Boston University

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at BU was $63,798 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4.5%–from $61,050 the previous year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. And, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until after graduation.

Boston University meets 89% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Boston University is around $61,211 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $38,263 in student loans per borrower.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Boston University

Boston University is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a college where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan save students a lot of money on the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Be sure to check your state's requirements for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Is Boston University's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at Boston University is the same for all students.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but should research private or Boston University-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.

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Boston University Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Boston University.

House and Food Costs at Boston University

Housing and campus dining at Boston University costs $18,110 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the Boston University's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who do not live on-campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $11,600.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Boston University

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges have resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these fees.

Transportation costs

The total cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city could be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Boston University campus is located in a city in Massachusetts, not far from Boston.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Boston University

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for Boston University.

How Much Does Boston University Cost?

What will the cost of attending Boston University be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$63,798
Room and Board	$18,110
Other expenses	$1,455

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$84,733
Off-Campus	$66,623

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Boston University’s tuition and fees change based on: •Class time for both full and part-time students •Course load for both full and part-time students •Course level for part-time students

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Boston University Financial Aid

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In 2023, 7,458 of the 18,463 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Boston University meets 89% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $61,211 a year. Around 36% of Boston University undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Boston University graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $38,263 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$21,027
State Loans	$52,295
Private Loans	$64,077

Most Common Loans for Boston University Students
Federal Loans	34%
State loans	5%
Private loans	9%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Boston University financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Boston University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Boston University awarded 7,372 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $388.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $26.47 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Boston University

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Boston University students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Boston University was $61,211 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Boston University seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$23,522
Off-Campus	$5,412

What will attending Boston University really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Boston University's net cost calculator on their website.

Boston University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Boston University does not have guaranteed tuition.

Boston University offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Boston University Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

BU has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Boston University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Boston University's endowment was $3 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Boston University spends about $40,835 a year.

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Learn More About Boston University

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Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Boston University:

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