Expected Family Contribution
BU need-based scholarship eligibility is established in the first year that you apply for and receive scholarship aid and it is guaranteed for each year of undergraduate study; that’s the BU Scholarship Assurance. BU Financial Assistance calculates your Demonstrated Financial Need with information from the CSS Profile™ and an equitable calculation that provides a fair and reasonable assessment of a family’s financial strength. After your first year, you will not be required to submit the CSS Profile™ again unless you are appealing for reconsideration of your financial aid award.
What will BU Cost you?
| Total Household Income | Total Scholarship and Grant | Net Cost of Attendance* |
| $0 – $75,000 | Full Tuition + Standard Housing & Dining Plan | $0 |
| $75,001 – $100,000 | Full Tuition + | $10,000 or less |
| $100,001 – $150,000 | Full Tuition + | $15,000 or less |
| $150,001 – $200,000 | Full Tuition + | $20,000 or less |
| $200,000 + | Tailored Financial Aid |
*Table illustrates sample costs for admitted first-year students starting in 2026/2027. Based on total household income with typical assets. Cost of Attendance based on standard Housing and Dining Plan cost for four years and standard Tuition 25/26 – $69,870.
The BU Promise
BU meets 100% demonstrated financial needThe amount of financial aid you are eligible for based on the total annual cost of attendance minus the amount BU Financial Assistance determines you and your family are able to contribute toward those costs using the information provided on your CSS Profile application. , without loans, for all domestic first-year students who have not previously attended college. Starting in 2026/2027, admitted first-year students with total household incomes under $200,000 and typical assets can anticipate a financial aid award with a parent contribution of no more than $20,000. Financial Aid awards for these families will cover at least Full-Tuition plus a percentage of housing and dining plan cost.
Families with total household incomes under $75,000 and typical assets will receive financial aid that covers Full Tuition + the standard Housing* and Meal Plan cost.
If your total household income is above $200,000, you will receive a tailored financial aid package based on your family’s specific circumstances.
Total Household Income is the combination of annual income from all sources for a given year. This includes Student Taxable Income, Parents’ Taxable Income, and Parents’ Untaxable Income. For two-household families, total household income includes the annual income of both the custodial and noncustodialIf your biological or adoptive parents are divorced, separated, and/or do not share the same household, your noncustodial parent is the parent who provides less support for you than your custodial parent. household.
Typical Assets refer to asset values typical for your family’s income level. BU does not include assets in designated retirement accounts in our analysis of a family’s assets. Assets typically reflect the following:
- Cash, Savings, and Checking Accounts
- Investments
- Equity in real estate other than your home
- Business Equity
Families with significant assets beyond what is typical for their income level, may not qualify for the financial aid eligibility thresholds indicated, even if their household income is below $200,000. These families will instead receive a tailored financial aid package based on their specific circumstances.
Starting in the 2026/2027 academic year, first-year students will receive financial aid awards that do not include loans. While student loans are not part of the financial aid package, they can still be a valuable resource when investing in your education. Families may choose to use reasonable educational borrowing to help cover expenses.
*BU need-based financial assistance does not cover more expensive housing options. If students elect to live in more expensive housing, they will be responsible for the difference in cost.
BU Financial Assistance, in considering all circumstances impacting a family’s ability to pay for the cost of education, reserves the right to make the final determination of a family’s expected contribution and financial aid award.
Demonstrated Financial Need for BU Need-Based Scholarships
Eligibility for Federal and State Financial Aid
Renewal of Aid
BU is meeting my full demonstrated need but I still have a bill?
Learn more about managing college costs
Whatever the amount of your family’s share of the total costs, it’s critical that you and your family plan for this expense before you arrive on campus. For more information, see Your Plan for Managing BU Expenses and Four Steps to Managing the Cost of Your Education.