Graduate Loans and Financing Options

Summer 2025

• The Summer Term loan request form is available here. If you have completed the FAFSA and registered for Summer Term, check your BU email for instructions.
• To ensure eligibility for an Unsubsidized Loan during Summer Term, you must complete the FAFSA for both the current academic year (24-25) and the upcoming academic year (25-26).

Helpful Links

Summer Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Entrance Counseling
Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate Unsubsidized Loan
Federal Financial Aid Credit Authorization Form

Fall 2025 – Spring 2026

The FAFSA serves as your application for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. If the FAFSA determines you are eligible for an Unsubsidized Loan, you will receive email notification with instructions to visit MyBU and accept/decline the loan offer. Email artaid@bu.edu with any questions, concerns, or requests.

Helpful Links
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Entrance Counseling
Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate Unsubsidized Loan
Federal Financial Aid Credit Authorization Form

24-25 Federal Graduate PLUS Loan (Graduate Student Borrower)

Private Credit-Based Loans for Graduate Borrowers

Helpful Links
Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate PLUS Loan

The Payment Plan allows you to budget charged expenses monthly. Because it is not a loan and no interest is charged, the total cost is significantly lower than you would incur with a loan.

For more detailed information about the program and how to apply:

• Payment Plan information and instructions

• BU Consortium Agreement (Graduate)
• Federal Financial Aid Credit Authorization

CFA GRADUATE FINANCIAL AID AT-A-GLANCE

Scholarships

All graduate students (domestic and international) admitted to an on-campus program are automatically eligible for institutional scholarships. There is no separate application for scholarship consideration.

For more information, visit Graduate Scholarships or contact Graduate Admissions.

Scroll down for a list of scholarship search engines that provide outside scholarship opportunities.

Loans

Graduate students who are citizens of the United States may be eligible for a

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan.

• Unsubsidized loans allow graduate students to borrow up to $20,500 per academic year
• Graduate students who have exhausted their Unsubsidized loan eligibility may apply for a Graduate PLUS loan. PLUS loans are credit-based and allow graduate students to borrow up to total cost of attendance.
• The FAFSA serves as your application for an Unsubsidized Loan (School Code 002130).

Students who prefer not to complete the FAFSA or with exceptional credit history may pursue a private “alternative” loan. Like PLUS loans, private loans are credit-based and allow students to borrow up to total cost of attendance. For more information, visit Credit-Based Loans.

For more information, visit Graduate Loans or email artaid@bu.edu.

Loan options for international students are extremely limited. For information and instructions, visit Credit-Based Loans Available to International Students.

Federal Work-Study

Graduate students who are citizens of the United States may be eligible for Federal Work-Study, a program that promotes access to employment for those who demonstrate need, as determined by the FAFSA.

For information and instructions, visit Federal Work Study.

Assistantships & Stipends

Graduate Assistantships (or service stipends) include instructional, research, and/or administrative positions. Domestic and international students may be eligible. Non-Service Stipends permit exceptional students to focus primarily on their degree coursework with no departmental responsibilities.

For information and instructions, visit Graduate Assistantships & Stipends or contact Graduate Admissions.

OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH ENGINES

Fastweb  Unigo  Scholarships.com  BigFuture  Appily  Peterson’s  MyScholly.com  Bold.org