<p>So, now that gas prices are up, plane fares are increasing in price, food costs more in the grocery store is COA changing? For that matter at home, because parents are paying more for gas, food, etc., which increases the cost of living across the board, does efc change at all? I noticed that some schools consider transportation costs/year at $500. That could work to get back and forth on breaks if one lives within a couple hours of the school, but not necessarily if one is from the another region of the US. Just curious.</p>
<p>I noticed on the Tulane website that they assess transportation costs as "up to $1500" per year depending on where you are from. They base this number on the average cost of two round trip tickets. I guess some schools are better than others at assessing these costs. </p>
<p>As far as all schools "catching up" to the rising costs. I wonder how often they actually adjust the transportation cost numbers.</p>
<p>jjcddg, I guess that is more reasonable than some other schools, although if one goes home on Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks, I think that it should include at least 3 RT tickets for holidays where dorms might close. That is not even including the expenses for travel in September, and returning home in May (reality is that that there are 5 RT fares/year if one leaves campus when most dorms close down).</p>
<p>If the COA is increased for a particular student it usually only ends up increasing loan eligibility, unless you have tons of merit aid $. At my Ds school they can only make certain adjustments as already determined by the school, if you have a school related expense that is not on their list, too bad, even if it is "real" nad makes sense. For example, if one goes on a study abroad and the dollar is really weak so the budget provided does not actually cover expenses, they cannot make an adjustment for that.</p>
<p>somemom, that does not really surprise me!</p>