About
Nicole Bonito joined CDS in 2023 after nearly two decades of working with law students both in the financial aid and registrar's offices. As the Assistant Director of Graduate Aid & Operations, she works with all of the
online and
residential masters students as well as the PhD students to help secure their aid, whether it be through loans, scholarships, grants, fellowships or a combination thereof.
What do you enjoy most about your role at BU?
The financial investment in a program can be a barrier for students seeking higher education and what I find most rewarding is helping to remove it, so that they can be free to pursue their studies without this burden.
What’s the first thing you should do when seeking financial aid?
Fill out a
FAFSA application. There's a common misconception that if you were ineligible for federal student loans during your undergraduate years, you won't be able to borrow for your graduate education, but that’s almost always not the case. Completing the FAFSA is a great first step in understanding what kinds of financial aid options you’ll have.
How much does the program cost?
The
Online MS in Data Science Program’s total tuition cost is $25,000 (the per credit cost is $833.33). There are no fees for the program. Payment will be split up by semesters, based on how many credits/modules you enroll in. If you enroll in the standard schedule (2.5 modules each semester), the per semester cost is $6,250.
Are books included in the tuition? What other expenses should I budget for?
Books are not included in the tuition costs, however, the cost for books or other course materials will be minimal to $0 in most modules. You should plan to have the necessary technical equipment for the program. A good place to start is by checking this
site for laptop recommendations. You should also plan on having a microphone and camera available for any meetings with faculty and staff.
Is financial aid available? Will my enrollment plan affect what type of aid I can receive?
Federal Unsubsidized Loans are available to US citizens and US permanent residents, provided they meet the basic eligibility requirements. Learn more about our
financial aid offerings here. The unsubsidized loan is a perfect option for those taking the standard schedule. International applicants (who are not eligible for Federal student loans) and students taking the flexible schedule should look into
private loans.
How do I access company/employer tuition reimbursement options?
I encourage employed students to reach out to their Human Resources department for information on Employer-Based Tuition Reimbursement. If you need to provide any tuition invoices to your employer as part of your reimbursement process, you’ll be able to access these through the
MyBU Student Portal, after you’re registered for classes each semester.
Does the University offer scholarships?
Unfortunately, institutional scholarships are not available to online students; however, scholarships are available from a variety of external sources. Visit our
financial aid pages for more details. I also recommend looking within your local community for any organizations offering scholarships to students seeking graduate education, especially in STEM.
