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Guidance for Twelve-Month Living Expenses

Below are the base budgets for a twelve-month period in 2024-25 and 2025-26:

  2024-25 2025-26
  Moderate
12-Month
Budget
Low
12-Month
Budget
Moderate
12-Month
Budget
Low
12-Month
Budget
United States $35,190 $23,580 $36,180 $24,240
Northeast:
Boston–Cambridge–Newton MA–NH 39,413 26,410 40,160 26,906
Hartford–East Hartford–Middletown CT 35,894 24,052 36,542 24,482
New York–Newark–Jersey City NY–NJ–PA 38,709 25,938 39,436 26,422
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington PA–NJ–DE–MD 36,950 24,759 38,351 25,694
Pittsburgh PA 35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
South:
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta GA 35,894 24,052 36,904 24,725
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson MD 36,950 24,759 37,627 25,210
Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia NC–SC
Raleigh NC
35,542 23,816 36,542 24,482
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington TX 36,950 24,759 37,265 24,967
Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land TX 35,894 24,052 36,542 24,482
Jacksonville FL
Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford FL
35,894 24,052 36,542 24,482
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach FL 36,246 24,287 36,904 24,725
New Orleans–Metairie LA 35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Oklahoma City OK 35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Richmond VA
Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News VA–NC
35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
San Antonio–New Braunfels TX
Austin–Round Rock TX
35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater FL 35,190 23,580 36,542 24,482
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria DC–VA–MD–WV 40,820 27,353 41,607 27,876
Midwest:
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin IL–IN–WI 36,246 24,287 36,904 24,725
Cleveland–Elyria OH
Cincinnati OH–KY–IN
Columbus OH
35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Detroit–Warren–Dearborn MI 35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson IN
Louisville/Jefferson County KY–IN
35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WI 36,950 24,759 37,627 25,210
St. Louis MO–IL 35,190 23,580 36,180 24,240
West:
Anchorage AK 37,301 24,995 37,989 25,452
Denver–Aurora–Lakewood CO 38,357 25,702 39,074 26,179
Urban Honolulu HI 38,709 25,938 39,798 26,664
Las Vegas–Henderson–Paradise NV 35,542 23,816 36,904 24,725
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim CA 39,061 26,174 39,436 26,422
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler AZ 35,894 24,052 36,904 24,725
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro OR–WA 36,950 24,759 37,989 25,452
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario CA 35,894 24,052 36,904 24,725
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad CA 40,469 27,117 41,245 27,634
San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley CA 41,172 27,589 43,054 28,846
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue WA 39,413 26,410 40,522 27,149

Note: These budgets are provided to assist financial aid officers in developing living expense budgets for their independent, off-campus students. The budgets should not be confused with the actual boarding expenses experienced by an on-campus student. These budgets are intended as broad guidelines or starting points which should be adjusted to local economies, individual situations, and Department of Education Cost of Attendance guidelines.

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