Smart Financial Planning for U.S. Studies
June 23, 2026 9:00 am EDT
The conversation usually goes like this. A family budgets for tuition. They factor in a rough estimate for housing. They send their student off in August, confident the major costs are covered. Then February arrives — health insurance renewal, an unexpected medical bill, a textbook list nobody mentioned, a flight home for a family event, a winter coat — and the budget that looked solid in August is suddenly tight.
The U.S. cost of attendance is more than tuition, and it's itemised on the I-20 form for a reason. Across most institutions, the non-tuition categories — housing, food, health insurance, books, transportation, personal expenses — add $15,000–$25,000 per year. The students whose first year goes smoothly are usually the ones whose families had this conversation before the offer was accepted, not after.
Kaycee Morales (MBA) advises international and transfer applicants at Kennesaw State University. In this session, you'll come away with:
- A complete picture of the U.S. cost-of-attendance categories — what each one includes, what's mandatory, what varies by institution
- A working four-year budget framework that accounts for inflation, one-time costs (deposits, travel, technology), and the timing of major payments
- A clearer view of what F-1 status allows for paid work — and where on-campus employment fits in the budget
- Familiarity with the practical tools international students set up on arrival: student bank accounts, payment plans, on-campus financial resources
The U.S. cost of attendance is more than tuition, and it's itemised on the I-20 form for a reason. Across most institutions, the non-tuition categories — housing, food, health insurance, books, transportation, personal expenses — add $15,000–$25,000 per year. The students whose first year goes smoothly are usually the ones whose families had this conversation before the offer was accepted, not after.
Kaycee Morales (MBA) advises international and transfer applicants at Kennesaw State University. In this session, you'll come away with:
- A complete picture of the U.S. cost-of-attendance categories — what each one includes, what's mandatory, what varies by institution
- A working four-year budget framework that accounts for inflation, one-time costs (deposits, travel, technology), and the timing of major payments
- A clearer view of what F-1 status allows for paid work — and where on-campus employment fits in the budget
- Familiarity with the practical tools international students set up on arrival: student bank accounts, payment plans, on-campus financial resources
