Which of the following is not an allowed cost type for including loan origination fees in the cost of attendance?

• A. Minimum or maximum
• B. Actual or excessive
• C. Average or actual
• D. Estimated or projected

Answer: (A)

Cost of attendance should reflect a realistic, representative estimate of what a student will incur. When including loan origination fees, schools base those costs on methods that capture typical expenses—actual costs incurred, average costs for the program, or estimated/projected costs for the coming year. These approaches provide a balanced view that applies to most students. Using a minimum or maximum value would hinge on an extreme scenario and wouldn’t represent the typical student experience, which is why that option isn’t allowed. So, loan origination fees can be tied to actual, average, or estimated/projected costs, but not to minimum or maximum values.