Medical Student Cost of Attendance Sheet (COA)
The estimated cost of attendance figures, as established by the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) in consultation with the College of Medicine, should help you to plan your educational financing. Great care has been taken to calculate a fair student cost of attendance, reflective of average living costs in Iowa City. These figures are used in conjunction with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data to determine your financial need. No school-approved financial aid is available to meet expenses that exceed the estimated cost of attendance. The information that you supplied on the FAFSA is analyzed to derive an expected amount you should be able to contribute toward your costs. Your expected student contribution is based on your assets and your base year income (2007 income on 2008-09 aid applications). If you are concerned about your expected student contribution and there is a big discrepancy between your base year and expected income in the upcoming year, you may want to schedule an appointment with your financial aid advisor to discuss your expected contribution. The OSFA may be able to adjust the analysis to use your expected income in the upcoming year instead of base year income. This adjustment is done on a case-by-case basis.
Resident
Non-Resident
Tuition And Fees
Your Cost of Attendance figure includes actual tuition charges based on your expected number of credit hours per semester, your classification level in medical school (M1 – M4) and on your residency status in the state of Iowa (see Cost of Attendance). All full-time medical students are assessed general University of Iowa fees in addition to Medical School tuition. If you are not receiving financial aid, tuition and fees will be charged in full on the first University Bill (U Bill) each semester. You may choose to pay the balance in full or to pay the minimum monthly payment for tuition (one of three installments each semester) for a $20 per semester deferred payment charge. A third payment option is to contract with the Tuition Management Systems Optional Payment Plan which enables you to pay these charges over a ten month period for a $55 fee. For specific information contact the Tuition Management systems at 1-800-722-4867. If you receive financial aid: all financial aid sources will be applied to your university account and the appropriate tuition and fees will be withheld. Within about five days of the start of each semester (if you are properly registered, your promissory notes have been signed in advance and your university account is current), an excess funds check (financial aid disbursement check) will be mailed to you or directly deposited at your financial institution if you have authorized the Business Office to do so. IF YOU MOVE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS WITH THE UNIVERSITY IMMEDIATELY. If your financial aid does not cover all of your tuition and fees, the balance of these charges will be billed to you on your first U bill of the semester, along with other miscellaneous charges you have made to your account. Miscellaneous charges (books, hospital meals, etc.) are billed to your university account on the first of every month, with the payment due on the 15th day of the billing month. Students who have not paid their U bill by the due date will be reported to the Registrar for restriction of registration. If the registration restriction is not lifted by the end of the month, a $25 reinstatement fee will be added to the next U bill.
Books & Supplies
The books and supplies portion of the Cost of Attendance reflects the cost of all required books and medical instruments, as well as the cost of the UI student health insurance plan for a single student. Whenever possible, these costs are based on Medical Student Bookstore prices which reflect a considerable savings. If a course does not have a required text but lists two or more highly recommended texts, the most expensive one is allotted in the budget. The amount calculated for medical instruments is based on average prices, as per the annual instrument fair, and is currently figured at $700. Since it is required that you obtain some vaccinations by the end of the first semester in medical school, we have included $217 in the books and supplies portion of the M1 Cost of Attendance to permit you to obtain these. There will be a $345 Gross Anatomy lab fee and a $45 fee for Biochemistry course materials assessed for the M1 fall semester. Also included in the M1 book budget is a $65 microscope rental fee and neuroscience course fee of $40 for spring. There is $10 included in the cost of attendance for all four classes to permit students to obtain an influenza vaccination each year. The M2 cost of attendance includes $300 for a lab fee for Infectious Diseases. The M2 and M4 Costs of Attendance include the cost for the USMLE licensing exam since it is required that you take them prior to proceeding into the third year or prior to graduation.
Living Expenses (Room and Board, Personal and Transportation Costs)
The estimated cost of attendance for M1 and M2 students includes nine months of expenses. During the third and fourth years, living expenses increase as clerkships or electives are scheduled over a twelve-month period. The amount for room and board in the budget is meant to cover the average rent, utilities and food costs for the academic year based on two people sharing an "average" two-bedroom apartment in the Iowa City/Coralville area. The personal expenses allotment is for miscellaneous costs, such as clothes, personal hygiene items and entertainment costs. The transportation portion of the cost of attendance assumes use of the local bus systems and includes two average bus trips across country per academic year. Your budget cannot be adjusted for the purchase of a car, for car payments or for auto insurance.
Students With Dependents
According to the student Cost of Attendance construction rules, only the student's costs are to be included in the expected COA, regardless of filing status (single, married or with dependents). Other dependents are taken into consideration in the establishment of the expected student contribution during the FAFSA needs analysis. Since the standard Cost of Attendance includes expenses only for the student, it will be necessary for students with dependents to identify means other than student financial aid to support their immediate family. Generally, unless you have children, it is expected that your spouse will be employed. If your spouse attends school, he/she will be expected to apply for his/her own financial aid. Should your spouse be unable to find employment, is unemployed due to caring for small children at home, or is unable to earn sufficient money to support your family, you may wish to make an appointment with your financial aid advisor to discuss your personal situation.
Adjustments to Cost of Attendance
It is expected that you will keep your expenses within the budget (COA) that is established. It is recognized, however, that you may have exceptional expenses that are reasonable and necessary, such as child care, medical or dental expenses, or extensive car repairs. In cases where appropriate documentation is provided to the OSFA, it may be possible to include these expenses in your Cost of Attendance. See your financial aid advisor if this pertains to you and you are in need of further financial assistance and advice.