Budgeting for college starts with an estimate of what the total cost will be for one academic year. MSOE and other schools factor in not only direct costs billed to the student (tuition, housing and meals, technology and infrastructure fees) but also estimates non-billed costs (books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation) that a family could incur while sending a student to college.

A student's financial aid for a given year cannot exceed the cost of attendance listed below.

MSOE establishes standard expenses that represent typical costs for students during the academic year. These costs are based on a number of variables such as enrollment status, student dependency status, and living arrangements (whether on or off campus or with parents).

Although it is impossible to estimate a student's unique expenses, these budgets approximate the average direct and indirect costs for many students. Below outlines the average cost of attendance that a student could incur across undergraduate and graduate student populations. Students may use these categories, in conjunction with the expense planner, to assist in planning for the total cost of attendance.

2023- 2024 Cost of Attendance Figures

Undergraduate Full-Time Students

Cost Category On-Campus With Parent Off-Campus
Tuition See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page
Technology Fee  See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page
Infrastructure Fee for Full Time Students See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page See our Undergraduate Tuition Page
Books and Supplies $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Housing and Meals $12,562* $4,882 $12,562
Personal Expenses $1,782 $1,782 $1,782
Transportation $350 $1,216 $3,984
Total $64,115 $57,301 $67,749

* (On campus based on average housing and meals, see exact costs on Housing and Meal Plan Page)

Graduate Full-Time Students

Cost Category On-Campus With Parent Off-Campus
Tuition See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page
Technology Fee  See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page
Infrastructure Fee for Full Time Students See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page See our Graduate Tuition Page
Books and Supplies $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Housing and Meals $12,562* $4,882 $12,562
Personal Expenses $1,920 $1,920 $1,920
Transportation $350 $1,216 $3,984
Total* $26,272-$42,832* $19,458-$36,018* $29,906-$46,466*
*Total cost based
on program
     

*(On Campus based on average housing and meals, see exact costs on Housing and Meal Plan Page)

Please note that the above examples are if a student stays at the same housing and enrollment level for the entire academic year. A student’s status is set on Friday of Week 1, the census date, each academic term. Budgets do not include summer periods of enrollment.

The maximum financial aid a student can accept cannot exceed their given budget or cost of attendance. Please contact our office if you have concerns or if your family situation is not accurately reflected in these figures.

*As a reminder, these budgets are estimations based on standard enrollment figures, standard meal plan, and MLH double rooms. These totals may not reflect your exact cost. For information on the direct costs per credit and what will show up on the bill, please visit the Tuition & Fees web page and the Housing & Meal Plan Costs web page.