Student Budget & Costs - Money Matters - Financial Aid - Butte College

Cost of Attendance 

A standardized Cost of Attendance, or Student Budget, is calculated by each college every year as an estimate of a typical student's total educational and living costs. According to federal regulations, your financial aid award cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance.

At Butte College, the student budget includes enrollment fees (tuition) and student service fees, as well as books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses for the nine-month academic year (fall and spring semesters). Your estimated Cost of Attendance at Butte College will vary depending on:

• where you live - with parents /family or away
• whether you are a California resident or Non-Resident
• whether you are enrolled as full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time, or less-than-half-time
• whether you are enrolled in regular semester-based program or programs based on clock hours

How is "Financial Need" Determined?

For financial aid purposes, "Financial Need" is the difference between your Student Aid Index (SAI) and the Cost of Attendance. The SAI is calculated by the federal processor from the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act (CADAA). SAI is primarily a measure of a family's/student's financial ability to contribute to college expenses as compared to others on the basis of income, assets and household size.

You may be eligible for different types and amount of aid at different colleges because each college has its own Cost of Attendance.

How To Determine Cost of Attendance

COA - SAI = Need

(Cost of Attendance minus Student Aid Index equals Financial Need)

2025-2026 Estimated Full-Time Cost of Attendance for 9-Month Budget
Budget Items	At Home		Away
	Annual	Semester	Annual	Semester
Tuition/Fees* (Direct costs paid to Butte College)	$1,374	$687	$1,374	$687
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment  (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$1,170	$585	$1,170	$585
Food and Housing (Living Expenses) (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$9,954	$4,977	$19,136	$9,968
Transportation (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,132	$1,066	$2,132	$1,066
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,784	$1,392	$2,784	$1,392
Loan Fees	$112	$56	$112	$56
Total	$17,526	$8,763	$26,708	$13,354

2025-2026 Estimated Full-Time Cost of Attendance for 9-Month Budget
Budget Items	At Home		Away
	Annual	Semester	Annual	Semester
Tuition/Fees* (Direct costs paid to Butte College)	$9,534	$4,767	$9,534	$4,767
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment  (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$1,170	$585	$1,170	$585
Food and Housing (Living Expenses) (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$9,954	$4,977	$19,136	$9,568
Transportation (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,132	$1,066	$2,132	$1,066
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,784	$1,392	$2,784	$1,392
Loan Fees	$112	$56	$112	$56
Total	$25,686	$12,843	$34,868	$17,434
*NOTE: Non-Resident and International students have additional fees of $340 per unit plus enrollment and service fees.

2026-2027 Estimated Full-Time Cost of Attendance for 9-Month Budget
Budget Items	At Home		Away
	Annual	Semester	Annual	Semester
Tuition/Fees* (Direct costs paid to Butte College)	$1,402	$701	$1,402	$701
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment  (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$1,304	$652	$1,304	$652
Food and Housing (Living Expenses) (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$10,424	$5,212	$20,422	$10,211
Transportation (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,132	$1,066	$2,132	$1,066
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$3,208	$1,604	$3,208	$1,604
Loan Fees	$112	$56	$112	$56
Total	$18,582	$9,291	$28,580	$14,290

2026-2027 Estimated Full-Time Cost of Attendance for 9-Month Budget
Budget Items	At Home		Away
	Annual	Semester	Annual	Semester
Tuition/Fees* (Direct costs paid to Butte College)	$9,634	$4,817	$9,634	$4,817
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment  (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$1,304	$652	$1,304	$652
Food and Housing (Living Expenses) (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$10,424	$5,212	$20,422	$10,211
Transportation (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$2,132	$1,066	$2,132	$1,066
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (Indirect/discretionary costs)	$3,208	$1,604	$3,208	$1,604
Loan Fees	$112	$56	$112	$56
Total	$26,814	$13,407	$36,812	$18,406