Quinnipiac University

Undergraduate Financial Aid

Costs and Budgets

Student working with an adviser.

Undergraduate Financial Aid

Costs and Budgets

Our goal is to be transparent about what you can expect when it comes to financing your undergraduate degree. You'll have both direct and indirect costs to budget for, and we're here to ensure you understand how to finance these costs. The estimated expenses below are the cost before any financial aid is applied for eligible students. More than 92% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid, with an average grant and scholarship total of $25,746.

Undergraduate Costs

Undergraduate Costs of Attendance 2024–25, First-Year Student
Cost First-Year Student Living on Campus First-Year Commuter at Home
Billed Charges
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $76,500 $63,476
Tuition1 $52,670 $52,670
Student Fees2 $2,000 $2,000
Technology Fees $810 $810
Tuition & Fees (summed from above) $55,480 $55,480
Housing and Food $17,260 $520
Total Estimated Billed Charges (direct charges) $72,740 $56,000
Other Possible Expenses
Housing and Food Allowance for Non-Residents n/a $3,216
Books and Supplies3 $1,100 $1,100
Personal3 $1,810 $1,810
Transportation3 $850 $1,350
Total Estimated Indirect Costs $3,760 $7,476

1 Tuition figures assume a student is taking 12-16 credits per semester. Credits taken in excess of 16 are billed at $1,210 per credit. Part-time student budgets are prorated and calculated using part-time tuition costs.
2 Student fees cover the experiences and services that complement and support academics.
3 Amounts listed for books, personal and transportation are estimated allowances that are not part of a student’s bill.

Additional Term Costs
  • J-term costs: $875 per credit, plus $30 registration fee

  • Summer term costs: $875 per credit, plus $30 registration fee and $100 technology fee

At a Glance

93% Students Who Receive Aid

93% of enrolled, full-time undergraduates at Quinnipiac receive some form of aid.

#1 Career Success

Zippia.com named the top university in the United States for successful career placement following graduation — five years in a row.

Determining Your Need

Quinnipiac determines your need for financial assistance using the following formula:

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) = NEED

Because Quinnipiac’s admission policies are “need-blind,” students are admitted without regard to need. Like most colleges and universities, Quinnipiac does not have enough resources to meet 100% of every student’s need. Students and families who have unmet need or do not have the funds to meet their SAI may borrow additional funds or subscribe to a payment plan through the university to help finance their balance.

Net Price Calculator

Use the Net Price Calculator to understand what you might pay
You may be surprised to know that nationwide — for students attending private, four-year colleges — the average family can pay much less than the college’s published price. The Net Price Calculator is the ideal tool to help full-time, incoming first-year students estimate what the annual cost* would be to attend Quinnipiac.

Net Price Calculator

*It is important to note that the Net Price Calculator is only designed to provide estimates for full-time, first-year undergraduate students.

The receipt of additional assistance such as athletic scholarships, employee benefits, Tuition Exchange grants, veterans benefits, outside scholarships, etc., may affect the estimated aid being calculated. Please contact our office if you qualify for aid outside of the resources being provided in the calculator.

Cost of Attendance Budgets

The Cost of Attendance represents expenses that will and can be incurred while attending college. It also represents the maximum financial aid (loans, scholarships, work study, etc.) you may receive for an academic period.

There are two types of costs in your budget:

  • Direct Costs: Expenses for which you receive a billing statement from the Quinnipiac University Office of Student Accounts such as tuition, student fees, university/technology fees, accident insurance, health insurance and other applicable fees.

  • Indirect Costs: Expenses that you may incur but for which you do not receive a billing statement such as average for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses and off-campus living expenses.

These estimates are for educational expenses and are, therefore, used when calculating financial aid eligibility. It is important to note that you will only be billed for the direct costs.

We recommend that you keep the cost of attendance budget in mind when you construct your own budget for living expenses. This will allow you to get a better idea of the amount you may need to borrow in student loans, and what resources are available to help with your expenses while in school.

Budget periods

  • 3 months (summer only)

  • 7 months (summer/fall or spring/summer)

  • 9 months (fall/spring)

  • 12 months (full year with summer included)

Student Aid Index (SAI)

Formerly known as expected family contribution (EFC)

The process used to evaluate your Student Aid Index (SAI) is based on national norms and ordinary situations. The university will use the SAI from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to calculate your eligibility for aid. Some of the components used to determine an SAI include adjusted gross income, untaxed income and benefits, savings and investments, business net worth, and an allowance for state and other taxes. Need is defined as cost of attendance minus the SAI.

It is important to remember that costs vary from one college to another. It is crucial to calculate the difference between the awards and the college costs to know what the actual cost to the family will be.

Late applications are welcomed, but not all funding may be available.

An example of our current year: 

Direct Costs Amount
First-Year Student Tuition 2024-251 $52,670
Student Fees2 $2,000
Technology Fee $810
Housing and Food $17,260
Total Direct Costs $72,740
From this, deduct all grants, scholarships and loans For example: ($36,340)
Then, the amount the family would pay would be $36,400

1 Tuition figures assume a student is taking 12-16 credits per semester. Credits taken in excess of 16 are billed at $1,210 per credit. Part-time student budgets are prorated and calculated using part-time tuition costs.
2 Student fees cover the experiences and services that complement and support academics.

We’re Here to Help

If the student aid index is more than your family is able to pay, don’t panic.

Because individual circumstances vary, some applications require a more personalized approach. Talk to the university’s Office of Financial Aid about your situation.

Recognize, however, that the primary responsibility for meeting college costs rests with your family.

Financial aid is intended to supplement, not replace, family contribution. To ease the burden, families can:

  • Spread payments over the academic year by using an interest-free tuition payment plan. Learn more about tuition plans

  • Select a PLUS loan or explore private/alternative loans to supplement or replace a portion of the family contribution. Learn more about loans