<p>Financial aid, whether grants or loans, are applied against the “cost of attendance,” which includes tuition, fees, room, board, books and miscellaneous costs. Whether it feels like that depends on how much you get! Many schools (and I don’t know if BU is one), calculate the COA at a lower amount if the student is off campus, so moving off may in fact have a negative effect on someone getting a lot of financial aid.</p>
<p>One other thing to note - be aware that in Allston, Brighton and Newton, it is a violation of zoning laws for more than 4 unrelated individuals to live together in one rental unit no matter how large. Unscrupulous landlords for years have been cramming students into apartments, since it may be cheaper for each individual student but a windfall for the landlord. You could rent an apartment at a rent of $3000 to 6 students, say ($500 per), but would never get that amount if rented to a family.</p>