SPH – School of Public Health

If you were awarded a scholarship reducing your tuition by a percentage at the time of your acceptance to SPH, your scholarship will be adjusted to cover actual tuition charges at the same percentage, according to your registration.

Example: if you receive a scholarship covering 35% of your tuition, your scholarship will be adjusted as such:

Note: any Access Grant received is included as a part of your total percentage-based SPH Scholarship.

You will be eligible for a maximum 48 attempted credits of tuition coverage for MPH program, 34 attempted credits for MS programs. Scholarship percentages cannot be increased at any point during your career at SPH.

Please contact Student Financial Services if you change your registration, to have your percentage-based scholarship adjusted accordingly.

Students may also be eligible for additional institutional scholarships and financial aid. For more information on available institutional financial aid please visit the Tuition and Funding page.

Incoming Master of Science (MS) – Applied Biostatistics students

• The Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Application Requirements will apply financial aid towards all of your enrollment, including the classes that begin in August 2024

Master of Science (MS) –  Population Health Research (all specialties)

• Complete the Summer 2025 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in July 2025.
• Complete the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in September 2025 and/or January 2026.
• Complete the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in September 2025 and/or January 2026.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health 

• Complete the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Application Requirements (depending on your semester or enrollment)
• Complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov

4+1 MPH Students

• Students may receive up to 8 semesters of undergraduate financial aid (based on enrollment as an undergraduate student)
• Undergraduate financial aid cannot be used when a student is enrolled as a graduate student (primarily taking graduate courses)
• 4+1 students who are primarily enrolled in SPH courses are not eligible to receive SPH Merit-based scholarship but would be considered independent on the FAFSA and can utilize higher annual loan limits

Online Master’s in Public Health

• Visit the OLMPH page for tuition and financial aid information

All students are encouraged to submit the 2025/2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• The FAFSA is not required to receive institutional scholarships that students may have been offered
• Boston University school code 002130
• Available to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible Non-Citizens
• Non-credit based, unsubsidized loan
• Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status

Receive award notification

• Notification will include any institutional scholarships that may have been listed on a student’s acceptance letter
  • Note: Students awarded a tuition-based scholarship may receive an initial award of $1.00. This amount will be updated after registration occurs to reflect the percent of tuition discounted as noted on the acceptance letter. Unless otherwise noted, tuition-based scholarships are applicable for 48 credits and cannot be used for repeated coursework.
• Students who submit a FAFSA and qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans will be notified of any Federal student loan eligibility.
  • Students who do not wish to utilize Federal student loans or wish to borrow a lower amount can complete the Loan Adjustment Request form.

Enroll in six credits or more during either the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or for both semesters

• Required to maintain eligibility for Federal financial aid

Your Social Security Number (SSN) is required in order for Boston University to receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

When completing the SOPHAS for admission to SPH, we strongly encourage you to include your Social Security Number when you apply. You can also follow the instructions below to provide your SSN to SFS directly.

1. Complete the secure Social Security Number Reporting form to provide your SSN electronically (requires BU login name and password)
2. For newly admitted students who may not have a BU login name and password you may need to wait until you receive your account information from your school

The SSN not provided on the SOPHAS will result in potentially significant delays in the review of your financial aid application. 

Students cannot receive both BU Tuition Remission and tuition-based BUSPH Scholarships.

Students utilizing BU Tuition Remission to pay for their classes at the School of Public Health will relinquish any tuition-based BUSPH Scholarship received. 

For students enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and enrolled in six or more credits, Federal Direct Loans may be applied for to cover additional expenses.

This process is solely for students enrolled in Summer 1 or Summer 2 classes.

Register for Summer 2025 classes

• No applications will be processed until registration for summer classes has occurred
• Eligibility for federal financial aid requires six credits or more registered for the summer sessions

Submit the 2025/2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• Boston University school code 002130
• Available to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible Non-Citizens
• Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
• If the 2025/2026 FAFSA is already submitted, re-submission of the FAFSA is not required

Submit the Summer 2025 Direct Loan Application:

• Assesses eligibility for need-based institutional loans and federal loan aid based on your program.
• No parental income information will be requested for your application.
• The FAFSA must be completed before you submit the application
• If applying for a PLUS Loan complete the 2025 PLUS Loan application
  • Please select the Summer 2025 dates on the PLUS Loan application

Submit the SPH Summer Scholarship Notification form.

Be advised: any Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans you receive in Summer 2025 may reduce your 2025-2026 academic year eligibility, dollar for dollar. 

Changes in your registration could significantly impact your eligibility for financial aid.

Contact Student Financial Services prior to making the following changes to your registration:

• Changing from full-time to part-time registration
• Changing from part-time to full-time registration
• Changing the number of credits taken when registered for less than 12 credits (e.g. changing from 8 credits to 4 credits)
• Planning on taking a Leave of Absence or withdrawing from BU

Failure to contact SFS timely could result in adjustments to your financial aid late in the semester, which could result in balances, and possible holds on your student account.

For Incoming Fall 2025 Applicants –  April 3rd is the last day we can receive a complete application to have an award by the April 15th, 2024 admissions deposit deadline

All other students – You must complete your financial aid application at least one month prior to the bill deadline in order to ensure that your financial aid is shown on your bill and to avoid late fee charges. Please contact Student Accounting Services for exact deadline dates for your program.