Expense Planning Calculator: Undergraduate First-Year Students
Use this planning calculator to estimate your expenses, resources, and net costs to you and your family. Actual amounts may vary from your projections. The calculator is designed to help you plan for one academic year. We encourage you to use it for that purpose, to project forward, and develop a multi-year plan; a plan that will sustain your enrollment through the completion of your degree program.
This estimate is based on 2024/2025 expense estimates, except in instances where the 2024/2025 amounts are not yet available. If not yet available, prior year costs are used. This is your net cost.
Federal Direct Student Loans
Dependent studentA student applicant for financial aid who is required to provide parent information on the FAFSA form. Here’s a link to information on who is and is not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA. annual maximum Direct Loan amounts:
$5,500 – First-year
$6,500 – Sophomore
$7,500 – Junior
$7,500 – Senior
Independent studentA student applicant for financial aid who is not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA form. Here’s a link to information on who is and is not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA. annual maximum Direct Loan amounts:
We recommend that you use Credible.com to search lenders and shop for a loans with the best rates and loan terms for your needs and preferences. However, their list is not exhaustive. We are happy to process a credit-based loan from any lender you choose regardless of whether they are listed with Credible.com.
Regardless of whether or not a Federal Work-Study award was included in your financial aid package, part-time jobs are available on and off-campus for any BU student interested in working. Students are paid weekly based on the number of hours worked. Earnings cannot be used as a credit on your student account, even if they come from a Federal Work-Study job. Here’s a link to more information about student employment.
