Budget Appeals
Acceptable Expenses and Required Documentation
- Computer Purchase
- Housing and Food
- Required Books and Supplies
- Transportation
- Dependent Care
- One-time Professional Licensing and Certification
- Other
Items NOT eligible for Cost of Attendance Increases
General Information
The cost of attendance (COA) represents a realistic estimate of modest costs associated with attending one of West Virginia University’s campuses. If your actual expenses are greater than those represented on the standard COA, you can submit a Budget Appeal Form. If approved, you may have additional loan and/or outside scholarship eligibility, but you will not, in most situations, receive additional institutional scholarship or grant assistance. Requests for housing and food costs are generally only approved one time.
Please note that cost of attendance is calculated for an academic year (9 months) not for a full calendar year (12 months).
Students can contact the WVU Hub to discuss their need for a budget appeal.
The following items may be considered for appeal:
- Computer purchase
- Rent or mortgage, utilities, and food costs
- Required books and supplies
- Transportation
- Dependent Care
- One-time required license or credential testing
- Other education-related expenses
If you are eligible for a budget appeal, a WVU Hub staff member will add a Budget Appeal Form to the student's account on the StudentForms website. Students can complete and submit their budget appeal request by following the steps listed below.
- Mark the semester(s) and budget expenses to be reviewed
- Include your name, WVU ID number, sign, and date the request
- Provide supporting documentation for the expenses. Supporting documentation varies. More information is available in the Acceptable Expenses and Required Documentation section.
Timeline
The dates below reflect when the WVU Hub will be begin accepting budget appeals for each semester.
- Fall 2021: June 15 or after
- Spring 2022: November 15 or after
- Summer 2022: April 15 or after
- Fall 2022: June 15 or after
- Spring 2023: November 15 or after
- Summer 2023: April 15 or after
- Fall 2023: June 15 or after
If one of these days fall on a weekend/non-working day, the budget appeal will be accepted on the next business day.
Generally, budget appeals are not accepted after the last day of classes before finals week begins.
Acceptable Expenses and Required Documentation
Computer Purchase
Limited to a one-time increase for the purchase of a computer up to $1,500 ( once for undergraduate students and once for a Graduate or Professional student). The cost of the computer is the only item covered unless written, signed documentation on college letterhead is received from a college representative indicating that a special software is required for a course or program for all students in the course or program.
Acceptable documentation includes invoice for the computer purchase or a detailed printout of the computer to be purchased, including a description and price. Requests for gaming computer will not accepted.
Certain majors have a computer costs established in their cost of attendance, therefore a budget request for a computer purchase cannot be approved. Majors include Law, CRNA, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Medicine, Pathology Assistant, Physician’s Assistant, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy.
Housing and Food
Modest living expenses for rent/mortgage, utilities, and food for the student will be considered. Acceptable documentation includes:
- Signed full copy of the lease agreement that includes the term(s) for which the budget appeal covers. If there are multiple people on the lease, only the requestor of the budget appeal may be considered for an increase.
- Paid mortgage statement.
- At least two months of utilities bills that occur during the period in which the student’s lease is in effect. For example, if the student’s lease is from May 2022 through April 2023, at least two months of utility bills occurring between May 2022 through April 2023 are acceptable. Students may also contact the utility company to ask for the average monthly cost for their residence, which may also be used for documentation. If appealing for utility bills only, please provide a full copy of the lease or paid mortgage statement. Receipts for utility payments must be in the student's name.
- At least two months of grocery receipts during the time the lease is in effect. Acceptable documentation includes itemized receipts from grocery stores, receipts from restaurants, or debit or credit card statements showing the purchase of food. Your total food allotment, including any approved increases, may not exceed $125 per week. Alcohol, tobacco, items purchased for animals not medically documented as service or emotional support, and items purchased with SNAP benefits will not be considered.
The budget appeal process will not take into account resources in excess of a typical student living. For example, if a student is the only name on the lease agreement for a two bedroom/two bathroom apartment, we will still only consider an increase for the cost of a one bedroom/one bathroom apartment. If more than one household is being requested for an increase, we will only consider a COA increase for one household.
Required Books and Supplies
Receipts for required books and supplies. Staff will review the student’s course schedule and determine the required textbooks for the courses on the WVU Barnes and Noble website. Books and supplies must be for degree-pursuant courses.
Transportation
Transportation includes commuting to and from campus or activities required by the University, travel to and from home for scheduled University breaks. Acceptable expenses include gasoline, insurance, car repairs, parking and required travel for major (such as student teaching, clerkships, rotations, etc.). Monthly car payments cannot be included.
Acceptable documentation includes car registration, at least two months of gas receipts, parking, car repair and car insurance receipts incurred during the time period for which the budget appeal is submitted. If required to travel for your major, documentation of distance traveled and need for the travel must be provided.
Dependent Care
For a student with dependents, an allowance for costs expected to be incurred for dependent care can be reviewed. This covers care during periods that include class time, study time, field work, internships, and commuting time for the student. The amount of the allowance should be based on the number and age of such dependents and should not exceed reasonable cost in the community for the type of care provided.
Acceptable documentation includes contracts, letters, and/or invoices from care providers for the time period that classes are in session. Documentation should include the amount, timeframe, and dates of subsidy for childcare provided from a government or private entity.
One-Time Professional Licensing and Certification
WVU may include a one-time cost of obtaining the first professional credential in a field that requires licensure or certification. This cost must be incurred during a period of enrollment even if the exam is scheduled to be taken after the semester has ended. The cost of test preparation courses cannot be included in a student’s cost of attendance.
Acceptable documentation includes invoice of purchase or a detailed printout of estimated cost.
Other
Other educational expenses a student must pay during an academic year can be reviewed for an increase in cost of attendance. Examples of these expenses may include, but are not limited to:
Emergency or Unexpected Medical and Dental Expenses
WVU generally does not consider cost of attendance increases for medical and dental expenses as there is already an allowance built into the standard cost. Typically, medical and dental expenses are part of the need-analysis calculation on the FAFSA. In the event a student has an urgent emergency circumstance related to a medical or dental expense, the student should contact the WVU Hub to determine if the costs can be considered and what documentation is required. WVU will not increase the COA for co-pays or any portion of an elective procedure. We will only consider the amount not covered by insurance for a COA increase if the student has insurance. Co-pays will not be considered.
Disability-Related Expenses
Students with disability-related expenses may contact WVU Hub to have such expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. WVU may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies and may consult with the WVU Accessibility Services and/or other sources to confirm the average cost of such expenses. Documentation of actual expenses are required. For more information on accessibility accommodations, please refer to the WVU Accessibility Services website.
Required Musical Instruments
One-time purchase of a required instrument that directly relates to the student’s course of study.
Acceptable documentation includes a signed letter on WVU department letterhead explaining the student’s need to purchase, how it applies to the course of study, a receipt for the purchase of the instrument, or two estimates of the cost of the instrument.
Items NOT Eligible for Cost of Attendance Increases
- Auto purchase or payments
- Credit card or other consumer debt payments
- Alcohol, tobacco, items purchased for animals not medically documented as service or emotional support and items purchased with SNAP benefits
- Housing security deposits
- Costs incurred outside of a semester when the student was not enrolled
- Costs incurred by a family member or other person, including a spouse or roommate's portion of rent, mortgage, or day care
- Child support and other such childcare expenses (other than day care)
- Childcare subsidized by government or private entity
- Legal fees, bail, traffic tickets, parking tickets, or fines
- Veterinary costs (unless for a service animal)
- Elective medical or dental procedures