Boston University's BU Promise: full tuition for families under $200,000, and no loans

On August 6, 2026, Boston University described the BU Promise, which began with students entering in 2026-27. Under it, "admitted domestic first-year, first-time students from families earning less than $200,000 annually, with typical assets, can expect financial aid to cover full tuition... plus a portion of housing and dining costs, with a parent contribution capped at $20,000 per year."

It also "eliminates loans from need-based packages" and "guarantees institutional scholarships will keep pace with tuition increases."

BU says the Promise begins "with students entering in the 2026-2027 academic year" and names no end date. If you are a senior applying for fall 2027, confirm on BU's aid pages that it still applies to your year; if it does, it covers U.S. applicants who are admitted and whose family fits the income and asset lines. The cap is the useful part: you know the most the parent share can be each year before you apply. Marist set a cap of its own for New York families, and Carleton dropped loans with no income line at all.

"Typical assets" is BU's term, and it matters. A family with an income under $200,000 but significant savings or property may not fit. Use BU's net price calculator, and read BU's aid pages for what it counts.

As BU describes it, the Promise is for domestic first-year, first-time students. International and transfer applicants should read BU's aid pages for their own terms.