hour basis, full-time enrollment status, applicable program of study, and housing status. It does not represent the cost of the overall program nor when charges are applied.  All institutions of higher education are required to provide an estimated budget that would best state the average overall COA for a student to attend their school. In addition to tuition and fees, categorical items in this budget include the estimated cost of living expenses, books, supplies, & course materials, miscellaneous personal expenses, and transportation. The COA provides an idea, or estimate, of how much the student might need to spend, in addition to paying tuition and fees. These estimates can help to determine the student’s ability to attend HCN. Anything listed in the COA budget that is not tuition and fees is not owed to HCN unless the student purchases items through the College, such as books, computers, supplies, etc.

Practical Nursing Student: 2023-24 Award Year

*PN Students attending the Indianapolis Campus must add an additional Tuition & Fees charge of $411.60 and an additional $5.09 in Books & Supplies.
** As Determined by the United States Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Associate Degree Nursing Student (ADN): 2023-24 Award Year

Cost of Attendance Components – Definitions

Below we provide the updated definitions of commonly used COA terms based on the statutory changes in section 472 of the HEA, incorporating, as applicable and/or requested via the Professional Judgement process:

Tuition and fees – charged by the College
An amount normally assessed a student carrying the same academic workload, as determined by the institution. 

Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment – possibly charged by the College, if the student purchases through HCN
An allowance for books, course materials, and equipment, which must include all such costs required of all students in the same course of study, including a reasonable allowance for the rental or upfront purchase of a personal computer, as determined by the institution.

Miscellaneous personal expenses – not charged by the College
An allowance, as determined by the institution, for a student attending the institution on at least a half-time basis.

Transportation – not charged by the College
An allowance, as determined by the institution, which may include transportation between campus, residences, and place of work. 

Living expenses – not charged by the College
An allowance for food and housing costs, as determined by the institution, to be incurred by the student attending the institution on at least a half-time basis, including a standard food allowance that provides the equivalent of three meals each day.

Dependent care – not charged by the College
An allowance based on the estimated actual expenses incurred for dependent care, based on the number and age of such dependents. The period for which dependent care is required includes, but is not limited to, class-time, study-time, field work, internships, and commuting time.

Disability-related expenses – not charged by the College
An allowance, as determined by the institution, for expenses associated with a student’s disability, including special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided for by other agencies.

Professional licensure, certification, or a first professional credential – possibly charged by the College, if the student purchases through HCN, please contact [email protected] for further information.
An allowance for the costs associated with obtaining a license, certification, or a first professional credential, for a student in a program that prepares them to enter a profession that requires such a qualification.