SPH – School of Public Health
Student Financial Services (SFS) provides students with tools and guidance to manage financial aid while at Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC) as well as the resources to be financially successful upon graduation. Financial aid is offered each academic year and you must re-apply annually to be considered eligible to receive aid.
To be eligible for federal aid you must be enrolled with six or more credits in your degree program.
All students accepted into 2024 On-Campus MPH and MS single degree programs are guaranteed grants to immediately reduce the cost of tuition:
- On-Campus MPH: $25,000 Access Grant
- On-Campus MS: $20,000 Access Grant
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.
Specific Program Application Consideration
Incoming Master of Science (MS) – Applied Biostatistics students
- The Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 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 2024 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in July 2024.
- Complete the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in September 2023 and/or January 2024.
- Complete the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in September 2024 and/or January 2025.
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
- Complete the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 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
Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 Financial Aid
All students are encouraged to submit the 2024/2025 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.
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
Social Security Numbers and Your Application
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.
The SSN not provided on the SOPHAS will result in potentially significant delays in the review of your financial aid application.
BU Tuition Remission Recipients
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.
Summer 2024
This process is solely for students enrolled in Summer 1 or Summer 2 classes.
Register for Summer 2024 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 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 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 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 FAFSAs are already submitted, re-submission of the FAFSA is not required
Submit the Summer 2024 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 Summer 2024 PLUS Loan application
Be advised: any Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans you receive in Summer 2024 may reduce your 2024-2025 academic year eligibility, dollar for dollar.
Changes in Registration
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.
Deadlines
For Incoming Fall 2024 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.
If you receive an outside scholarship after submitting your application, please submit a copy of the notification letter to SFS.