<p>The FAFSA asks for only the number of household members attending colleges.</p>
<p>The CSS Profile asks for costs of attendance including room and board.</p>
<p>For students living at home, room and board is more than zero. Grocery and energy bills go up when someone is at home, and there's the commuting costs to school as well as food costs while on campus.</p>
<p>The Profile doesn't seem to give guidance on this, but I googled and found a couple of examples on college websites. Michigan says budget around $4,200/academic year, while the College of Charleston says $2,200.</p>
<p>Any thoughts about what's reasonable, or resources on this topic?</p>
<p>Each school has its own COA, and you should be able to find lots of examples for room & board allowances for students living at home. FWIW, I don’t think it makes any difference what you put on the Profile in answer to that question! Do a bit of research, decide on a number, and don’t give it any more thought.</p>
<p>Actually, one institution informed me they would look at educational expenses for sibling, not just the fact of attendance.</p>
<p>Many college sites do not have an estimate for their institution. Room and board is blank for a commuter student living at home. Michigan and Charleston were the exceptions.</p>
<p>^^Experience is relative. I’ve filled out about 8 Fafsa’s and Profiles, and still counting. I think this is a non-trivial question. I always do what’s reasonable, or try to.</p>
<p>My understanding was that kelsmom is actually a financial aid administrator and has been one for many years. Short of actually asking each target school’s FA office to tell you precisely what to write, her information is probably the best/most useful you’re going to get.</p>
<p>Don’t for the transportation costs to the school and parking. I’d figure lunch for all days on campus, plus dinners if the schedule requires. Answer as honestly as you can and usually that will be accepted. Same as with estimating things for the IRS, if you are reasonable, usually they will accept your figure.</p>
Quote to me from the director of finaid at a top 10 lac: “I volunteer at the local high school to help kids fill out their financial aid forms, and sometimes I look at a question and just scratch my head.”
Quote to me from another finaid director of of a top 10 lac when I called and said I had some Profile questions: “Having fun? We sometimes don’t know what to do either.”
I recall an experiment where CPAs were asked to fill out 1040s. No two were alike.
I will do what’s reasonable. I was just curious to see what others thought was reasonable.