Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

At Ventura College, we want to help you understand the costs of going to college so you can plan. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of how much it will cost you to attend college for one year. This includes things like tuition, fees, books, housing, food, transportation, and more. The total amount depends on factors like where you live and what kind of classes you take.

How We Calculate the Cost of Attendance

We use a survey called the Student Expenses and Resources Survey (SEARS) to help figure out the average costs for students in California. This survey is done by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), and it helps estimate how much students across the state spend on things like housing, food, transportation, medical care, and other expenses.

Here’s how SEARS works:

The CSAC surveys thousands of students from different colleges, both public and private.
The survey asks students about their expenses, resources, and how much they think they can afford.
The CSAC uses the survey results to create a budget for the average student in California. This budget shows what typical college students spend in a year.
Colleges like Ventura College can then use this data to set their own cost of attendance.

What Does SEARS Include?

SEARS covers a lot of important areas that help estimate your college expenses:

Food – How much students spend on groceries and meals.
Housing – The cost of living on or off-campus.
Technology – The cost of computers, phones, and other tech.
Transportation – Travel costs for getting to campus and around town.
Medical Care – Health-related expenses while in school.
Other Expenses – Costs for things like clothing, personal items, and school supplies.
Undocumented Student Affordability – Information about how much undocumented students might need to pay.
Cal Grant Equity Framework – Details on how to apply for Cal Grants, a form of financial aid.
CalFresh for Students – Information on food assistance programs for students.

Understanding Financial Aid Eligibility

Most financial aid, except for student loans, is awarded based on financial need. When you apply for federal student aid, your financial information is assessed using a formula created by Congress. This formula determines your Student Aid Index (SAI), which was previously called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

The SAI is an estimate of how much you and your family are expected to contribute toward your education. Keep in mind, this number does not reflect the exact amount you will need to pay out of pocket—it’s just an estimate to help guide the financial aid process.

How Financial Need is Determined

If your SAI falls below a certain amount, you may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements. For other types of financial aid, there is no maximum SAI that will automatically disqualify you. Instead, your SAI helps determine your financial need, which is calculated as:

Financial Need (FN) = Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI)

Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Offers

The Cost of Attendance (COA) includes expenses like:

Tuition and fees
Housing and food
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment
Transportation
Miscellaneous personal expenses

Your total financial need is determined by subtracting your SAI from the COA. Based on this need, we may offer a combination of financial aid options, such as:

Grants
Scholarships
Work-study opportunities
Federal student loans

However, due to limited funding, we may not be able to cover 100% of your demonstrated financial need.

Additional Considerations

When evaluating your aid eligibility, we also take into account other resources you may receive during the academic year. This could include scholarships, external grants, or tuition assistance programs. Receiving additional aid might impact the amount of need-based aid you can receive from Ventura College.

For more details on eligibility requirements, available aid programs, and application deadlines, please visit our Financial Aid Office or refer to the official Federal Student Aid website.

Enrollment Fees

2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Fees for California Residents
Enrollment Fee	$46.00 per unit
Health Fee	$26.00 flat fee per semester (Fall/Spring) and $22.00 flat fee for Summer
Student Representation Fee	$2.00 per semester
Student Center Fee	$1.00 per unit, not to exceed $10.00

The state sets enrollment fees, which are subject to change without notice and may be retroactive.

All other fees are set by the Ventura County Community College District's Board of Trustees and are subject to change by board action.

Specialized programs may incur additional expenses. Contact the Student Business Office for more information.

2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Fees for Non-California Residents
Non-resident Tuition*	$397 per unit
Non-California Resident Capital Outlay Fee	$15 per unit
Health Fee	$26.00 flat fee per semester (Fall/Spring) and $22.00 flat fee for Summer
Student Representation Fee	$2.00 per semester
Student Center Fee	$1.00 per unit, not to exceed $10.00 per academic year

*out-of-state residents also pay the in-state Enrollment Fee of $46.00 per unit

The state sets enrollment fees, which are subject to change without notice and may be retroactive.

All other fees are set by the Ventura County Community College District's Board of Trustees and are subject to change by board action.

Specialized programs may incur additional expenses. Contact the Student Business Office for more information.

College Budgets and Other Expenses

Budgeted expenses are estimated for the purpose of calculating financial aid. Actual costs may vary by individual.

2024-2025 Student College Budget (9 months) - California Residents
Budget Components	With Parents, Without Dependents	All Others
Food and Housing	$11,493	$22,086
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,059	$4,968
Tuition and Fees (Based on 14 units per semester)	$1,354	$1,354
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$1,062	$1,062
Transportation	$1,791	$1,962
Total	$19,759	$31,432

2025-2026 Student College Budget (9 months) - California Residents
Budget Components	With Parents, Without Dependents	All Others
Food and Housing	$12,770	$32,174
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,140	$5,067
Tuition and Fees (Based on 14 units per semester)*	$1,354*	$1,354*
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$1,089	$1,089
Transportation	$2,094	$2,291
Total	$20,093*	$40,621*
If you enroll in a Bachelor's Degree program, you will incur an additional cost of $2,352 per semester* for Upper-Division Units, based on 14 units per semester.

Budgeted expenses are estimated to calculate financial aid. Actual costs may vary by individual.

2024-2025 Student College Budget (9 months) for Non-California Residents
Budget Components	With Parents, Without Dependents	All Others
Food and Housing	$11,493	$22,086
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,059	$4,968
Tuition and Fees (Based on 14 units per semester)	$1,354	$1,354
Non-Resident and Capital Outlay Fees (Based on 14 units per semester)	$11,536	$11,536
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$1,062	$1,062
Transportation	$1,791	$1,962
TOTAL	$31,295	$42,968

2025-2026 Student College Budget (9 months) for Non-California Residents
Budget Components	With Parents, Without Dependents	All Others
Food and Housing	$12,770	$32,174
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,141	$5,067
Tuition and Fees (Based on 14 units per semester)*	$1,354*	$1,354*
Non-Resident and Capital Outlay Fees (Full-Time)	$11,536	$11,536
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$1,089	$1,089
Transportation	$2,094	$2,291
TOTAL	$32,983*	$53,511*
If you enroll in a Bachelor's Degree program, you will incur an additional cost of $2,352 per semester* for Upper-Division Units, based on 14 units per semester.

For more detailed Cost of Attendance information for non-California residents, please click here.

Cost of Attendance Adjustments

Some expenses may qualify for an adjustment to your Cost of Attendance (COA). If you have extra costs related to your education, you can submit a Budget Adjustment Form to the Financial Aid Office for review. You must include proof of expenses, and all requests must follow federal and California financial aid rules.

Types of Cost Adjustments

1. Child Care & Dependent Care

If you pay for child care or care for a dependent so you can attend classes, you may qualify for an adjustment. To be eligible:

The dependent must live with you.
The care must be necessary for you to attend school.
If your child is in school during your class hours, you won’t qualify for an adjustment.
If your spouse or someone in your home can provide care, you won’t qualify.
You must submit receipts or proof of payments.

2. Disability-Related Expenses

If you have a documented disability, you may request an adjustment for education-related expenses not covered by other programs. These may include:

Tutoring, interpreters, or note-taking services.
Transportation costs related to your disability.
Assistive equipment and supplies for your studies.

To qualify, you must provide receipts or official documents explaining the costs.

3. Computer Purchase

You may request a one-time adjustment for a computer needed for school. Your request must include:

A receipt or invoice showing the purchase.
A statement explaining why you need the computer (e.g., online classes).

The Financial Aid Office will review your request, and it must follow federal regulations.

4. Books, Course Materials, & Supplies

The standard Cost of Attendance includes an estimate for books and supplies, but actual costs may be higher. If you spend more than the estimated amount, you can request an adjustment by submitting:

A written explanation of the extra expenses.
Receipts showing your book and supply purchases.

Requests will be reviewed individually, and only reasonable extra costs will be approved.

5. Other Educational Expenses

You may request adjustments for other necessary school-related expenses, such as:

Licensing or certification fees required for your program.
Extra transportation costs (e.g., travel for clinicals or internships).
Other unusual education-related costs.

How to Request an Adjustment

All requests must be submitted in writing with proof of expenses.
Federal and California state rules limit what can be adjusted, so not all requests will be approved.
A Cost of Attendance adjustment does not guarantee more financial aid, but it may increase your eligibility for additional aid if funds are available.

If you have questions, contact the Financial Aid Office for help.

Enrollment Fees

Fees for California Resident

2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Fees for California Residents

Fees for Non-California Resident

*out-of-state residents also pay the in-state Enrollment Fee of $46.00 per unit

College Budgets and Other Expenses

Student College Budget for California Resident

Student College Budget for Non-California Resident

Other Expenses/Adjustments

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