Boston University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

In Fiscal Year 2012, BU awarded $57 million in need-based grants and merit awards to incoming students. Those with need-based grants had 92% of their calculated financial eligibility met. Need-based grants are awarded based on a combination of calculated financial eligibility and academic merit. Certain scholarships are offered to academically talented candidates who apply for need-based aid and show minimal or no calculated financial eligibility, but whose calculated family contributions do not substantially exceed the cost of attending BU.

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Upward Bound (UB) at Boston University is a federally funded college preparatory program for potential first-generation college and low-income Boston Public High School students. The program, which is a part of Boston University's Boston Public Schools Collaborative Office within the School of Education, serves 75 students who are recruited from one of six target high schools in Boston. The high schools served are Brighton High School, The English High School, Community Academy of Science and Health, The Engineering School, Social Justice Academy and Snowden International High School at Copley. Students enter the program in either the 9th or 10th grade and remain with the program until their graduation from high school. Program services include an academically intensive six-week summer residential program and an after school program of tutoring and academic courses during the school year. Upward Bound services are located on the Boston University campus, which provides students with access to the University's resources. The program is free and students are given a small stipend for their participation. Federal Work-Study is a federally subsidized program that provides jobs to help eligible students meet educational expenses. Since Federal Work-Study funding is limited, it is not included in all student awards. Priority is given to students with higher calculated need who indicate on the FAFSA that they are interested in student employment. While not directed exclusively at low income students, BU’s University Service Center offers programs and services designed to welcome and support first generation college students. Among those programs and services are summer orientation welcome receptions, periodic workshops and social events, and a monthly newsletter highlighting important dates, campus events and resources, and first generation peers.

Last year, Boston University awarded $13 million in merit-based scholarships to entering freshmen. Most awards are for academic achievement, while others go to talented athletes, performers, and artists. BU has several kinds of academic scholarships. Some are offered for specific areas of study and some are offered through nomination from one’s high school. Merit scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years of study with satisfactory completion of 12 credits each semester, maintaining the annual grade point average specified in the award notification, and remaining in good disciplinary standing at the University. High school seniors with exceptionally strong academic records who have been chosen as National Merit or National Achievement Program finalists may be eligible for the $20,000, renewable, Boston University Presidential Scholarship. Recipients are chosen by the Boston University Board of Admissions and the Scholarship Committee. Also, National Hispanic Recognition Program finalists who have exceptionally strong academic records will be considered for the $20,000, renewable, Boston University Presidential Scholarship. Recipients are chosen by the Boston University Board of Admissions and the Scholarship Committee. More merit scholarships are available on the admissions website. Other factors that may influence the awarding of University grants and scholarships include the School/College of admission, geography, ethnicity, artistic or athletic talent, and alumni affiliation. These factors help us fulfill our commitment to equal opportunity and excellence.

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Boston University is committed to ensuring that students from low-income backgrounds have access to and are knowledgeable about BU. The University has strategically hosted, visited, and partnered with organizations that serve students from low-income backgrounds. BU has hosted 193 community-based organizations (CBOs) on campus, and visited 364 CBOs over the past five years.  In addition, BU has partnered with the Center for Student Opportunities (CSO) which gives the University access to over two thousand CBOs and a growing number of first-generation students through the campaign “I am first”.  BU also maintains strong partnerships with A Better Chance, Venture Scholars, The National Hispanic Institute, Chicago Scholars, Prep for Prep, and many other organizations that serve students from low-income backgrounds. Locally, BU has partnered with Boston Public Schools (BPS) and created annual programming that gives students early exposure to college through summer and fall programming. Additionally, BU hosts an annual counselor breakfast specifically for BPS Guidance Counselors.

In order to be accessible and affordable to students from all backgrounds, BU has partnered with several organizations and school districts across the United States.  Every year, BU awards 10 full-tuition scholarships to students from Atlanta, Georgia in partnership with the Posse Foundation. Similarly, BU has partnered with the YES Prep school district in Houston to enroll five “Impact Scholars” annually. BU’s partnership with the Boston Public Schools also serves as a conduit for accessibility and affordability through the Thomas M. Menino Scholarship Program and the BU Community Service Award. The Thomas M. Menino Scholarship Program awards 25 full-tuition scholarships annually to students from BPS high schools. To date $143 million in scholarship grants have been award to 1,821 seniors graduating from Boston Public Schools. Through the BU Community Service Award, Boston University commits to meeting the full calculated financial eligibility, without loans, of any admitted Boston public high school graduate. BU provides additional resources to BPS students in the form of application fee waivers and free TOEFL testing.  

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The Scholarship for Community College Graduates is a tuition scholarship for individuals who have graduated from one of our six partner community colleges (Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, Middlesex Community College, Mass Bay Community College, Northern Essex Community College and Quinsigamond Community College) with a 3.0 GPA or above and are US citizens or permanent residents. This is a 50% scholarship that allows students to enroll part time or to a maximum of 12 credits. BU’s Metropolitan College Director of Undergraduate Student Services and faculty routinely meet with faculty and staff from MET’s six partner community colleges to review curriculum, courses, and to establish course equivalencies between their respective institutions. Also, MET’s advisors are available to meet with any prospective student. Prospective students may submit transcripts prior to application for admission for review, tentative award of transfer credit and a tentative outline of remaining course work. This program is especially helpful for first generation students, students who have attended multiple schools over an extended period of time, older, non-traditional students, and students who have started at MET on a non-degree basis.

Boston University has two childcare centers on campus. The Boston University Children’s Center is a full-time early childhood education program. The children of Boston University students, faculty and staff may attend the Center if they are between the ages of two and five years old. Admission is based on the number of spaces available each year. The Boston University Children’s Center does not discriminate in admissions, educational policies and services to children (including those with disabilities) and their families on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, cultural heritage, political beliefs, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. The Preschool is a part-time program affiliated with the School of Education. Additionally, four Lactation Rooms, located on both the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus, are available to nursing mothers -faculty, staff, or students.

The Office of Undergraduate Student Services, which is affiliated with Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET), has a staff of three academic counselors and a Director who advise non-traditional students on what courses they should take, review transcripts from previous colleges attended, and assist them from application to graduation.

http://www.bu.edu/family/childcare-centers-on-campus/