Lund University - Lunds universitet

TUITION CONSIDERATIONS FROM A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVETCA – Total Cost of AttainmentTotal cost includes all tuition, fees, and living expenses. TCA serves as acategorical cost/ benefit decision-making tool in the sense that it involves implicitand explicit spending caps. It also serves as a signaling tool.YieldACA – Adjusted Cost of AttainmentAdjusted costs reflect total costs offset by any non-personal (family) fundingsources which are provided on a grant basis. Funding category origin mattersand serves as a critical and at times exaggerated competitive lever.YieldRCA – Relative Cost of AttainmentRelative costs involve a calculation of TCA/ACA relative to feasible alternatives.Criteria are quality, reputation, funding, services, personal factors, etc. RCAserves as a prioritization tool.OCA – Opportunity Cost of AttainmentOpportunity costs reflect incurred individual social and personal costs as well aslost or diminished opportunities. Modulating factors include non-native languagestudies, career and social network access, cultural affinity, and others.ROA – Return on AttainmentReturn calculations encompass future return on investment expectations and„soft“ factors such as membership in a powerful alumni network. An additionalbenefit factor is leverage in the receiving institution’s job market.YieldYieldYieldICG © 2010 Lund University – 7 May 20107