BU's tuition & fees has increased from $48,436 (2015) to $68,102 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 40.60% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $48,082 (year 2015) to $67,626 (year 2025).
BU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Massachusetts's average increase rate of 13.51%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 36.87% from 2015 ($65,906).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, BU's COA is $90,207, which is increased by 4.45% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to BU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 40.60% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $66,670. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Boston University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,000, and it has not changed since 2015.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,000 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,000 | |
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| 2018-19 | $1,000 | |
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| 2019-20 | $1,000 | |
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| 2020-21 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,000 | |
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| 2023-24 | $1,000 | |
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| 2024-25 | $1,000 | |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 27.10% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 30.96% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Boston University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $16,470 | $15,980 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $16,820 | $16,820 | 2.13% |
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| 2017-18 | $17,220 | $17,220 | 2.38% |
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| 2018-19 | $17,670 | $17,670 | 2.61% |
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| 2019-20 | $18,110 | $17,670 | 2.49% |
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| 2020-21 | $18,590 | $18,590 | 2.65% |
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| 2021-22 | $18,790 | $18,790 | 1.08% |
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| 2022-23 | $19,400 | $19,400 | 3.25% |
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| 2023-24 | $20,195 | $20,195 | 4.10% |
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| 2024-25 | $21,105 | $21,105 | 4.51% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Boston University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Boston University | $68,102 | $65,168 | 4.50% |
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| Loyola University Maryland | $57,150 | $55,480 | 3.01% |
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|
| American University | $58,771 | $56,543 | 3.94% |
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|
| Bucknell University | $67,812 | $64,772 | 4.69% |
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|
| Lafayette College | $64,648 | $61,824 | 4.57% |
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| Lehigh University | $64,980 | $62,180 | 4.50% |
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