Frequently Asked Questions
It is possible that outside aid could affect the amount of federal aid a graduate student receives. Please send copies of any scholarship awards to the Office of Student Services so that your financial aid can be reevaluated. Your award will be adjusted if necessary, and you will be notified if there are any changes.
Our goal is to accurately review your ability to contribute to your educational costs and ensure that Boston College has awarded you the best financial aid package available based on the information provided to our office. If you feel that an error was made in what has been reported, or if your personal financial circumstances have changed, an aid award can be reconsidered.
If you are requesting an increase to your Cost of Attendance due to rent or medical/dental expenses not covered by insurance, you will need to provide documentation of these expenses, along with copies of your lease and/or receipts to your Financial Aid Counselor along with a Letter of Appeal.
Any request for an appeal must be submitted in writing to your Financial Aid Counselor. A written response from your Financial Aid Counselor can be expected within two weeks of the receipt of the appeal.
If you would like to cancel or reduce a loan, you must notify us in writing before the end of the add/drop period for the semester.
- Students can edit their financial aid in the Award Notification.
- Awards must be disbursed equally per award period and reduced equally as well. An award period is generally two concurrent semesters.
- If you are starting in the summer, your award period is summer and fall. Your summer and fall loan disbursements must be disbursed equally and reduced equally. Spring is an award period by itself. If you start in the fall, then fall and spring is your award period.
- When reducing your award any balance must be paid first so that the loan amount can be returned.
Once you have changed the amounts, click the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page. You will need to enter your password in order for the changes to be sent. The changes are sent to your Financial Aid Counselor. As these changes are done manually, not electronically, please allow up to two weeks for them to be processed completely.
When a student has a credit balance on their account after the bill is paid they can take the credit as a refund to use for living and educational expenses. Refunds can be processed by direct deposit into your checking or savings account. Direct deposit is free and completely secure, and it ensures you will receive your refunds faster and without the hassle of picking up and depositing checks.
To enroll in direct deposit, log in to the . Select "My Bill," then select "Direct Deposit." Enter your account information. If you have stored a payment profile in My Bill you can use that account without having to reenter the information. Once enrolled in direct deposit, you can request your refund by selecting "Request Student Refund" from the Agora Portal. Paper checks are processed only once per week. You can consult the refund availability schedule at聽.
The Federal Direct Loan has a grace period of six months. Repayment begins six months after graduation or after a student leaves school or falls below half-time status.
On January 1, 1995, Boston College signed a contract with the National Student Loan Clearinghouse. This organization specializes in confirming student statuses for loan guarantors and servicers. The contract mandates that all student loan deferments must be signed by an official at the Clearinghouse only.
Under certain circumstances, you may qualify for a deferment for prior federal education loan(s) that you have borrowed. If you are enrolled half-time in a degree program, you may qualify for a deferment. These loans may include Direct or Guaranteed Student Loans, National Direct Loans, or Perkins Loans. A detailed description of deferment provisions is available at the聽听飞别产蝉颈迟别.
To obtain further information about a possible deferment of your prior loans, please contact your lender or loan servicer. It will be necessary for you to provide enrollment verification to your lender before your loan(s) can be deferred. Please contact your lender to obtain a Deferment Form.
If you receive repayment requests from your lender after school has begun, submit the completed Deferment Form to the Office of Student Services for processing. Although the staff of the Office of Student Services does not process the Deferment Forms themselves, they will forward the forms to the Clearinghouse. Students, themselves, should聽not forward the deferment forms to the Clearinghouse.
No. Federal Work-Study is an opportunity to work; it is not a guarantee of on-campus employment. Boston College also provides off-campus employment opportunities with non-profit organizations as well as with city, state, and federal government offices that contract with our University. Federal Work-Study offers a wide range of employment opportunities, including community service and reading/math tutors. Please visit the Office of Student Services'聽Student Employment聽web page to learn more about employment opportunities.
No. Students have their earnings deposited directly to their bank account or receive a paycheck.
Students may seek student employment opportunities on the Office of Student Services'聽Student Employment聽web page. Rate of pay and hours are arranged with the employer in all cases.