The Student Budget

The standard student budget applies to the typical Stanford undergraduate student:

• unmarried
• financially dependent on parents
• living in a residence hall or off-campus
• attending full-time for Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters

The budget includes the actual cost of tuition, a standard amount for room and board, and allowances for the typical costs of books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation to and from campus.  The transportation allowance reflects the estimated cost of two trips home per academic year for U. S. residents and one trip home per academic year for students who live abroad.

*A few housing and dining options are not charged to the University bill. However, a standard allowance for Room and Board is always included in your financial aid budget, regardless of where you live. This allowance is not adjusted for your specific charges. If you choose a higher priced housing or dining option, the additional expense is not considered for financial aid.

Books, supplies, personal expenses and transportation costs are estimates of your actual expenses and included for the purpose of determining the full cost of attendance and eligibility for aid. They are not part of the university bill. If your actual costs for books/supplies or transportation are significantly higher than the budget allowances, you can submit a Request for Revision (PDF) with documentation of your actual costs.

*PDF documents require the free downloadable Adobe Acrobat Reader software for viewing.