Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $86,285. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $68,102 |
| Housing & meals | $18,110 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 |
| Personal & travel | $2,085 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,012 |
| Total cost of attendance | $86,285 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at BU
What BU reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
BU net price compared with other Massachusetts colleges
BU has the 24th-lowest average net price of 67 Massachusetts colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | American International College | $23,274 | 46% | $53,124 |
| 21 | Amherst College | $23,367 | 94% | $77,644 |
| 22 | Hampshire College | $24,034 | 54% | $46,938 |
| 23 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | $24,100 | 69% | $43,582 |
| 24 | Boston University | $24,402 | 89% | $83,238 |
| 25 | Gordon College | $24,883 | 69% | $52,119 |
| 26 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | 96% | $129,455 |
| 27 | Simmons University | $25,265 | 72% | $63,494 |
| 28 | Wellesley College | $25,496 | 92% | $84,803 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Massachusetts colleges →
Why BU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University | 11% | $24,402 | 89% | $83,238 | This school |
| Northeastern University | 5% | $30,915 | 91% | $92,538 | |
| Boston College | 16% | $41,704 | 91% | $103,937 | |
| Tufts University | 11% | $39,998 | 94% | $83,214 | |
| Harvard University | 4% | $19,066 | 98% | $101,817 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Boston University would cost you $6,513 less per year than Northeastern University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Boston University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$1,940).
- Boston University gives aided families $8,157 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Massachusetts resident | BU | Northeastern University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $68,102 | $66,162 | +$1,940 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Housing & meals | $18,110 | $18,790 | −$680 |
| Personal & travel | $2,085 | $1,800 | +$285 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,012 | −$3,111 | +$99 |
| Sticker price | $86,285 | $84,641 | +$1,644 |
| Average grants | −$61,883 | −$53,726 | −$8,157 |
| You pay | $24,402 | $30,915 | −$6,513 |
“+” means BU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
BU cost questions
How much is tuition at BU?
Tuition and fees are $68,102 a year.
What is the total cost of attending BU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $86,285 a year.
What do families actually pay at BU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $24,402 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $9,500; $48–75k pay $11,778; $110k+ pay $47,504.
Does BU give merit scholarships?
For fall 2025, 116 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Boston University, averaging $42,227 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 98% of it met on average.
How much debt do BU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and 1.4% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
Is BU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Boston University overview