Boston University Tuition & Cost · 2026–27
Tuition & fees at Boston University (BU) include undergraduate tuition ($73,024) and required fees ($1,570). Cost of attendance is Boston University's estimated total annual amount for a resident undergraduate living on campus, adding housing and food, books and supplies, and incidentals. These are Boston University's current published 2026–27 figures.
But that's not necessarily what your family will pay.
Financial aid changes the price dramatically.
Under the BU Promise, announced August 2026 for first-time, first-year undergraduates who are US citizens or permanent residents, Boston University publishes clear net-cost caps for the 2026–27 academic year. Financial aid meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans. Tier commitments assume typical assets for the family's income level.
Total household income up to $75,000. Full tuition, standard housing, and a standard meal plan covered.
Total household income $75,001 to $100,000. Full tuition covered, plus a portion of standard housing and meal plan.
Total household income $100,001 to $150,000. Full tuition covered, plus a portion of standard housing and meal plan.
Total household income $150,001 to $200,000. Full tuition covered, plus a portion of standard housing and meal plan.
Families with total household income above $200,000 are encouraged to apply for tailored financial aid based on individual circumstances. The BU Scholarship Assurance guarantees the institutional need-based scholarship will increase at the same percentage as any tuition increase across all four undergraduate years. Transfer students and international students are not eligible for the BU Promise, though merit scholarships remain available regardless of financial need.
Source: Boston University Financial Assistance — How Aid Works. The BU Promise was announced August 2026 and takes effect for students entering in 2026–27.
But those policies still don't tell you what Boston University will cost your family.
So what will Boston University cost your family?
Published prices don't answer that. Your number depends on the aid you receive, what your family can contribute, and how much is left to cover.
And if you need to borrow some of it?
The real cost of college isn't just the four years. It's what that borrowing could mean every month for the next 20 years.
See My Boston University Estimate→Two minutes. Free. No account needed.
About these numbers
Published tuition and cost of attendance shown at the top of this page are Boston University's 2026–27 published figures, as posted by the Boston University Financial Assistance Office. Tuition is $73,024 and fees are $1,570, for a combined $74,594 in direct tuition and fees. The estimated total cost of attendance for a resident undergraduate living on campus is $98,419, adding housing and food ($20,740), books and supplies ($1,000), and incidentals ($2,085). Boston University publishes a separate estimated cost of attendance for commuter undergraduates of $82,176, which excludes standard housing but includes an estimate for food on campus ($2,647) and higher incidentals ($3,935). The Board of Trustees reviews tuition and fees annually.
The BU Promise commitments shown in the section above are Boston University's own current published aid policy, as posted on the Financial Assistance How Aid Works page and the admissions Tuition & Aid page. The initiative was announced August 2026 by University President Melissa Gilliam and takes effect for students entering in 2026–27. Eligibility is limited to first-time, first-year undergraduates who are US citizens or permanent residents with typical assets for their income level. Transfer students and international students are not eligible for the BU Promise but may apply for Boston University merit scholarships regardless of financial need. "Typical assets" means Boston University's aid formulas assume the family's assets are within the range typical for that income; families with atypical assets — such as substantial investment holdings, business equity, or real estate beyond a primary residence — may not qualify for the tier commitments even if income is below $200,000, though Boston University still commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need through tailored packages. Retirement accounts are excluded from asset calculations. The BU Scholarship Assurance guarantees the institutional need-based scholarship will keep pace with any tuition increases for all four undergraduate years. The "without loans" commitment applies to institutional need-based packages; Federal Direct Loans may still be offered to eligible students, and families may still choose to borrow to help cover educational expenses. Approximately 45 to 50 percent of Boston University undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and the university awarded $473 million in undergraduate financial aid in the prior year.
The CollegeClearly estimator translates your family's specific cost into a standardized 20-year monthly financial commitment using CollegeClearly's own repayment model, applied identically to every school we cover so families can compare on the same basis. It is a comparison framework, not a specific loan product.
Figures are for informational purposes only and are not financial advice. Verify final costs with Boston University Financial Assistance and your family's specific aid letter.