A. Purpose
- A student budget represents an estimate of the costs a student will incur for a specified period of enrollment, usually one academic year.
- The total aid a student may receive from Student Financial Assistance programs and other sources cannot exceed the student’s budget.
- The Student Financial Aid Office has set student budgets that represent the amount of tuition and fees needed to attend Gonzaga University.
- Additional amounts are built into student budgets to represent estimated expenses for books, a modest cost of living allowance*, transportation, personal and student loan fees.
- A student’s budget may be increased on a case-by-case basis beyond the set standards for reasonable expenses.
- Reasonable expenses and the accompanying required documentation are defined below.
*Financial aid programs are meant to fund the student and may not cover a spouse or family.
B. Budget Increases Can Be Considered With Required Documentation:
Medical insurance for the student only is considered a valid expense for which a student’s budget may be increased. The maximum allowable increase for any student health policy is $3,220 a year. Contact the law school financial aid counselor for details.
Child care costs for the student’s dependents are considered a reasonable budget expense. In determining reasonable expenses, consideration will be given to the age of the dependent(s), the student’s enrollment status (full-time vs. half-time) and the student’s employment status. Current full-time day care expenses for a newborn can range from $500 to $700 per month. Required documentation consists of a signed, written statement or a company receipt from the child’s care provider itemizing the monthly costs. Tuition and fees for preschool or private school are excluded.
PC or laptop computer adjustments require documentation in the form of a PAID invoice or receipt. Reasonable computer expenses will not exceed a one-time only adjustment of up to $2,000 or the cost of the receipt, whichever is less. This does not cover printers or cases and only covers essential software. This loan will be split between the two semesters.
Transportation expenses such as automobile repairs will be considered. Only those repairs necessary to keep the automobile in safe working condition will be evaluated. Auto repair costs will be considered up to $1,700 in any three-year period. Acceptable automobile repair documentation is a copy of a PAID receipt and an invoice outlining the repairs. Normal upkeep and maintenance such as oil changes, tires and tune-ups cannot be considered.
Note: Automobile expenses such as car payments or car insurance cannot be considered.
C. Procedures
If you would like to make a budget adjustment, contact your designated financial aid counselor. The counselor will only consider an adjustment that meets one of the above definitions.
