Funding Options
Below, please find information about eligibility for funding, including:
Pell Grants, Student Loans, and Other Funding
Center for Professional Education courses are non-credit, and do not qualify for Pell Grants or other federally subsidized student loans.
Education Loans
Because certificate programs at the Center for Professional Education are non-degree (not for credit), they are not eligible for federal student loans. Currently the only educational loan available to our students is Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan. To learn more about this loan and to apply, please visit salliemae.com/bucpe. Aside from the Sallie Mae option, students seeking loans must work with a bank or credit union directly to obtain a private loan.
Funding for Online Courses
Please contact the appropriate partner agency to find out about payment options and loan information for CPE online programs:
- For the online programs in Certified Management Accounting (CMA) Exam Preparation, Financial Planning, or Retirement Management, contact Boston Institute of Finance at 1-800-329-4996.
- For the online programs in Professional Fundraising or Genealogical Research, or Professional Investigation contact MindMax at 1-877-290-9005.
- For the online programs in Paralegal Studies contact The College Network at 1-800-395-3276.
Funding for U.S. Military Personnel and Veterans
Boston University accepts payments by military personnel through Tuition Assistance and Veterans Benefits.
Active Service members
To enroll in a CPE program through active duty coverage, please:
- Contact your Tuition Assistance (TA) office and request the necessary paperwork.
- Determine the amount of financial assistance that is available to you.
- Fax your TA forms to us at 617-353-4494. Please note, if this is an online program, please contact the appropriate educational partner listed under "Funding for Online Courses" above.
TA paperwork must include:
- The total amount of the course/program
- The necessary signatures, as requested on the Request for Tuition Assistance Form (applicant, unit commander or authorized representative, and the education services officer).
- The address where the invoice for the tuition and enrollment fee should be sent. If the military is paying only a portion of the cost of this course/program, please indicate how you would like to pay for the balance. The invoice will be sent from Boston University to the military address noted in the paperwork.
Please note that the institution/school should be noted as "Boston University."
Once we receive the completed TA paperwork and invoicing confirmation, we will register and enroll you in the course and/or program you've selected. You will receive an email notification upon enrollment.
Veterans
If you have sufficient credits available in your GI fund, you may register for our approved programs.
To enroll in the program and receive reimbursement through the GI Bill, please:
- Fill out the proper paperwork (VA 22-1990) with the government and send it to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You can find and print out the form (VA 22-1990) for the VA office here.
- Contact Boston University's Center for Professional Education at 617-353-4497 to enroll in the program. Payment in full is due at this time.
- Mail or fax a copy of your VA 22-1990 form to Boston University's Center for Professional Education.
- Complete and submit the following registration form: Boston University VA Registration Form.
Boston University will then send your VA paperwork and order confirmation to the VA to be processed. The VA will reimburse student fees.
If you need additional assistance, please call the VA toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.
Special note for online Financial Planning students
Students requesting VA benefits for the Online Financial Planning Program must complete the program within 18 months and must complete with a minimum of at least eight (8) hours of coursework per week. VA student progress is monitored by Boston University and those students not progressing at the required pace will have benefits rescinded. All students must complete and submit the following disclaimer form confirming their understanding of this policy: VA Student Disclaimer Form
In order to complete the program in 18 months one needs to spend 8 to 10 hours per week studying and completing coursework. Click here to see a sample schedule.
| Course | Number of modules |
Online hours |
Off line hours |
Total hours |
Semester hour value |
Course Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPE FP101E: Intro. to Financial Planning | 19 | 29.25 | 58.75 | 88 | 5.866 | |
| CPE FP102E: Risk Management | 17 | 21.25 | 57.75 | 79 | 5.266 | |
| CPE FP103E: Investments | 20 | 26 | 53 | 79 | 5.266 | |
| CPE FP104E: Tax Planning | 19 | 28.25 | 77.75 | 106 | 7.066 | |
| CPE FP105E: Retirement | 15 | 30.5 | 78.5 | 109 | 7.266 | |
| CPE FP106E: Estate Planning | 16 | 22 | 59 | 81 | 5.4 | |
| Total (Full Program Fee) | 107 | 157.25 | 384.75 | 542 | 36.124 / 36.13 | $1995.00 |
Government Agency Sponsorship
The following government agencies sponsor students who qualify. If you are a government-sponsored student, please provide an official letter issued by the agency specifying the student name, the approved class, and the amount to be paid to Boston University on your behalf. Your seat in a program is not reserved until this documentation is received and approved by the Center for Professional Education.
Contact these agencies directly for more information:
- Massachusetts Rehabilitation Services 1-800-245-6543
- Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development 617-626-5680
- NetworkRI (Rhode Island)
- Veterans Benefits Administration 1-888-442-4551
