When Publishing Our COA, Must We Break Out Meals By Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?

Award Year: 2023-24 KA-36509 Helpfulness Rating 269 page views

This guidance is specific to the 2023-24 award year and later.

Scenario: The FAFSA Simplification Act guidance states we must list all cost of attendance (COA) components anywhere tuition and fees are described on our website. We assume this means that all meals (i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner) must be broken out separately.

Answer: For the housing and food costs in the living expenses cost component, the standard food allowance must provide the equivalent of three meals each day, regardless of whether a student chooses institutionally owned or operated food services (i.e., board or meal plans). There is no requirement that the costs must be broken out into each individual meal.

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