The two main cost drivers for a VCIC Regional Finals are $1,000 in prize money and lunch for about 45 people. Other optional costs include breakfast and catering for the awards ceremony, all of which can be minimal, though some schools go all out. At VCIC HQ, we encourage a bootstrap atmosphere, as this is a startup-related event, quite different from corporate recruiting. Note that host schools do not pay an entry fee; so you will save that amount, leaving your school with a net of perhaps $1,000 in direct cost.