Final answer:
COA refers to Cost of Attendance, which is the total budget of a student's expected college expenses including tuition, room and board, and other essential costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abbreviation COA when referring to college stands for Cost of Attendance. The Cost of Attendance is a comprehensive budget that includes all the possible costs a student may incur while attending college. This includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation costs. Colleges and universities calculate COA to help students and families understand the full financial commitment for one year of education and to determine financial aid eligibility.