SPH – School of Public Health

Incoming Master of Science (MS) – Applied Biostatistics students

• The Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements will apply financial aid towards all of your enrollment, including the classes that begin in August 2023

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

• Complete the Summer 2023 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in July 2023.
• 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.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health 

• Complete the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements (depending on your semester or enrollment)
• Complete the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov
• Send confirmation of the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note completion to osfs-sph@bu.edu. Please include your name and BU ID in the correspondence.

Online Master’s in Public Health – Starting January 2023

• Visit the OLMPH page for tuition and financial aid information

All students are encouraged to submit the 2023/2024 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
• Parent income data NOT required
• Non-credit based, unsubsidized loan
• Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
• We encourage students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your IRS federal income tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA

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 email osfs-sph@bu.edu with any loan adjustment request

Enroll in six credits or more during either the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or for both semesters

• Required to maintain eligibility for Federal financial aid

All students are encouraged to submit the 2022/2023 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
• Parent income data NOT required
• Non-credit based, unsubsidized loan
• Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
• We encourage students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your IRS federal income tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA

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 email osfs-sph@bu.edu with any loan adjustment request

Enroll in six credits or more during either the Fall 2022, Spring 2023, or for both semesters

• Required to maintain eligibility for institutional and 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.

If you chose not to, or neglected to include your SSN on the SOPHAS, you must:

• Receive your acceptance letter from SPH Admissions
• Complete the secure Social Security Number Reporting form to provide your SSN electronically (requires BU login name and password)
• For newly admitted students who may not have a BU login name and password you can also visit one of our weekly Virtual Drop-In Hours to provide our counseling staff your Social Security Number or call SFS at (617) 358-6550 to provide your Social Security Number over the phone

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

We at Boston University Medical Campus are dedicated to the security of your personal information on 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 2023 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 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• Boston University school code 002130
• Available to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible Non-Citizens
• Parent income data NOT required
• Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
• We encourage students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your IRS federal income tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA
• If the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 FAFSAs are already submitted, re-submission of the FAFSA is not required

Submit the Summer 2023 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 2023 PLUS Loan application once it becomes available later in Spring 2023.

Be advised: any Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans you receive in Summer 2023 may reduce your 2023-2024 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 2023 Applicants –  April 3rd is the last day we can receive a complete application to have an award by the April 15th, 2023 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.