Eligibility
Make sure you know what you need to do to establish and maintain your eligibility.
BU students receive financial aid funded by Boston University, the federal government, certain state governments, and other agencies. Each entity establishes eligibility criteria and specific renewal requirements.
Who is eligible?
You must be a US citizen or permanent resident, with demonstrated financial need, entering college for the first time. In addition, you must submit your CSS Profile™ and FAFSA by the BU financial aid deadline.
What is demonstrated financial need?
It is the total cost of attendance—including tuition, housing and food, books, and supplies—minus the amount your family can be expected to contribute, as determined by BU Financial Assistance using the information you provide on your CSS Profile and FAFSA.
What kind of aid can you expect?
It depends on your family’s financial situation. One person might receive a package of grants and student loans. Another, Work-Study, and a scholarship. Yet another, some combination of all four. Further, if you are also eligible for a Pell Grant, your aid package is guaranteed to be free of loans, thanks to BU’s University Scholarship fund.
What about next year?
We guarantee your BU need-based aid will not be reduced for any of your four years here, as long as your aid does not exceed your cost of attendance and you meet academic and deadline requirements. In fact, if tuition goes up, your scholarship aid will be increased by the same percentage as the tuition increase.
