How Aid Works

Boston College remains committed to the practice of admitting students solely on the basis of the strength of their application. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who are not in default on a Federal student loan and who demonstrate financial need, will be assisted in meeting that need through different financial aid funds. A family's demonstrated financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) provides an estimate of the costs associated with attending Boston College. There are two main categories of costs used when creating the cost of attendance: direct and indirect costs.

Direct (Billed) Costs

The cost of attendance includes costs that will appear on your bill—tuition, housing, food (if required) and fees. For students living off campus, your direct costs will include tuition and fees. When trying to determine financial responsibilities to Boston College each year, the direct costs are what will appear on your billing statement.

Your first bill for the academic year will likely include a charge for health insurance. Massachusetts law requires that every full-time and part-time student enrolled in a certificate, diploma or degree-granting program of higher education must participate in their school's Student Health Program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. Students that have comparable coverage are able to waive the Boston College health plan by specific deadlines. For additional information on BC's health insurance plan and directions and deadlines to waive the insurance please visit bc.edu/medicalinsurance. The cost for the BC medical insurance for the 23–24 year is $4,133.

Direct Costs for Entering Students*

Cost TypeTotal
Tuition$66,410
Housing and Food$17,270
Fees**$1,920
Total$85,600

*The direct costs for returning students will vary depending on room assignment and whether or not a meal plan is required. Costs for returning students are listed here.

**Fees are charged in the first semester. All other costs are divided across two semesters.

Indirect (Non-billed) Costs

The cost of attendance also includes costs that will not appear on your bill. Items included in this category are estimates for books, travel, and miscellaneous/personal expenses. For students that live off campus, an estimate for your housing and food costs will be included in your COA, and are considered indirect costs because you will not be billed by BC for those costs.

Boston College Indirect Costs

Cost TypeTotal for 23–24
Books and Supplies$1,250
Misc./Personal Expenses$1,900
TravelVaries ($100–1,300)
Loan Fees*$49

*Loan fees will also be added when a family receives a federal parent or graduate PLUS loan.

Your cost of attendance will not match your bill because it includes indirect costs that are not billed by Boston College. Students must plan ahead and be prepared to pay for books and/or off-campus living expenses until the funds have been disbursed.

Constructing Financial Aid Awards

In order to create financial aid awards, we utilize your full cost of attendance. Listed below are the figures used when evaluating your financial aid eligibility.

Cost TypeIncoming On Campus (Meal Plan Required Dorm)Continuing On Campus (Meal Plan Required Dorm)Continuing On Campus (Kitchen Facility Dorm)Off-Campus StudentCommuter Student
Tuition$66,410$66,410$66,410$66,410$66,410
Fees$​1,920*$1,270$1,270$664$664
Food and Housing (Living Expenses)**$18,475$19,245$1​8,845$14,641$2,658
Books/misc.$3,150$3,150$3,150$3,150$3,450
TravelVaries ($100–1,300)Varies ($100–1,300)Varies ($100–1,300)Varies ($100–1,300)Varies ($100–1,300)
Total^$89,955$90,075$89,675$84,865$​73,182

*Incoming students are charged a one-time $600 Orientation fee and $50 student ID fee. 

**For 23–24, the federal government updated regulations and required colleges and universities to include the cost of 3 meals per day into the cost of attendance. The totals used for your living expenses will not match the amount charged for any required meal plans. This difference is intentional to ensure your financial aid cost of attendance complies with federal regulations.

⌃ The total cost of attendance does not include the travel amount since it varies individually by student. Students can view their specific cost of attendance online through their financial aid portal.

Please note: Student budgets can vary depending upon on- or off-campus residency. Students must notify the Office of Student Services in writing if their housing status changes.

Cost of Attendance Glossary

To help understand the items included in Boston College’s cost of attendance, we have defined each element:

Appeals

Boston College is committed to providing information in a manner that is accessible to all. If you are in need of a printed copy of the material presented on this web page, please contact the Office of Student Services.

Family Contribution

Boston College does not meet the expected family contribution determined by the FAFSA. We meet 100% of the need that is based on our determination of your institutional expected family contribution.

Expected Parental Contribution

Federal Methodology includes factors such as:

  • Income (prior-prior tax year)
  • Assets (excluding home equity, family-owned small business/farm equity)
  • Family size
  • Number of dependent children enrolled in college or graduate school


Institutional Methodology includes factors such as:

  • Income (prior-prior tax year)
  • Assets (including home equity, all business/farm equity)
  • Family size
  • Number of dependent children who are full-time undergraduates*
  • If parents are separated, divorced, or were never married, financial information for both biological parents is reviewed


*Boston College does not include graduate siblings in the number in college. Boston College verifies sibling enrollment each fall semester through the Sibling Enrollment Verification process.

Expected Student Contribution

Federal Methodology includes factors such as:

  • Income (prior-prior tax year)
  • Assets
  • Family size (if student is considered independent)
  • Number in college (if student is considered independent)


Institutional Methodology includes factors such as:

  • Income (prior-prior tax year) or minimum contribution*
  • Assets
  • Family size (if student is considered independent)
  • Number in college (if student is considered independent)


*The student income portion of the Institutional Expected Family Contribution is based on the expectation that each student will work during the summer to invest in his or her own education. Minimum standard income contributions for the academic year are $2,400 for incoming students and $2,500 for returning students. If the student earned higher than the minimum standard contribution during the prior-prior tax year, then the determined student contribution will be based on a percentage of their actual earned income.

Borrowing at Boston College

44%

Percent of students who borrowed a federal student loan

$15,949

Average total federal loan amount borrowed by students

Class of 2023

$159

Approximate federal loan monthly payment over a ten-year period