Undergraduate Student Budget

A student sits behind a computer and smiles.

2024–25 Undergraduate Student Estimated Budget

Tuition per credit hour for summer 2024	$1,785
Tuition per credit hour for fall/spring 2024–25	$1,848

Instructions for calculating an estimate of a student's Cost of Attendance (COA): These estimated figures reflect tuition and fee expenses for a student attending the fall and spring academic year. The following figures are provided as average estimated costs, are provided based on the SAIC student population, and may differ from your actual estimated costs for:

housing and food (off-campus)
transportation
personal expenses

Students should adjust the provided average estimated costs figures to reflect their actual individualized costs such as the room and board estimate if living in the Residence Halls or the transportation cost if traveling distances that are more costly than the average figure provided. Note: Except for tuition and mandatory fees, these are estimated averages that you should adjust to your own specific budget. Please keep in mind that tuition and expense estimates will likely increase each academic year.

Special note to international students: This amount plus health insurance is the amount you must enter on the financial aid statement and show proof of support for the fall/spring academic year (except MFA Low Residency—please see cost and notes below). SAIC cannot issue an I-20 form until a Statement of Financial Support form and support documentation is submitted for review and approved. USCIS regulations require international students to be enrolled full-time in order to maintain their F-1 immigration status. See Maintaining Legal F-1 Status for further details.

	Estimates by Academic Year	Estimates By Semester
Fall/Spring 2024–25	30 Credit Hours	15 Credit Hours	12 Credit Hours	9 Credit Hours	6 Credit Hours
Tuition	$55,440	$27,720	$22,176	$16,632	$11,088
Technology Fee*	$670	$335	$335	$335	$335
U-Pass** (plus one-time $5 Ventra card fee)	$310	$155	$155	0	0
Other Estimated Expenses
Housing Allowance (off campus)	$6,880	$3,440	$3,440	$3,440	$3,440
Food Allowance (off campus)	$3,850	$1,925	$1,925	$1,925	$1,925
Books and Supplies	$1,830	$915	$730	$550	$365
Personal Expenses	$2,840	$1,420	$1,135	$855	$570
Transportation	$2,010	$1,005	$1,005	$585 (No UPass)	$420 (No UPass)
Health Insurance (if needed or required)***	$3,700	$1,850	$1,850	$1,850	$1,850
Laptop Requirement Estimate**** Only for New Undergraduates and New AIADO Students	$2,400	$2,400	$2,400	$2,400	$2,400
Total (laptop and health insurance estimate not included)	$73,830	$36,915	$30,901	$24,322	$18,143

*Technology Fee: The 2024-25 rate is provided and is subject to change.
**U-Pass—Full-Time Status Required: The 2024-25 rate is provided and is subject to change.
***Health Insurance Requirement: The 2024-25 rate is provided.

Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage: SAIC Health Insurance coverage is mandatory for all full-time domestic undergraduate, graduate, exchange, and certificate students and all international students and is charged automatically to the student’s tuition and fees account each fall and spring semester.

Waiving SAIC’s Health Insurance: If, however, students have comparable health insurance coverage with another provider, they may submit a request to waive SAIC's Health Insurance annually (online only) no later than the first day of classes. Health Insurance waiver requests are reviewed for approval. Complete details on the waiver process, please go to the SFS Health Insurance webpage. For more information about the health insurance requirement and eligibility to be approved for a waiver, please refer to the Health Services section of the website.

****Laptop Requirement (New Students Only): New undergraduate and new AIADO students are required to have a SAIC approved laptop estimated at approximately $2,400. Further information is available at saic.edu/laptop.

Questions?

Our advisors are happy to assist you throughout the financial aid and payment process. Please feel free to visit the Student Financial Services office, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are available upon request if you are planning a visit to SAIC. Call 312.629.6600 to make an appointment.