How does Virginia Tech determine cost of attendance for financial aid?

Virginia Tech’s cost of attendance for financial aid includes both direct billed charges and estimated indirect expenses. The main categories are tuition and mandatory fees, housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal or miscellaneous expenses. That total is used as the school’s budget for awarding financial aid, so your grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study are generally packaged up to that limit.

For students living on campus, Virginia Tech builds in standard estimates for residence hall housing and a meal plan. For students living off campus or with family, the housing and food allowance is different, since those costs are not billed by the university in the same way. Tuition and fees can also vary based on Virginia residency status and sometimes by academic program.

Books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses are usually allowances rather than exact charges on your bill. In other words, Virginia Tech uses estimated average amounts for those items to reflect what a typical student may need during the academic year. Your actual billed university balance may be much lower than the full cost of attendance if some of those expenses are paid separately or end up costing less.

In the aid process, Virginia Tech compares your cost of attendance with your Student Aid Index and other financial information to determine financial need for need-based aid. The cost of attendance also sets the ceiling for total aid from all sources.