Hi folks! When looking into the cost of attending UCLA, I noticed that both the per semester and yearly tuition are listed. What's the difference and which one should I be considering when calculating my college expenses?
Hi there! The distinction between the semester and yearly tuition scales is relevant because UCLA operates on a quarter system, not a semester system, which can be a little bit different than many other colleges. Essentially, the school year at UCLA consists of Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, each of which is about 10 weeks long. There's also an optional Summer quarter.
The semester tuition rate listed is actually the per quarter rate, and it represents the cost for one individual quarter (Fall, Winter, or Spring). If you multiply this rate by three, you'll get the total tuition cost for an academic year, excluding summer.
The yearly tuition listed is calculated based on attending three quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring) and includes an estimate for yearly fees. When calculating your college expenses, you should probably consider the yearly tuition rate, as it's more reflective of the actual cost for an academic year. However, if you're planning to take courses over the summer, you'll need to add an additional quarter's worth of expenses to your budget calculation.
It's important to remember that tuition is not the only cost you will have. You'll also need to budget for housing, books, personal expenses, transportation, and possibly health insurance, among other things. UCLA does provide an estimated cost of attendance that includes these expenses on their financial aid website, which could be a useful guide as well.
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