Policies & Eligibility

Students who demonstrate financial need will qualify for financial aid provided they meet certain eligibility requirements below. These requirements include full-time enrollment in a degree program, satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, and eligible citizen status. Students with demonstrated financial need who live off-campus, while still eligible for financial aid, may see a reduction in their financial aid award as a result of a lower cost of attendance. A student with demonstrated financial need who studies abroad will receive more or less financial aid depending on the program's administering sponsor.

Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution.

Boston College is committed to providing information in a manner that is accessible to all. If you are in need of a printed copy of the material presented on this web page, please contact the Office of Student Services.

Office of Student Services: Notices and Disclosures

Office of Executive Vice President: Notices and Disclosures

University Catalog: Policies and Procedures

• Verification
• Withdrawals and Leaves of Absence
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Eligible Citizen Status
• Off-Campus Housing
• Study Abroad
• Resident Assistants
• Special and Unusual Circumstances

Verification

Verification is a federal process used to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, additional information will be required to complete your financial aid file.

Students may be provided with a financial aid award before submitting all the required documentation to complete the verification process. Should the verified financial information differ significantly from the original information provided on your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile forms, there may be a change in your financial aid eligibility.

Required Documentation

The documentation required for the verification process can vary. Students can confirm what information is needed by checking their online portal which will indicate the information needed to complete your financial aid file. Typically students selected for verification will have to submit the following documents:

• Incoming Student Federal Verification Form or Undergraduate Financial Aid Application
• Signed copies of federal/foreign tax returns or IRS Tax Return Transcripts for the student and parent.
• If the student or parent is not required to file a tax return, a non-filer statement is required along with copies of your W2 forms. The IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter is required from parents of dependent students who did not file a tax return as well as independent students (and spouse, if applicable) who did not file a tax return. Dependent students are not required to submit an IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter.
• Additional documentation may be required for some to verify:
  • Untaxed Income
  • High School Completion Status
  • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose​
    

  IRS Data Retrieval Tool

  The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) allows students and parents to electronically transfer their IRS tax return information into the FAFSA. The IRS DRT, if successfully matched, is one method used to complete the FAFSA Verification process.

  We strongly encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool during the initial filing of your FAFSA. Families must actively choose to utilize the IRS DRT by clicking "Link to IRS" on the FAFSA. If they choose to do so, they will be transferred to the Internal Revenue Service website. There, the FAFSA Central Processing System (CPS) will conduct a data match with the IRS. In order to enhance the security and privacy of personal data transferred into the FAFSA from the IRS, the IRS DRT will encrypt the student applicant and parent transferred tax data and hide it from view on both the IRS DRT website and on the FAFSA web pages. The words "Transferred from the IRS" will display in the data entry fields throughout the FAFSA form and on the Student Aid Report (SAR).

  Eligibility

  You and your parents are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you:

  • Filed your federal tax return with the IRS
  • Have a valid social security number
  • Have a Federal Student Aid ID
    

  You and your parents are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if:

  • Your parents are married and filed as "Married Filing Separately"
  • Your parents are married and filed as "Head of Household"
  • You filed an amended tax return
  • You filed a foreign tax return
  • You filed a 1040NR tax return using a Tax Number (TIN)
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  IRS Tax Return Transcript

  If your FAFSA is selected for Verification and you and/or your parents are not eligible or choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education may need a certified Tax Return Transcript processed by the IRS.

  • Be sure to request a Tax Return Transcript (DO NOT request a Tax Account Transcript, Record of Account Transcript, or Wage and Income Transcript).
  • Parents who are married but filing separately must submit two separate IRS Tax Return Transcripts. Transcripts are not required for those filing a foreign or Puerto Rican tax return.
  • If you are unable to obtain an IRS tax return transcript, you may submit a signed federal tax return (1040) to fulfill the verification requirement.
    

  Online Request for Tax Return Transcript

  1. Go to irs.gov/transcript.
  2. Select "Get Transcript Online" or "Get Transcript by Mail."
  3. Register for an account with the IRS by providing required information to verify your identity. Required information could include your name, SSN, date of birth, mobile phone number with your name on the account, email address, the tax filing status and mailing address from your latest tax return, and your account number from one financial institution (credit card, mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, or car loan). If you cannot provide ALL of the required information to verify your identity, then you will be unable to use this option and you should complete a paper request by mailing IRS Form 4506-T. See below instructions for "Paper Request for Tax Return Transcript."
  4. Select "Higher Education/Student Aid" as your reason for request.
  5. Select the tax year for your Tax Return Transcript (i.e., "2019" for academic year 2021–2022).
     

  Telephone Request for Tax Return Transcript

  1. Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946 (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).
  2. Follow prompts to enter required information to verify your identity. Required information could include SSN and address (this must match the address already on file with the IRS exactly). If you cannot provide ALL of the required information to verify your identity, then you will be unable to use this option and you should complete a paper request by mailing IRS Form 4506-T. See below instructions for "Paper Request for Tax Return Transcript."
  3. Select option to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript, and then enter tax year (i.e., "2019" for academic year 2021–2022).
  4. You can expect your IRS Tax Return Transcript to be mailed within 5 to 10 days after the IRS has received your request. The IRS cannot send transcripts requested by telephone directly to a third party.
     

  Paper Request for Tax Return Transcript

  Note: Cross outs or corrections made on this form may cause a rejection by the IRS.

  1. Complete Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). Enter all demographic fields (questions 1–4), enter the Transcript Requested field (question 6), check the box for Return Transcript (box 6a), enter the Year (question 9) by using the ending date of the period requested (ex. "12/31/2019" for a 2019 tax return transcript), sign the bottom of form (including attestation clause, date, and phone number). Review a sample form.
  2. Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506-T to the appropriate address or fax number provided on page 2.
  3. You can expect your IRS Tax Return Transcript to be mailed within 5 to 10 days after the IRS has received your request.

  IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter

  If your FAFSA is selected for Verification and you reported you have not filed a federal tax return, you will need to provide an IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter along with copies of your W-2 forms from all employers.

  An IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter will provide proof from the IRS that there is no record of a filed federal tax return for the year you have requested. An IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter does not provide proof that you were not required to file, only that you did not file. The IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter is required from:

  • Parents of dependent students who did not file a tax return.
  • Independent students (and spouse, if applicable) who did not file a tax return.

  
  The IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter can be requested from the IRS in one of three ways:

  Online Request for Verification of Non-Filing Letter

  Note: If you have never filed taxes before, this may not be an option.

  1. Go to irs.gov/transcript.
  2. Select "Get Transcript Online" or "Get Transcript by Mail."
  3. Register for an account with the IRS by providing required information to verify your identity. Required information could include your name, SSN, date of birth, mobile phone number with your name on the account, email address, the tax filing status and mailing address from your latest tax return, and your account number from one financial institution (credit card, mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, or car loan). If you cannot provide ALL of the required information to verify your identity, then you will be unable to use this option and you should complete a paper request by mailing IRS Form 4506-T. See below instructions for "Paper Request for Verification of Non-Filing Letter."
  4. Select "Higher Education/Student Aid" as your reason for request.
  5. Select the tax year needed for your Verification of Non-Filing Letter (i.e., "2019" for academic year 2021–2022).

  Telephone Request for Verification of Non-Filing Letter

  1. Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946 (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).
  2. Follow prompts to enter required information to verify your identity. Required information could include SSN and address (this must match the address already on file with the IRS exactly). If you cannot provide ALL of the required information to verify your identity, then you will be unable to use this option and you should complete a paper request by mailing IRS Form 4506-T. See below instructions for "Paper Request for Verification of Non-Filing Letter."
  3. Select option to request an IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter, and then enter tax year (i.e., "2019" for academic year 2021–2022).
  4. You can expect your Verification of Non-Filing Letter to be mailed within 5 to 10 days after the IRS has received your request. The IRS cannot send transcripts requested by telephone directly to a third party.

  Paper Request for Verification of Non-Filing Letter

  Note: Cross outs or corrections made on this form may cause a rejection by the IRS.

  1. Complete Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). Enter all demographic fields (questions 1–4), check the box for Verification of Non-Filing (box 7), enter the Year (question 9) by using the ending date of the period requested (e.g., "12/31/2019" for a 2019 tax return transcript), sign the bottom of form (including attestation clause, date, and phone number). Review a sample form.
  2. Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506-T to the appropriate address or fax number provided on page 2.
  3. You can expect your Verification of Non-Filing Letter to be mailed within 5 to 10 days after the IRS has received your request.

  If you have questions about the IRS Tax Return Transcript or IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter process, please review the IRS Get Transcript Frequently Asked Questions or call the IRS Tax Help line for individuals at 800-829-1040.

  Withdrawals and Leaves of Absence

  Students who need to withdraw or take a leave of absence may do so for academic, disciplinary, personal, or medical reasons. For students that receive federal financial aid funds, you may be subject to the Federal Return of Title IV Aid calculation and state financial aid return policies. Students should notify the Office of Student Services as soon as a decision has been made to withdraw, take a leave, or otherwise stop attending Boston College.

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  Federal Return to Title IV Aid Overview

  Students receiving Federal Title IV funds (Federal Pell, SEOG, TEACH, Direct Loans, Plus/Grad PLUS loans) are subject to a return to title IV (R2T4) aid calculation. There are several key elements to the calculation:

  Withdrawal Date: At Boston College the withdrawal date is the date that the student started the official withdrawal process with the appropriate campus representative. For most students, the process begins in their academic school/college or with the Academic Services team. The R2T4 calculation is typically done within 30 days of when the school is made aware of the withdrawal. Boston College's requirements and procedures regarding withdrawal/leave of absences can be found in the University Catalog.

  Percentage of Earned Aid: Calculation to determine the amount of financial aid that was “earned” for the term/semester. It is calculated by taking the number of days of the term completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the term/semester. Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.

  Students who remain enrolled through at least 60% of the payment period (semester) are considered to have earned 100% of the aid received.

  Amount of Earned Aid: This calculation applies to the percentage of earned aid multiplied by the total aid the student was eligible to receive as of the withdrawal date. There are two categories of earned aid:

  • Disbursed aid—federal financial aid that disbursed into the student account by the withdrawal date
  • Aid that could have disbursed—federal financial that was awarded but did not disburse by the withdrawal date but otherwise could have disbursed
    

  Aid to Be Returned

  Please note that when Title IV aid is returned the student may owe a balance to Boston College. It is important to review your student account after notification of an aid adjustment resulting from the R2T4 calculation.

  If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution is required to return a portion of the funds that have been received by the student. The University is required to return funds to Title IV aid programs, those funds must be returned in the following order: Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Federal Subsidized Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal TEACH Grants. The funds must be returned within 45 days of the withdrawal date. Boston College will also return any funds that the calculation determines the student should return. The student can enter into payment arrangements with the University.

  If a student earned more aid than was disbursed, the institution may owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement. Boston College will notify students via email that they are eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement from loan funds within 30 days of when the school determined the student withdrew. A response will be required within 14 days to accept any offered loan funds. Any federal grant funds that are a part of a post withdrawal disbursement will be applied to the student account with 45 days of determination.

  Unofficial Withdrawals: Non-attendance does not represent an official withdrawal. If a student begins attendance, does not officially withdraw, and fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course over an entire term, the university must assume that the student has unofficially withdrawn. Unofficial withdrawals will be determined within 30 days of the end of the term. The withdrawal date for unofficial withdrawals will be the midpoint of the term or the last date of active course participation (if available). Federal financial aid recipients will have their awards reviewed and recalculated, causing a reduction in aid awarded.

  Additional Considerations

  • If the R2T4 calculation results in a credit balance on their student account, the credit balance will be refunded to the student within 14 days. If you have not signed up for direct deposit, please be certain that your home address is up to date and accurate.
  • Periods of non enrollment may cause student loans to go into repayment. If you are not enrolled in at least 6 credits for more than six months, please be sure to reach out to your loan servicer.
  • This recalculation process is required regardless of the reason for the withdrawal. It is important to resolve any outstanding balances to prevent your student account from being sent to collections.
    

  Federal funds are adjusted according to the policies in the Federal Student Aid Handbook.