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The real 4-year cost of Boston University in Massachusetts
Over the 18 years from 2008 to 2026, published tuition and required fees at Boston University went from $37,050 to $74,594, an average of 4.0% a year. The 2026–27 figure is the school's own announced rate.
2026–27 rate announced: $74,594Tuition $73,024 + mandatory fees $1,570.source
2008–2030: history and projection
| Year | Published | Projected estimate | Estimate range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $37,050 | – | – |
| 2009 | $38,440 | – | – |
| 2010 | $39,864 | – | – |
| 2011 | $41,420 | – | – |
| 2012 | $42,994 | – | – |
| 2013 | $44,910 | – | – |
| 2014 | $46,664 | – | – |
| 2015 | $48,436 | – | – |
| 2016 | $50,240 | – | – |
| 2017 | $52,082 | – | – |
| 2018 | $53,948 | – | – |
| 2019 | $55,892 | – | – |
| 2020 | $58,072 | – | – |
| 2021 | $59,816 | – | – |
| 2022 | $62,360 | – | – |
| 2023 | $65,168 | – | – |
| 2026 | $74,594 | $74,594 | – |
| 2027 | – | $77,581 | $77,289–$77,873 |
| 2028 | – | $80,687 | $80,081–$81,296 |
| 2029 | – | $83,918 | $82,974–$84,869 |
| 2030 | – | $87,278 | $85,971–$88,599 |
If you pay full sticker
Projected tuition + fees, entering fall 2026.
| Year 1 | $74,594 |
| Year 2 | $77,581 |
| Year 3 | $80,687 |
| Year 4 | $83,918 |
| 4-year total | $316,780 |
Two aid scenarios
4-year out-of-pocket total.
- $10,000/yr flat scholarship
- $276,780
- Flat aid doesn't grow, so it covers less each year.
- 50%-of-tuition scholarship
- $161,719
- Percentage aid keeps pace with tuition.
On-campus housing & meals
Room & board (housing plus the standard meal plan), on top of tuition.
- Announced 2026–27
- $20,740/ yr
- rising 3.3% / yr
- Projected 4-year add-on
- $87,150
School’s own published rateHousing $13,170 + most dining plans $7,570.source
Books & supplies typically add ~$1,200 a year (national median, not included).
Run your own numbers
Enter your actual scholarship offer to see your real 4-year total.
See my 4-year cost at Boston University4-year schools with similar prices in Massachusetts
Closest to Boston University by published tuition and fees. Similar sticker prices can still compound very differently.
- Brandeis University$73,678
- Amherst College$76,040
- Wellesley College$72,890
- Boston College$76,340
- Tufts University$76,558
- Williams College$76,640
- Mount Holyoke College$71,450
- College of the Holy Cross$71,150
Use this data
Published figures for Boston University from federal IPEDS data through 2023, free to download or embed with attribution. The embed stays current as the data updates.