{"id":6244,"date":"2018-03-26T08:41:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T12:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/?page_id=6244"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:18:33","slug":"expense-planning-calculator-returning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/families-counselors\/calculators\/expense-planning-calculator-returning\/","title":{"rendered":"Expense Planning Calculator: Undergraduate Returning Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/finaid\/files\/2024\/07\/calculator-returning.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"calculator-intro\">\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/families-counselors\/plan\/\">develop a multi-year plan<\/a>; a plan that will sustain your enrollment through the completion of your degree program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"calculator-container\">\n<div class=\"calculator\">\n<h6>2026-2027 Academic Year<\/h6>\n<ul class=\"calculator-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/families-counselors\/calculator\/expense-planning-calculator-first-year-student\/\">First Year Students<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/families-counselors\/calculator\/expense-planning-calculator-transfer\/\">Transfer Students<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"active\">Returning Students<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<form name=\"budget\" class=\"budget\">\n<h4>Billed Expenses<\/h4>\n<p><label for=\"billed_tuition\">Tuition &amp; Fees<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"billed_tuition\" name=\"billed_tuition\" type=\"currency\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" value=\"74594\" readonly=\"readonly\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"billed_housing\" class=\"tooltip\" role=\"button\" data-tip=\"We display the standard rate here, but your actual rate will depend on your room assignment and meal plan selection.\">Housing &amp; Food<\/label><select id=\"billed_housing\" name=\"billed_housing\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\"><option value=\"\" disabled=\"disabled\" selected=\"selected\">Choose one<\/option><option value=\"00000\">Off campus\/living at home: $0<\/option><option value=\"20740\">On campus\/double, triple, quad (Standard Rate): $20,740<\/option><option value=\"21590\">On campus\/ Suite: $21,590<\/option><option value=\"24200\">On campus\/StuVi Double: $24,200<\/option><option value=\"26140\">On campus\/StuVi Single (no bath): $26,640<\/option><option value=\"24860\">On campus\/Single (no bath): $24,860<\/option><option value=\"26140\">On campus\/Single (with bath): $26,140<\/option><option value=\"17560\">On campus\/Apartment &#8211; 2+ students (no dining plan) : $17,560<\/option><option value=\"21140\">On campus\/Apartment &#8211; Single (no dining plan): $21,140<\/option><option value=\"23450\">On campus\/1 Person Apartment (no dining plan): $23,450<\/option><option value=\"22730\">On campus\/StuVi 4 Person Apartment Single (no dining plan): $22,730<\/option><option value=\"23440\">On campus\/StuVi 2 Person Apartment Single (no dining plan): $23,440<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"billed_medical\" class=\"tooltip\" data-tip=\"Required unless you have comparable insurance. The amount listed is for 2026\/2027.\">Medical Insurance<\/label><select id=\"billed_medical\" name=\"billed_medical\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\"><option value=\"\" disabled=\"disabled\" selected=\"selected\">Choose one<\/option><option value=\"0000\">Covered by a qualifying plan: $0<\/option><option value=\"4054\">Not covered by a qualifying plan: $4,054<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"billed_sports\" class=\"tooltip\" data-tip=\"This optional fee will appear on your bill but can be waived.\nThe 2026-2027 amount is $140.\">Sports Pass<\/label><select id=\"billed_sports\" name=\"billed_sports\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\"><option value=\"\" disabled=\"disabled\" selected=\"selected\">Choose one<\/option><option value=\"0000\">Do not purchase a Sports Pass: $0<\/option><option value=\"140\">Purchase a Sports Pass: $140<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"billed_optional\">Optional fees<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"billed_optional\" name=\"billed_optional\" type=\"currency\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Credits<\/h4>\n<p><label for=\"credits_scholarships\">Scholarships &amp; Grants<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"credits_scholarships\" name=\"credits_scholarships\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"credits_external\">External Scholarships, Veterans Benefits, Tuition Benefits<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"credits_external\" name=\"credits_external\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Non-Billed Expenses<\/h4>\n<p><label for=\"nonbilled_books\">Books &amp; Supplies<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled_books\" name=\"nonbilled_books\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" value=\"1000\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"nonbilled_dorm\">Personal\/Misc. Expenses if BU Housing\/Food Plan<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled_dorm\" name=\"nonbilled_dorm\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"nonbilled_oncampus_apartment\">Personal\/Misc. Expenses if BU Apartment-style<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled_oncampus_apartment\" name=\"nonbilled_oncampus_apartment\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"nonbilled_offcampus_apartment\">Personal\/Misc. Expenses if Off-campus Apartment<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled_offcampus_apartment\" name=\"nonbilled_offcampus_apartment\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"nonbilled_commuting\">Personal\/Misc. Expenses if Commuting<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled_commuting\" name=\"nonbilled_commuting\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Loans &amp; Earnings<\/h4>\n<p><label for=\"loans_job\">Earnings from Part-Time Job<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"loans_job\" name=\"loans_job\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"loans_ma\">MA No-Interest Loan<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input name=\"loans_ma\" id=\"loans_ma\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"loans_federal\">Federal Direct Student Loan<\/label><select id=\"loans_federal\" name=\"loans_federal\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\"><option value=\"\" disabled=\"disabled\" selected=\"selected\">Choose one<\/option><option value=\"5442\">Freshmen Dependent: $5,442<\/option><option value=\"9400\">Freshmen Independent: $9,400<\/option><\/select><\/p>\n<p><label for=\"loans_credit\">Credit-Based Parent\/Student Loan<\/label><span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"loans_credit\" name=\"loans_credit\" onchange=\"calculateNumbers()\" type=\"currency\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"results\">\n<h5>Estimated Expenses<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><label for=\"billed\">Billed Expenses<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"billed\" name=\"billed\" type=\"currency\" value=\" \" readonly=\"readonly\"  style=\"width:105px;\"\/><\/span><\/li>\n<li><label for=\"credits\">Credits<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"credits\" name=\"credits\" type=\"currency\" readonly=\"readonly\" value=\" \"  style=\"width:105px;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<li><label for=\"net_billed\">Billed Expenses After Credits<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"net_billed\" name=\"net_billed\" type=\"currency\" readonly=\"readonly\" value=\" \"  style=\"width:105px;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<li><label for=\"nonbilled\">Non-Billed Expenses<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"nonbilled\" name=\"nonbilled\" type=\"currency\" value=\" \" readonly=\"readonly\" style=\"width:105px;\"\/><\/span><\/li>\n<li><label for=\"loans\">Loans &amp; Earnings<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"loans\" name=\"loans\" type=\"currency\" readonly=\"readonly\" value=\" \"  style=\"width:105px;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<li><label for=\"net_expenses\">Total Expenses After Credits, Loans &amp; Earnings<\/label> <span class=\"input-container\"><i>$<\/i><input id=\"net_expenses\" name=\"net_expenses\" type=\"currency\" readonly=\"readonly\" value=\" \"  style=\"width:105px;\"\/><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"button-primary\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print or Save PDF<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">About this Estimate<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Federal Direct Student Loans<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">Dependent student annual maximum Direct Loan amounts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$5,500 \u2013 First-year<\/li>\n<li>$6,500 \u2013 Sophomore<\/li>\n<li>$7,500 \u2013 Junior<\/li>\n<li>$7,500 \u2013 Senior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Independent student annual maximum Direct Loan amounts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$9,500 \u2013 First-year<\/li>\n<li>$10,500 \u2013 Sophomore<\/li>\n<li>$12,500 \u2013 Junior<\/li>\n<li>$12,500 \u2013 Senior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, the amount that will be disbursed to you and is listed in the drop-down above is the annual loan amount minus the federal origination fee. Here&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/how-aid-works\/types-of-aid\/loans\/student-loans\/direct\/\">link to more information about Federal Direct Student Loans<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Federal PLUS Loans<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">Parents of undergraduate students are eligible to borrow up to $20,000, provided they pass the <a href=\"\/finaid\/files\/2017\/06\/plus-adverse-credit_3-2015.pdf\">PLUS Loan credit check<\/a>. Here&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/how-aid-works\/types-of-aid\/loans\/credit-based-loans\/undergraduate\/federal-direct-plus-loan\/\">link to more information about Federal PLUS Loans<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Private Credit-Based Loans<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">We recommend that you use <a href=\"http:\/\/www.Credible.com\">Credible.com<\/a> 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Monthly Payment Plan<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">Boston University partners with Nelnet Campus Commerce to offer a plan that enables students to budget payments monthly. Here&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentaccountingservices\/your-bill\/payment-plans\/\">link to more information about the monthly payment plan<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h5 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Student Employment<\/h5><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">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&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/seo\/\">link to more information about student employment<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Health Insurance<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">Health insurance is required for all full-time, three-quarter-time, and international students, unless they already have comparable coverage and qualify for a waiver of this requirement. Here&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/shs\/getting-started\/student-health-insurance-plan\/\">link to more information about the student health insurance plan (SHIP)<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1183,"featured_media":0,"parent":10084,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/no-sidebars.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1183"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6244"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11423,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6244\/revisions\/11423"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}