Understand What College Could Cost You
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attending college. Your total college costs may also include campus fees, housing, food, books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate CSUSB uses to help you plan for the academic year and determine the maximum amount of financial aid you may receive. It is not a bill and is not the same as tuition. Your actual charges and expenses depend on your enrollment, program, residency, housing choices and individual student account.
Financial aid can help offset educational expenses. Use the Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate, then explore the costs that may be part of attending CSUSB.
What Is My Cost of Attendance?
Your Cost of Attendance (COA) is CSUSB's estimate of what it may cost you to attend college for the nine-month academic year.
Your COA may be different from another student's because it can depend on:
- Your academic level
- How many units you take
- Whether you're a California resident
- Your dependency status
- Whether you commute, live on campus or live off campus
If your housing status for the academic year is different from what was assigned, complete a Change of Status Form to notify the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Students living in university housing will have their housing status confirmed by Housing and Residential Education and adjusted accordingly.
Request a Change of Status Form
Find Your Cost of Attendance
Choose the budget below that best matches you. Each budget shows estimated expenses CSUSB uses when determining financial aid.
Remember: Your Cost of Attendance is a planning estimate, not your CSUSB bill. You may spend more or less depending on your individual circumstances.
Hear From One of Our Students
At CSUSB, affordability helps you put more of your energy where it belongs: on your education, your goals and your future. For many students, lower costs can mean less financial stress and more freedom to focus on making the most of their college experience.
“Because CSUSB is so affordable, it allows me to focus on my academic studies and less on my financial worries.”
Paige Reynoldson
Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing
What Costs Are Included?
Your Cost of Attendance includes costs you may pay directly to CSUSB and other expenses you may have while you're in college.
These expenses may appear on your CSUSB student account:
- Tuition and mandatory campus fees
- On-campus housing, if applicable
- Other required university charges that apply to your program or enrollment
Your student account will show the actual charges you owe CSUSB.
You'll probably have other expenses that aren't billed by CSUSB, such as:
- Books and supplies
- Food
- Housing or rent
- Transportation
- Personal and miscellaneous expenses
- Estimated federal loan origination fees for eligible student or parent borrowers
These expenses are included in your COA because they are common costs of attending college and may be considered when your financial aid is calculated.
The figures used for all categories except tuition and CSUSB campus fees represent average expenses reported by CSUSB students in the 2021 Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS), conducted by the California Student Aid Commission.
The survey establishes base Cost of Attendance amounts that are adjusted annually based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index in non-survey years.
Planning for Housing and Food
Where you live can make a big difference in your college expenses. CSUSB uses different housing and food allowances depending on whether you commute, live on campus, or live off campus. Understanding these estimated costs can help you build a more complete budget for the academic year.
View Housing Rates and Options
Planning to Live Off Campus?
Off-campus housing costs can vary depending on where you live, whether you have roommates and your individual expenses.
CSUSB provides estimated local housing costs for planning purposes in accordance with California Assembly Bill 990.
Published estimate: $23,433, or $11,717 per person
The estimate is based on the average cost of selected local apartment communities and a median food cost of $7,728 based on the 2021–22 SEARS survey.
Published estimate: $26,799, or $13,400 per person
The estimate is based on the average cost of selected local apartment communities and a median food cost of $7,728 based on the 2021–22 SEARS survey.
Published estimate: $14,730, or $7,365 per person
The estimate is based on five locations within a five-mile radius and a median food cost of $7,728 based on the 2021–22 SEARS survey.
These figures are provided for planning purposes only. Your actual housing and living expenses will vary, and these estimates are not housing quotes or guarantees of availability.
Important Information About Tuition and Fees
The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the rights, even after fees are initially charged or initial payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees.
All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide fees, are subject to change without notice until the date when instruction for a particular semester has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor or the presidents, as appropriate.
Changes in mandatory systemwide fees will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Education Code Sections 66028–66028.6).
