Need-Based Scholarships

Priority Deadline—March 1

These scholarships are awarded based on financial need and additional application materials are required. Students who miss the March 1 deadline should still submit financial aid materials, but applicants who meet the March 1 deadline will receive priority in the awarding of need-based scholarships.

All students are encouraged to apply – the word Alumni in the name of the scholarship does not mean to imply that any prior relationship with Boston University is required. You may apply before or after you are admitted.

Financial Aid Application Checklist for the Alumni Scholarship (need-based)

Parent information is only required if you will be applying for need-based scholarship aid and are under 24 years of age—this information is not required if you are only applying for federal loans.

Applications may be submitted via email – bulawaid@bu.edu, fax – 617-353-0578, or postal mail.

International students are not required to complete the FAFSA or the Alumni Scholarship Application. Parent information is required for international students under the age of 24 and a section for parents is included in the International Student Alumni Scholarship Application.

Applications may be submitted via email – bulawaid@bu.edu, fax – 617-353-0578, or postal mail.

FAFSA Instructions

  • School code: 002130

There is one code for all of Boston University; the School of Law does not have a separate school code.

  • IRS Data Retrieval

We strongly recommend that students select the IRS Data Retrieval option on the FAFSA to transfer their federal tax information to the FAFSA. This will streamline and expedite the processing of your financial aid application.

Note: If you complete the FAFSA using estimated income information, you will be required to submit a correction to your FAFSA.

  • Copies of federal income tax returns and W-2s

Students may need to submit signed copies of their or their parent(s)’ federal income tax returns and W-2s or a tax transcript. The reasons may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Your FAFSA was selected for verification by the Department of Education;
  • You submitted an amended federal tax return for the tax year required for the FAFSA;
  • Your parents provided estimated income information when they completed the FAFSA and did not provide corrected information after filing their taxes;
  • You provided estimated information on the FAFSA for you (and your spouse) and did not update your FAFSA with the correct information.

If you are required to submit a copy of your federal income tax return, please make sure to submit your complete tax return, which will include copies of the following:

  • Your 1040 form and all applicable schedules (Schedule A, B, E, etc.)
  • W-2s from all of your employers

If this information is required and you and/or your parent(s) will not be filing a federal income tax return, the applicable non-filing form available on our Forms and Resources page must be completed.

Please DO NOT submit state tax returns.

Waiving the Requirement for Parental Information

An applicant may submit a written, detailed request for a waiver of parental information. Waivers are granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Law Financial Aid Office. Requests must be made before the March 1 deadline and addressed to the Director of Financial Aid.

To help us distribute scholarship funds equitably, we require that applicants file parental information. Although many parents do not contribute to their children’s graduate education costs, they still may be a resource for some students. Thus, viewing the potential family contribution as a whole is the most accurate way to award need-based aid.

Applicants whose parents are divorced should complete financial aid forms using the information from the parent or parents who last claimed them as a dependent on a federal income tax return or the custodial parent. Non-custodial parent information is not required. Applicants who have questions about which parent’s information to submit may contact the Law Financial Aid Office.