A few days ago, I got my financial aid back from Boston University. Beforehand, I expected a large package, as the chances of me getting one were very high: zero EFC, very low income, etc. However, upon opening my financial package on the student applicant link, my financial aid from BU was ZERO DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS. All I got were loans and a 1000 dollar grant, all of which came from the federal government. I demanded an answer as to why my financial aid was so low and the only answer I got back was due to “lack of funding”. I already sent in my deposit of $650 and I spoke to the dean’s assistant and my financial aid counselor, both of whom were very surprised, as, again, I was eligible for the maximum financial aid possible. My appeal is being contested and re-evaluated, but it is currently April 25, and I’llneed an answer from them soon (May 1). I’ll be speaking with the dean very soon, but I am very worried about this, as BU is my top choice. I am very frustrated as to what I should do. I want to go very badly, I saved up 11k, and my parents can not afford to give me any money what so ever. Am I being cheated or what? What should I do?
@LucasF08 Do you have any other choices with significant financial aid awards? 
Here’s a great article from Muhlenberg College called “The Real Deal on Financial Aid.” I think it explains ALOT: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/therealdealonfinancialaid/
Why would you send a deposit before knowing what the financial aid award was?
@dfin2013, that is a really useful link- it should be pinned at the top of the fin aid thread
Did you complete the CSS by the deadline?
With a EFC of $0, you should get a $6090 Pell grant at the very least.
Why on earth did you send in a deposit to a school that hadn’t yet offered you an affordable aid package?
If those are the numbers after an appeal, you need to withdraw and find somewhere affordable to go. Have your guidance counselor call and argue if they do not refund your deposit.
Edit to add: it looks like the typical lower-income financial aid still leaves a price tag of about 20,000 there. Did you get a financial aid estimate before applying?
https://projects.propublica.org/colleges/schools/boston-university
Don’t get yourself into debt if you don’t have to. You can’t get out through bankruptcy unless declared 100% disabled.
Are you a US citizen?
Given the numbers that you have presented, you cannot afford to go to BU. There is no way that you could borrow enough, and to even try is likely to be a disaster.
Sadly you need to find another option. If you don’t have another much more affordable option, then you are going to need to either go to community college or take a gap year.
Most students are constrained by financial issues in terms of what schools they can attend.
By the way, thank you for telling us about this situation. I think that this is helpful to other students to get a sense regarding what they might or might not run into when they need to apply to universities.
AroundHere, you can’t look at the “average” for low income students. It includes kids with generous packages and kids with crappy or zip.
OP, did you run the NPC/Net Price Calculator before applying? BU doesn’t promise to meet your need. Not at all. It’s not a Meet Full Need college.
“I demanded an answer as to why my financial aid was so low…” Word of advice: no one should demand, start ugly arguments, etc… FA folks are allowed to shut you down, if they perceive rudeness, undue pressure, etc.
Muhlenberg is not Meet Full Need, either, so what they describe doesn’t apply to schools that do offer to meet full need, (based on their own calculation, not just the Fafsa results.) Just pointing that out cuz if it gets pinned, there should be some clarification.
Why did you expect a large package from a school that does not guarantee to meet need? Just because you filled out a FAFSA (Free Application for FEDERAL Student Aid), does not mean that the schools have to give you a large package or a full ride. Those are rare!
You said that you were eligible for the maximum aid possible. Well, that maximum aid was coming from the feds, not the school-Pell is $6K. BU is a private college that does not guarantee to meet need. BU is known for limiting funding.
The Feds can only give you so much; the rest has to come from the schools where you apply.
Typically, the best aid comes from university dollars, and a university can and does run out of funds.
Get your deposit back, and go to another university that you can afford. You shouldn’t have deposited without knowing what your full costs would be.
You can’t “demand” an explanation; that’s just very rude and shows that you didn’t do your research. (Private college that does not meet need-NPC?)
If you caused a ruckus, and started “demanding” action, they don’t have to lift a finger to prioritize your funding.
Let’s start with the basics:
Did you submit all of the required documents before the deadline?
Did your parents fill out the CSS profile that has the income and assets of both of your parents (if they live together)?
Did your parents fill out the CSS profile and the non-custodial profile (if your parents are separated, divorce or never married).
If you do a search on CC or a general search on Boston university, you will find multiple threads written by students and parents about BU giving them an unaffordable financial aid package.
Just because you are eligible for the maximum amount of aid, does not mean you will receive the maximum amount of aid because BU does not promise to meet 100% demonstrated need. The only aid that you are automatically entitled to is federal aid- PELL grants based on your EFC and Federal loans . BU has total discretion as to how they give out their money.
BU has gone on the record stating that while they are need blind in admissions, they are not talent blind when it comes to giving out their own institutional aid.
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/finaid-pappano-t.html
BU has essentially given you an admit-deny; they have academically admitted you while providing a financial aid package that pretty much assures that you will not be able to attend because it is not financially feasible option.
You will have to move on and go to your affordable choice
BU does not meet need, but at the very least you should have gotten a pell grant (?).
My advice is to choose an affordable option… or take a gap year and apply to schools that meet full need, schools that give significant merit, and your instate public.
I’m sorry you’re in this difficult situation. Most people who are new to the process need time to understand the rules.
The FAFSA EFC (estimated family contribution) should be renamed. It doesn’t mean that’s what families will pay and the college will pick up the balance. The purpose of the FAFSA EFC is to determine if students are eligible for the $5900/year Pell Grant. A student with a $0 FAFSA EFC should get the entire grant. The closer the EFC is to $5k, the smaller the Pell Grant. A student with an EFC of $6k would get $0 Pell. The FAFSA is mostly income driven. It uses the financial info. of the parent the student lives with most, if parents are divorced, or both if they’re married.
Some colleges use the CSS Profile form in addition to the FAFSA. It counts income, assets, and home equity, and uses the financial info. of the parents and stepparents, if there are any.
Most schools don’t have the money to give large grants to every student they accept. Some give out merit awards based on stats (GPA and SAT/ACT scores), but those generally aren’t enough to cover the cost of attendance. Some give need based aid, but if they don’t guarantee to meet need (most colleges don’t) then that often leaves a large gap too.
If you tell us your stats and home state, maybe we can suggest something. The first thing you need to know is your budget. Does your state offer grants? With a $0 EFC you should be eligible for a $5900 Pell Grant. If you file the FAFSA every year you can take the federal student loan ($5500 as a freshman, $6500 as a sophomore, and $7500/year as a junior and senior). The loan + Pell should give you a budget of about $11k/year. If you got a tuition grant anywhere, that + summer work earnings might cover room and board.
Are there any schools within commuting distance? They may be good options. If you have super high stats but don’t any affordable options you could take a gap year and apply to a new list of schools. But starting at a cc and transferring to a 4-year school is a common option too.
@LucasF08 Not all schools provide good financial aid. BU is known to be very stingy. What other schools did you apply to? What are your stats? I wonder if you could ask to get your deposit back.
Yes, you are being cheated. Is there anything you can do about it? Not really. If you’re a student, you’re not in a position to negotiate. For every one person who gets need-based aid, there’s probably 5 willing to pay full price. It’s a game that private schools are very good at playing. You could sue them…but for what? Not giving you more of their money? $650 dollars? You can passionately argue for more financial aid. It’s worth a shot, but you may need to consider another school.
What other AFFORDABLE acceptances do you have right now?
We don’t know if you have been “cheated” as @coolguy40 states. Actually…I’m not sure you are being cheated at all.
First you need to answer some questions. Honestly…no one here can help you get $60,000 plus a year in aid from BU but with these answers, we can help perhaps to help you with college.
- Are you a U.S. citizen?
- Did you complete your financial aid application forms on time? When did you submit them?
- Were you selected for verification...and is that process completed.
- If you are a U.S. citizen, was that your FAFSA EFC that was $0...because if so, and it was accurate...you would have gotten $6000 in Pell Grant money and a $5500 Direct Loan.
- Are your parents self employed?
- Do your parents own property in addition to your primary residence?
- Are your parents divorced? If so, did your non-custodial parent complete the NCP Profile?
- What “maximum financial aid” did you expect from Boston University? The school does not guarantee to meet full need...so if you expected $60,000 or more...not likely you would have gotten that.
- Where else have you been accepted...and are any of those schools affordable?
- What are your SAT or ACT scores, and your GPA?
You are not being cheated. Nobody is guaranteed a full ride at any college. Many many students cannot attend their top choice college due to financial constraints.