<p>Lets just say I get a fullride to a private University that will cover my COA.... Does this mean that the amount I got also cover my meal plans if i dorm? What about books? transportation? fees?</p>
<p>The Cost of Attendance includes all of that</p>
<pre><code>Tuition and fees payable to the institution
Books and supplies
Room and board
Personal costs, transportation
</code></pre>
<p>[Cost</a> of attendance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_attendance]Cost”>Cost of attendance - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>It depends…</p>
<p>Even if you’re lowish income and you get accepted to a school that “meets need”, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to get $60k of free money. Often there will be a $5500 loan, maybe $2000 in work study, and maybe there will be an expected “summer contribution” of $2000. Many “full need schools” still expect students to work over the summer and contribute some of their earnings towards their college costs.</p>
<p>So…think about it…if a “full need school” expects you to borrow $5500, earn $2000 in work study, and contribute $2000 from a summer job, then that’s about $10,000 that is not “free money”. That $10k is essentially going to go towards: travel, books, personal expenses, and maybe some school costs. Most colleges have no intention of giving free money to pay for your plane travel, toothpaste, shampoo or Friday movie night with friends.</p>
<p>In addition to what m2ck states, also note that any grant/scholarship money over the amount of tuition, fees & books/supplies is taxable.</p>