COST OF ATTENDANCE 2023-2024

Cost of Attendance is a list of the expected expenses you may incur during the academic year. These include tuition, fees, housing, food, books/supplies, miscellaneous and personal expenses, and travel. Your financial aid offers are based on the full cost of attendance, i.e., if you applied for aid then you have received aid offers that could include grant/scholarship, loans and Work-Study, and the total of this aid will equal your cost of attendance.

DIRECT VS. INDIRECT COSTS

The billed or “direct cost” for W&L includes tuition, fees, housing and food. Your Fall and Winter Term bills are posted in July and November. First-year students are billed for the full meal plan but can reduce the plan in subsequent years; your aid award will continue to be based on the full meal plan, meaning no reduction in aid if you choose a lesser plan in the future. There are other expenses you will incur during the year such as books, supplies, general personal needs and travel. These items are considered “indirect costs” and in most cases will not be part of your term bill. You will see book charges on your bill if you purchase your books or supplies from the University Store and choose to charge the purchase home.

Credit Balance

Some students receive aid that exceeds their direct costs. The remaining funds on the student’s billing account after all charges are paid is the credit balance. The credit balance appears as a negative amount due. A credit balance can be used to cover any indirect costs such as books, supplies, travel to and from campus, student activities, etc.

Travel To Campus

Students are expected to make their own travel arrangements to and from W&L during the academic year. W&L does not pay for your travel but you can use any credit generated by grants or loans to reimburse yourself for some or all of your travel expenses. An estimated amount for travel, based on the location of your home, is part of your overall Cost of Attendance budget, and travel expenses are incorporated into your total aid package. These funds may or may not be part of your grant or scholarship and may have been provided in the form of a loan offer. Any credit generated by a grant, scholarship or loan can be accessed at the start for your Fall and Winter Terms. The amount estimated for your travel may vary from your actual costs.

Buying Your Books

You can purchase your textbooks and supplies from the W&L University Store when you arrive on campus. These materials can be charged directly to your student account. If you have a credit on your account because of your grant/scholarship or loan, then this charge will reduce that credit. Even if you do not have a credit you can still charge to your student account. This charge will show as an amount due on your next university bill.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is required for all students. A University health insurance plan can be purchased if you are unable to obtain coverage through your parents or an outside source that meets W&L requirements. If you are required to purchase the W&L health insurance plan you can receive funding to cover the additional cost. Some students with very high need are eligible for grant increases and all other students can receive additional loan funding. Once you have purchased the W&L plan the charge will appear on your student account. The credit created by your grant or loan will take place in late August or early September. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions regarding your eligibility to receive additional grant or loan funding to offset this cost.

First-year students get the lay of the land on nearby House Mountain.