Which of the following costs could be included in a student's COA?

• A. The fees associated with a college's tuition payment plan
• B. The cost to obtain a passport for an eligible study abroad program
• C. The cost of a transcription service to evaluate a foreign credential
• D. Local transportation costs

Answer: (B)

Cost of Attendance covers what a student needs to pay to attend school, including expenses tied to participating in a study abroad program. If the study abroad program requires it, obtaining a passport is a necessary step to travel internationally, so its cost can be included in COA as part of the expenses required to participate. Financing or processing fees for paying tuition (like a payment plan fee) don’t reflect the actual cost to attend and aren’t counted in COA. Fees for credential evaluation are part of admissions and not costs of attending the program, so they aren’t included in COA. Local transportation is typically a standard transportation expense within COA, but the passport example stands out as a specific, program-required cost.