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Scholarships for Boston College students


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Key takeaways about Boston College scholarships

  • Boston College meets 100% of demonstrated institutional need for eligible undergraduate financial aid applicants.
  • Most BC undergraduate institutional aid is need-based. Grants and scholarships awarded through Student Services are based on financial need.
  • BC has one academic merit-based undergraduate scholarship. The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program provides full tuition for four years to 18 incoming first-year students each year.
  • Outside scholarships can help. BC generally applies them toward loans and work-study before reducing BC grant or scholarship funding.
  • Graduate funding varies by program. Scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and tuition remission are generally handled by individual schools and departments.

Boston College (BC) puts most of its undergraduate institutional aid toward demonstrated financial need rather than merit scholarships. Understanding that model can help you build a more realistic plan for paying for college.

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Scholarships can also make a meaningful difference. Sallie's "How America Pays for College 2026" study found that 61% of students received scholarship funding during the 2025–26 academic year, with an average scholarship award of $8,291.

This guide explains how BC scholarships and financial aid work, where outside scholarships fit in, and how to look for additional funding.

How much does Boston College cost?

What you may pay to attend BC depends on factors such as your program, housing, personal expenses, and financial aid. Graduate costs also vary by school and degree program.

To explore estimated costs, financial aid information, admissions information, and other details about attending BC, visit Boston College’s profile on Scout College Search. It’s a helpful starting point for comparing costs and planning how you’ll pay for college.

How does Boston College financial aid work?

BC’s undergraduate financial aid program is primarily need-based. The university is need-blind in undergraduate admission and says it meets 100% of demonstrated institutional need for eligible students who apply for financial aid.

BC uses the CSS Profile and other financial information to determine institutional aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is used to determine eligibility for federal and state aid.

A financial aid offer may include grants or scholarships, work-study, and loans. Grants and scholarships generally don’t need to be repaid, while student loans must be repaid with interest.

For 2027–28, BC lists these priority financial aid filing dates:

  • Early Decision I: November 1
  • Early Decision II: January 3
  • Regular Decision for September admission: February 1
  • Transfer for September admission: April 1
  • Regular Decision or transfer for January admission: November 1

Check BC’s current undergraduate financial aid requirements before applying.

Does Boston College offer merit scholarships?

Yes, but undergraduate merit aid at BC is very limited.

The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is BC’s academic merit-based undergraduate scholarship. Each year, 18 incoming first-year students receive full tuition for four years, along with access to program-sponsored summer opportunities.

There’s no separate scholarship application. Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants who submit their BC admission application by November 1 are automatically considered.

What scholarships does BC offer?

BC funding can come through Student Services, donor-established funds, individual schools and programs, athletics, veterans education benefits, and outside organizations.

Institutional grants and scholarships

  • BC need-based grants and scholarships: Undergraduate institutional aid awarded based on demonstrated need.
  • Donor-established scholarships: Eligible students may be matched with donor-funded scholarships through the regular financial aid process.
  • Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program: Full tuition for four years for 18 incoming first-year students annually.
  • Yellow Ribbon Program: BC participates in the program for eligible students using Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits. Review Boston College’s veteran and military student information for current details.
  • Woods College aid: Eligible Woods College of Advancing Studies students may have access to need-based funding.

Department-specific funding

Some scholarships and fellowships are tied to individual schools or programs.

For example, the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program through the Lynch School of Education and Human Development may provide financial support that includes tuition remission, grants, scholarships, and internships.

Check your school or department for current opportunities.

Athletic scholarships

Boston College competes at the NCAA Division I level and provides athletic scholarship aid. Prospective student-athletes should contact the appropriate coach or recruiting staff to learn about scholarship opportunities for their sport.

Scholarships for transfer students at Boston College

Eligible transfer students can apply for BC need-based financial aid. For 2027–28, BC lists April 1 as the priority filing date for September transfer admission and November 1 for January transfer admission.

Transfer students should submit the FAFSA® and CSS Profile when required.

The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is limited to incoming first-year students, but transfer students can still explore BC need-based aid and outside scholarships.

Scholarships for international students at Boston College

International undergraduates who aren’t U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents aren’t eligible for BC need-based financial aid.

However, international first-year applicants may be considered for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program if they submit their admission application by the November 1 priority scholarship deadline.

International students can also explore outside scholarships that accept international applicants. Graduate funding varies by school and program.

Scholarships for graduate students at Boston College

Graduate students may find funding through scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, tuition remission, and other support offered by individual schools and programs.

Examples include funding through the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Connell School of Nursing. Opportunities and application processes vary, so start with your specific graduate school or department.

Private scholarships for BC students

Outside scholarships can supplement BC aid and may help reduce what you need to earn through work or borrow through student loans.

Sallie's "How America Pays for College 2026" found that among families who didn’t use scholarships, 74% didn’t even apply for any. That’s a good reason to look beyond university aid.

BC students can explore:

  • Massachusetts scholarships: Look for state and local opportunities from foundations, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups.
  • National scholarships: Awards may be based on academics, service, interests, activities, career goals, or other criteria.
  • Employer scholarships: Employers may offer awards for employees, dependents, interns, or students entering certain fields.
  • Military-connected scholarships: Veterans, service members, and military-connected students may find additional opportunities.

You can also use Scholly® Scholarships to find opportunities based on your interests, major, experiences, and goals.

How to apply for Boston College scholarships

Start with BC’s financial aid and admission process, then expand your search to outside opportunities.

  1. Complete the FAFSA® and CSS Profile when required. These forms help BC determine eligibility for different types of financial aid. Use Sallie's step-by-step FAFSA® guide to help you understand the form.
  2. Meet BC’s deadlines. Financial aid priority dates vary by admission plan. Gabelli consideration requires a first-year admission application by November 1.
  3. Check your school or program. Graduate, departmental, and athletic funding may have separate processes.
  4. Search for outside scholarships. Look at national, Massachusetts-based, local, employer, and major-specific opportunities.
  5. Keep applying throughout college. Scholarship opportunities aren’t limited to incoming first-year students.
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Tips to improve your scholarship applications

A simple system can make scholarship searching easier and help you apply to more opportunities.

  • Don’t focus only on GPA: Sallie's research shows nearly half (48%) of families believe scholarships are only for students with exceptional grades or abilities—but there are also many awards that look at interests, service, activities, work experience, or career goals.
  • Reuse strong materials: Save good essays, short answers, resumes, and recommendation information, then adapt them to each application.
  • Track deadlines: Keep scholarship names, deadlines, requirements, and application status in one place.
  • Apply to a mix of awards: Large national scholarships can be worthwhile, but local, employer, community, and major-specific scholarships can add up too.
  • Watch for scams: You shouldn’t have to pay simply to search for legitimate scholarships. Learn how to avoid scholarship scams.

Can scholarships reduce student loan borrowing?

Yes. Scholarships can reduce the amount you need to cover through savings, income, payment plans, or student loans.

At BC, outside scholarships may be especially useful because the university generally applies them toward the loan and work-study portions of a financial aid package before reducing BC grants or scholarships.

Scholarship stacking can help lower costs

Scholarship stacking means combining several awards rather than relying on one scholarship. Here’s a hypothetical example:

example Scholarship type Example award
Local scholarship $1,000
Private scholarship $2,500
Major-specific scholarship $1,500
Total example scholarship funding $5,000

In this example, several smaller scholarships add up to $5,000 that could help cover college expenses and potentially reduce what you need to borrow.

Always report outside scholarships to BC so your financial aid offer can be updated correctly.

Save time with Sallie scholarship resources

Finding scholarships can take time, especially when you’re comparing eligibility rules, deadlines and application requirements. Scholly® Scholarships can help simplify the search by surfacing opportunities that align with your background, interests and goals.

Simplified applications can also help you keep going. Scholly® Easy Apply Scholarships† lets you apply to multiple scholarships with one quick application. You can also enter the $2,000 No Essay Scholarship† in 2 minutes or less, and grad students can explore Sallie’s $5,000 Grad No Essay Scholarship†.

Additional scholarship resources

These resources can help you keep exploring scholarship opportunities:

Your next steps

Boston College’s undergraduate aid model centers on demonstrated financial need, while the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program provides a limited merit-based option for incoming first-year students.

Start with BC’s financial aid requirements and deadlines, then expand your search to outside scholarships that fit your major, interests, goals, or other eligibility criteria.

You can also use Boston College’s profile on Scout College Search to explore estimated costs, financial aid information, admissions information, and other college-planning details.

FAQs about Boston College scholarships

Does Boston College offer full scholarships?

The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program provides full tuition for four years to 18 incoming first-year students each year. BC also meets 100% of demonstrated institutional need for eligible undergraduate financial aid applicants.

Does Boston College give merit scholarships?

Yes. The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is BC’s academic merit-based undergraduate scholarship. Most other undergraduate institutional aid is need-based.

How do I qualify for Boston College financial aid?

Eligible undergraduate students generally need to submit the FAFSA®, CSS Profile, and required supporting documents by the applicable priority filing date.

What GPA do I need for Boston College scholarships?

BC doesn’t publish one GPA that guarantees an undergraduate scholarship. Most institutional aid is need-based, while the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program uses a highly selective admission and scholarship review process.

Can transfer students get scholarships at Boston College?

Eligible transfer students can apply for BC need-based financial aid and outside scholarships. The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is limited to incoming first-year students.

Can international students get scholarships at Boston College?

International undergraduates aren’t eligible for BC need-based financial aid, but international first-year applicants can be considered for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program.

Does Boston College meet full financial need?

Yes. BC says it meets 100% of demonstrated institutional need for eligible undergraduate students who apply for financial aid.

How do I apply for Boston College scholarships?

For need-based aid, complete the FAFSA®, CSS Profile, and required documents. For Gabelli consideration, incoming first-year students must submit their BC admission application by November 1. There’s no separate scholarship application.

Are Boston College scholarships renewable?

It depends on the award. Need-based financial aid generally requires students to reapply each year, while individual scholarships and graduate awards may have different terms.

What scholarships are available for graduate students at Boston College?

Graduate students may find scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, tuition remission, and other funding through their school, department, or degree program.

When should students apply for Boston College financial aid?

For 2027–28, BC lists November 1 for Early Decision I, January 3 for Early Decision II, February 1 for Regular Decision September admission, April 1 for transfer September admission, and November 1 for Regular Decision or transfer January admission.

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The school referenced on this page is not affiliated with Sallie Mae and does not endorse Sallie Mae loans.

SLM Education Services, LLC does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.

FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.