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Cost of Attendance Adjustments Policy

The Office of Student Financial Aid may be able to provide you with additional financial aid for the cost of unavoidable educational expenses that are not included in your cost of attendance. Adjustments are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Federal regulations allow for a student's financial aid cost of attendance to be increased in certain situations. The University of Kansas Medical Center will adjust a student's cost of attendance for reasonable educational expenses that exceed a student's financial aid cost of attendance.

Each cost of attendance appeal will be reviewed individually by the Office of Student Financial Aid. A student who is not satisfied with the decision can appeal either by letter or in-person to the Student Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

Decisions of the Student Financial Aid Advisory Committee are final. The director of Student Financial Aid retains the discretion of professional judgment, where permitted, in individual cases.

KU Medical Center has a no cash policy for cost of attendance adjustments. We must be able to substantiate your expenses. This is a reimbursement process. Purchases should be made using a form of payment that is in your name, such as a credit or debit card.

To request a cost of attendance adjustment, please complete the appropriate Cost of Attendance Appeal form. Only expenses incurred during this academic year will be considered.

To allow enough time to process an appeal, request for appeals must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid no later than 45 days prior to the last date of the student's academic year. No adjustments will be considered after the loan period has expired for that academic year. An exception will be made for medical and dental expenses for which an insurance claim has not been paid.

If you have questions about this policy, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, G035 Dykes Library, at 913-588-5170 or email financialaid@kumc.edu.

Cost of Attendance Adjustment Categories

Care of Dependents

If the student or the student's family pays for dependent care by a provider, KU Medical Center will increase the cost of attendance for the cost of the dependent care, not to exceed reasonable costs for dependent care in the community. The Dependent Care Cost of Attendance Appeal form (PDF) will need to be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

For 2023-2024, costs cannot exceed:

  • Birth - 1 year of age, $400/week
  • 1 year - 3 years of age, $318/week
  • 3 years - Kindergarten, $262/week
  • Kindergarten - 12 years of age, $90/week (school year)
  • $174/week (summer)

Students that pay for care for other adult or disabled family members (e.g., elderly parent) should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information.

Computer and Technology Purchase

Up to two times during a student’s academic program, Cost of Attendance (COA) adjustments may be made for the purchase of a computer/related technology expenses. Students are permitted to purchase the computer no earlier than 3 months before the start of their academic program.  Appeals must be submitted no later than 45 days before the end of the semester for which the appeal is intended.

The Student Financial Aid office will consider costs associated with the purchase of a laptop, desktop, portable tablet, CPU, monitor, printer, academically-related hardware/software and extended warranty. Please attach receipts with the item(s) purchased, the date and the cost. The receipt must be submitted prior to the disbursement of aid for this purchase along with a Technology Purchase Cost of Attendance Appeal form (PDF).

When a student submits their first appeal, Student Financial Aid will increase the cost of attendance by $2,500 (students in the School of Health Professions; Applied Statistics, Analytics and Data Science; and Biostatistics) or $1,500 (students in the Schools of Medicine or Nursing).  On the Technology Purchase Cost of Attendance Appeal form, the student will indicate the type and amount of the they want (e.g. $700 Grad PLUS). The amount of the loan cannot exceed the student’s remaining financial aid eligibility.

If the student is submitting a second appeal, they may purchase a different category of technology.  For example, if the student purchased a laptop for their first appeal, they may purchase a tablet or desktop for their second appeal.  If the student originally purchased a laptop and submits a second appeal for a laptop, the second appeal will be denied.  Student Financial Aid will increase the cost of attendance by $1,000 (the same amount for all programs).  The student will submit a Technology Purchase Cost of Attendance Appeal form and select the loan type and amount.  The amount of the loan cannot exceed the student’s remaining financial aid eligibility.

Medical/Dental Expenses

The student financial aid cost of attendance includes an allowance for medical/dental expenses and health insurance. It is KU Medical Center policy that all students provide proof of health insurance, and cost of attendance adjustments will be considered only for those students complying with that policy.

Cost of attendance adjustments can be made for the purchase of health insurance; however, the Student Financial Aid Office will not consider costs that exceed the student health insurance policy.

A cost of attendance adjustment can be made for medically necessary procedures and medically necessary prescriptions for the amount which exceeds the cost of attendance allowances. Students must complete a Medical Expenses Cost of Attendance Form (PDF) and submit receipts prior to any disbursement of subsequent financial aid.

If a student purchases dental insurance, they must provide proof of their dental health insurance with effective dates covering the enrollment period. If the student does not have dental insurance, a cost of attendance adjustment will be made for the amount that exceeds the cost of attendance allowances for medical/dental expenses.

Tuition Adjustments

Students may receive a cost of attendance adjustment for tuition charges in excess of what is allowed in the cost of attendance. On the General Cost of Attendance Appeal form (PDF), this information should be included in the section called "other."

Vehicle Repairs

While a student's financial aid cost of attendance includes an allowance for maintenance of a vehicle, an adjustment can be made for car repairs that exceed the amount included in the cost of attendance. Please note that financial aid cost of attendance cannot be increased for the purchase of a vehicle. Expenses above the amount in the cost of attendance are covered on one primary vehicle per year. Once a student has submitted receipts for a vehicle, that vehicle becomes "primary" in terms of consideration for cost of attendance appeals.

The cost of attendance adjustment increase will represent the difference between the actual repairs and cost of attendance allowance. Receipts must be submitted for any repairs for which the cost of attendance adjustment is being requested. The Vehicle Repair Appeal form (PDF) and receipts must be submitted prior to the release of any subsequent financial aid.

Since the cost of attendance includes an allowance for comprehensive and collision car insurance, a 2022-2023 cost of attendance adjustment for an accident will cover a reasonable deductible of $500. If the student has not purchased comprehensive and collision car insurance, the Office of Student Financial Aid will not increase the cost of attendance to cover any expenses that would have been covered by insurance.

Other Expenses

Students having other extenuating circumstances should complete the appropriate section of the General Cost of Attendance Appeal Form (PDF) and make an appointment to meet with a staff member in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Student Financial Aid

University of Kansas Medical Center
Student Financial Aid Office
Mailstop 4005
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, Kan. 66160

Location: G035 Dykes Library
Phone
: 913-588-5170
Fax: 913-588-8841
Email: financialaid@kumc.edu