Knowing the cost of attendance can help you budget and better plan the financing of your education. The costs are an average for an academic year (fall and spring) and have been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Our office takes the cost of attendance into consideration, along with your financial need, when awarding grants, work-study and student and parent loans. The combination of any federal, state and institutional aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.  The official cost of attendance is based on the below expenses.

Financial aid awards, as well as the cost of attendance, are based on full-time enrollment. If on the 12th class day of the semester (4th day for summer sessions) you are not enrolled at least full-time, your financial aid cost of attendance will be reduced and prorated based on your actual enrollment. Such a reduction may result in your becoming ineligible for financial aid that you have already received.

As a result, you will be required, as set forth by federal regulations, to repay the aid for which you are no longer eligible. If you do not plan to be enrolled on a full-time basis, please let us know as early as possible. Early notification will allow us to proactively adjust your awards and cost of attendance and possibly prevent you from having to repay funds.

Your enrollment status is based only on the hours for which you are actually enrolled. Federal rules do not permit us to adjust enrollment based on internships, student teaching or recommendations from the Office of Disability Services.

Also, the retaking of previously-passed coursework for the second or subsequent time cannot be considered for aid eligibility. If you are enrolled in such hours on the census day (e.g., 12th day of classes during the fall or spring semester), your aid-eligible enrollment will be reduced, accordingly. Therefore, you may be required to repay any aid that you received for such courses. 

Tuition and Fees

The average cost of tuition and fees for a typical student based on enrolling for 30 hours per year.  The actual costs that a student incurs will vary depending on the student's degree or certificate program.  To determine your actual tuition and fees charges, visit Texas State Tuition & Fees, Room & Board Rates.

Room and Board

A reasonable estimate of what it would cost to live in San Marcos while attending school.  Actual costs may vary by individual choices related to location.

Books and Supplies

The average cost of books and supplies for a typical student for an entire academic year.

Travel

The travel allowance is allocated for the expenses you incur traveling to and from campus. It is not designed to include such expenditures as vehicle maintenance and the purchase of a vehicle.

Personal and Miscellaneous Expenses

These expenses include miscellaneous items you will purchase throughout the academic year that are related to your educational costs. Your actual miscellaneous expenses will vary from the budgeted average depending on your spending habits.

Your actual costs will vary depending on the following factors:

• Number of credit hours
• Residency (Texas resident or non-Texas resident)
• Room and board choices
• Degree plan
• Personal expenses

Undergraduate - 15 hours per semester