FAQ

Please review the Incoming Student Guide for step by step instructions on starting VA benefits at Boston University.

VA Benefits: If you plan to use VA education benefits such as Ch. 33, 31, 35, etc., and you have been offered admission to BU and paid your enrollment deposit, you must apply to use your benefits at Boston University by completing the online VA application. Even if you have used VA benefits before, you must still inform the VA that you will be changing your school/program, and failure to submit your VA application will delay your VA benefits.

Please email veterans@bu.edu with your BUID and a legible copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that the VA should send you within 30 days of receiving your application. You may also send a PDF or legible screenshot of your Education Statement of Benefits from www.va.gov once it’s available after you submit the online VA application.

• If your first semester begins sooner than 30 days please submit your VA application as soon as possible and then email veterans@bu.edu confirming that you submitted your application and we will follow up with more information. Please include your BUID to help expedite our response.

Military Tuition Assistance: Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is approved through your unit’s or company’s Education Liaison Officer/Education Approval Officer (this person may have a different title in your unit or company). If you are approved for TA, your ELO/EAO will give you an authorization form that you email veterans@bu.edu with your BUID.

Effective August 1, 2021, federal law requires all VA benefit recipients (Ch. 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606) to complete a Certification Request Form before each semester in order to process VA education benefits.

If possible, please finalize your enrollment before sending your Certification Request Form each semester. However, Boston University recognizes the importance of building a schedule that supports your success. If you drop and/or add classes at any time during the semester after your initial request, please send a new Certification Request Form listing all added or dropped courses to ensure your benefits are not delayed.

Students are required to submit a Certification Request Form for any enrollment changes during a semester that they use VA benefits. If you have questions please email veterans@bu.edu.

Military Tuition Assistance students are not required to complete the Certification Request Form unless they are using VA education benefits with TA.

VA education benefits do not effect federal financial aid. However, the combination of VA benefits, outside scholarships, and Boston University need-based aid cannot exceed your demonstrated financial need, as calculated by BU Financial Assistance.

Undergraduate financial aid applicants should report their VA benefits on the CSS Profile to ensure their VA funds are calculated into their original financial aid award, otherwise the award may need to be reduced when the VA funds are applied.

If a Ch. 33 or Ch. 31 student receives a “tuition-specific” scholarship that can only be applied toward tuition and fees, including Military Tuition Assistance, the scholarship/TA is applied to the bill first and the remaining tuition and fees are invoiced to the VA to determine the student’s eligible VA tuition and fee payment.

The Cost of Education page provides a breakdown of estimated expenses for the current academic year for both resident and commuting students.

Boston University considers 12 credits to be full-time for all undergraduate programs and most graduate programs. However, MET undergraduate programs consider 12.5 credits for full-time. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid whether they are full-time or part-time in order to be considered for all financial aid they may be eligible to receive.

Undergraduate applicants are eligible for an application fee waiver based on U.S. military active duty or veteran status. If you believe you’re eligible please email veterans@bu.edu verifying your military service, as well as your full name, date of birth, and whether you are using the Common Application or Coalition Application.

Graduate application fee waivers may not be available depending on your College, but students are encouraged to contact their graduate program’s admissions department with questions concerning the application process.

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Ch. 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) are the only VA benefits that provide tuition payments directly to the University.

Ch. 31 VR&E recipients are normally able to cover the full cost of their full-time or part-time tuition and fees as long as they remain eligible for Ch. 31 with the VA.

Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients are eligible for the annual tuition and fee maximum, which is less than half of Boston University’s full-time tuition and fees.

You may review Undergraduate costs of attendance and Graduate costs of attendance for specific costs at your college or program. As a reminder, the Post 9/11 GI Bill® covers less than half of Boston University’s full-time tuition and fees. Full-time students are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid.

Part-time students who are 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® are typically able to cover the full cost of part-time tuition and fees as long as they do not exhaust benefits mid-semester (this does not include the Questrom Part-time MBA, which exceeds the Post 9/11 GI Bill® annual tuition and fee maximum.)

• Undergraduate applicants (i.e. students pursuing a bachelor’s degree) are encouraged to apply for financial aid and to be aware of all important deadlines.
• Graduate and Professional applicants are encouraged to contact their graduate financial aid office for more information on financing options.
• Boston University encourages students to limit their educational borrowing to no more than absolutely necessary. Educational loans must be repaid.

The Yellow Ribbon Application typically opens in the third week of March for one week. Federal law requires that BU’s YRP application process be on a first-come first-served basis, and students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The application will ask for name, email, phone number, and BUID (if available).

The All-University Yellow Ribbon Program is open to students who are 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. A maximum of 52 All-University YRP awards are made per enrollment period. These All-University YRP awards provide recipients with an additional $7,000 per academic year ($3,500 from BU, $3,500 matched by the VA). As a reminder, the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and BU’s YRP do not cover the cost of full-time tuition. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid.

Certifications typically start processing around 45 days before a semester begins.
Please send your Certification Request Form as early as possible before the beginning of each semester. If your request is not received before the first day of the semester the University is required to cancel your certification.

If possible, please finalize your enrollment before sending your Certification Request Form each semester. However, Boston University recognizes the importance of building a schedule that supports your success. If you drop and/or add classes after your initial request, please send a new Certification Request Form listing all added or dropped courses to ensure your benefits are not delayed.

Students are required to submit a Certification Request Form for any enrollment changes during a semester that they use VA benefits. If you have questions please email veterans@bu.edu.

All service members attending the same educational institution, at the same location, enrolled in the same course, will be charged the same tuition rate without regard to their service component. This single tuition rate includes active duty service members and the National Guard and Reservists who are activated under Title 10 and using Title 10 Military Tuition Assistance, in order to assure that tuition rate distinctions are not made based on the service members’ branches of Service.

Aside from VA benefits there is no financial aid specifically for active duty service members, reservists, veterans, or their family members.

• Undergraduate applicants (i.e. students pursuing a bachelor’s degree) are encouraged to apply for financial aid and to be aware of all important deadlines.
• Graduate and Professional applicants are encouraged to contact their graduate financial aid office for more information on financing options.