Budget Increase Requests
Students who are experiencing expenses beyond those covered by the standard cost of attendance (COA), may be eligible to request a budget increase. This process allows the university to review your situation and adjust your COA, which could make you eligible for additional financial aid such as federal loans or private loans.
What is Cost of Attendance (COA)
The COA is an estimate of the total costs of attending Stony Brook University which include:
- Tuition and Fees
- Housing and Meals
- Books and supplies
- Transportation
- Personal and miscellaneous expenses.
Students can view more details on our COA found on our website section Cost & Filling the Gap. You will be able to see the most commonly used budget on this page. You can view the precise cost of attendance associated with your financial aid by logging into SOLAR and navigating to View & Accept/Decline FinAid. Click the link titled Costs and Aid Eligibility.
When to Request a Budget Increase
Students may request a budget increase if you face additional expenses that exceed your COA such as:
- Higher housing costs
- Books, Equipment, or supplies for your education
- Student Health Insurance
- Personal costs such as child care, living costs
- Computer purchase
- Other educational-related expenses
How to Submit a Budget Increase Request
Students who feel they meet the requirements for a budget increase request can submit the Budget Increase Request Form to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Students can download the form or contact the office and request the form be placed on their Solar "To Do List" and download and complete the form there.
- Complete the Budget Increase Request Form
- Provide Supporting Documentation based on your request.
Important Considerations
- Budget Increases are reviewed on a case by case basis and not all requests will be approved.
- Approval does not guarantee additional aid. A budget increase raises the maximum amount of aid you can receive, which in case allows students to request additional federal or private loans to cover these additional costs
- Processing time: Allow up to 7-10 business days for your request to be reviewed.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.