Alternative Payment Options

Boston University provides flexible alternative payment options for full-time and part-time students. Alternative payment options can include Payment Plans, Employer Benefits, and Veterans Benefits.

Payment Plans can be used in conjunction with Employer Benefits such as Tuition Reimbursement or Tuition Remission. Please contact the Graduate Financial Assistance Office and Student Accounting Services to discuss how best to utilize one’s benefits.

Payment Plan Options

Full-Time (12 or more credits)

  • Boston University has partnered with Nelnet Campus Commerce to offer a payment plan that allows you to break down your expenses for each semester into five monthly installments, rather than a lump sum payment.
  • If you enroll in the plan, payments will be automatically debited on the 20th of the month from your U.S. checking or savings account. Please note that credit card payments are not accepted.
  • The Fall semester plan runs from May through September, the Spring semester plan runs from October through February.
  • Participants must enroll and pay a nonrefundable enrollment fee each semester. The deadline to enroll is early August for the Fall Semester, and mid-December for the Spring Semester.
  • For more information about the payment plan, please visit Student Accounting Services or visit the Payment Plan FAQ page.

Students may enroll in a payment plan by navigating to “Student Account Balance” from the Financials menu item on MyBU Student. Students can click on the “Nelnet Payment and Refunds” button to be redirected to Nelnet’s QuikPAY® site. Select “Payment Plans” from the left-hand menu to view available payment plans and complete enrollment. Guest Users may also enroll directly in a payment plan following the same navigation from their “Student Account Balance” view.

Part-Time (less than 12 credits)

  • For students who are part-time during the academic year, there are two payment plan options during the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Each option requires a down payment of 25% of the enrolled plan amount, in addition to an enrollment fee.  The remaining 75% of the plan amount may be paid in one of two ways.
  • Students enrolling in Option 1 will make three equal installment payments of 25% of the plan amount, due monthly throughout the semester.
  • Those enrolling in Option 2 will make their remaining payment shortly after the semester ends.
  • During the Summer 1 and Summer 2 semesters, Option 2 is the only available option.
  • Specific plan dates and additional information can be found on the Part-Time Payment Plan page from Student Accounting Services.

Boston University has partnered with Nelnet Campus Commerce to offer payment plan options for part-time students. Fall and Spring plans are available to students who are part-time during those semesters. Summer plans are available to all students. Enrollment is available through MyBU Student by clicking on the “Nelnet Payment and Refunds” button from the “Student Account Balance” page under the Financials icon. Once redirected to Nelnet, select “Payment Plans” from the left-hand menu.

Employer Benefits

  • Tuition Reimbursement

    • Tuition reimbursement (also known as tuition assistance or tuition benefit) is an employee benefit through which an employer pays for a predetermined amount of continuing education credits or college coursework to be applied toward a degree
    • Most companies offer assistance toward a degree that’s relevant to their industry
    • Contact your employer’s Human Resource department to determine benefit eligibility
    • Tuition Reimbursement may have tax implications – please speak with a tax professional and your HR department about this impact

  • Tuition Remission

    • The Tuition Remission Program is a valuable education benefit that grants regular full-time Boston University employees—and their families—access to a wide range of BU courses and degree programs
    • Benefits for you begin on the first day of the semester on or following your date of hire
    • Benefits for your spouse and dependent children begin on the first day of the semester after you have completed the appropriate service requirements for you and your dependents
    • Tuition Remission benefits are granted on a semester basis. For the purposes of the program, the two Summer Sessions are treated as one academic semester
    • As an eligible employee you are entitled to 100% Tuition Remission for the first four credit hours and 90% Tuition Remission for the next four credit hours of courses you take each semester
    • Tuition Remission may have tax implications – please speak with a tax professional and BU Human Resources for more information
    • Apply for Tuition Remission

  • Outside Agency Sponsorship

    • In certain cases, requests to bill all or part of your tuition to a sponsor, government, or company (i.e., an employer) can be arranged
    • If your sponsorship billing is accepted, it will be applied to your student account as an anticipated payment (Billed to Third Party Sponsor) and your sponsor will be invoiced after the semester course adjustment date has passed
    • If your sponsorship meets the requirements below, please email a copy of your billing authorization and/or sponsorship letter to studenta@bu.edu for review prior to the payment deadline
      • Sponsorship must not be contingent on grades or course completion
      • Sponsor billing notification must be provided on company letterhead, and include the following:
        • an authorized signature (not that of the student)
        • dates of sponsorship (i.e., Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024)
        • items which will be paid (i.e., Tuition and Fees)
        • state that Boston University must directly invoice the sponsoring agency and include a billing address and direct contact; email preferred
      • The sponsoring agency must be able to receive the invoice by email or paper. Special invoicing requirements, such as vendor registration, cannot be supported.
    • After sending your sponsorship letter, you must make payment of any remaining balance not covered by the agency before the payment deadline
    • Invoices will be sent to the sponsoring agencies after the last day to drop standard courses (without a “W’ grade) for that semester
    • It is not assumed that you will have continuous coverage from an agency – a new authorization is required for every semester
    • Outside agency sponsorship cannot be contingent on grades – please retain a copy of your sponsorship letter, as you may be held responsible for tuition and any fees if the authorization has expired or is invalid for any reason

  • Military Benefits

    • Military education benefits, primarily through the GI Bill, offer financial assistance for eligible veterans and their dependents to pursue higher education, vocational training, and other educational programs.

    • If you have specific questions about VA benefit eligibility, please contact the VA directly at 1-888-442-4551.

    • Questions about Military Tuition Assistance should be directed to your unit/company’s Education Liaison Officer/Education Approval Officer.

    • Please contact BU’s Veterans & Military Services Office for more information about the application of your military benefits to your BU student account.

  • Tax Implications

    • The IRS has determined Graduate level course to be taxable, however employers are able to provide up to $5,250 in assistance per employee each year. Please speak with your employer’s Human Resources department or consult a tax-professional about these educational tax implications
    • Boston University employees should contact BU Human Resources concerning Tuition Remission