Real costs by school · Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
At Boston University, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $22,517 per year — the published cost of attendance is $86,285. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)
| Household income | Avg net price / yr | ≈ four years* |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,500 / yr | $40,043 |
| $30–48k | $9,342 / yr | $39,377 |
| $48–75k | $11,778 / yr | $49,644 |
| $75–110k | $22,517 / yr | $94,909 |
| Over $110k | $47,504 / yr | $200,229 |
*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.
Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
College Compass runs Boston University against your student's real GPA, your real income band, and your actual high school — admit odds with the math shown, merit likelihood, and the season's deadlines. First three schools free.
Stony Brook University · Northeastern University · University of Connecticut