The most common type of aid is the MIT Scholarship. If you receive one, it is a grant that does not need to be repaid.
Our scholarships are awarded based solely on financial need and come from our endowment, gifts from MIT alumni and friends, and MIT general funds. 59% of our undergraduates receive MIT Scholarships. The average grant was $47,593 for 2018–2019.
All students who apply for financial aid and fill out the CSS Profile01 are automatically considered for an MIT Scholarship.
If you are awarded an MIT Scholarship, we will ask you to fill out an annual Student Information Review Form so that we can match you with the right scholarship from the right donor. Our scholarship donors often take an interest in learning about the recipients, so we may also ask you to write to your donor and thank them for their support.
First Year Grant
We provide low-income first-year students with a grant to help with the extra expenses that come with the transition to college, such as sheets and towels for your room, or a warm coat to make it through a Boston winter. The First Year Grant of $2,000 is divided equally between the fall and spring semesters and will credit to your student account along with other financial aid once you are registered for the semester. The grant is for first-year students only.
Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Beyond the MIT Scholarship, undergraduates may receive scholarships and grants from government and private sources.
Federal grants
MIT administers four federal grant programs that you’ll automatically be considered for when you apply for financial aid each year.
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
If you’re eligible, we’ll include the grants in your aid package.
State grants
Some states have their own financial aid programs, including need-based grants and merit-based scholarships. If you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may qualify for financial aid from your home state.
If you receive a state grant, we include it in your aid award as soon as we receive it from your state.
Private scholarships and grants
There are many private scholarships and grants you can apply for on your own. If you receive one, we use it to replace your student contribution01 requirement before we reduce your MIT Scholarship.
There are many scholarship search engines that can help you find additional funding. Please know that you should never pay for a scholarship search service. You can also reach out to any groups or organizations that you have been involved with to see if they offer private scholarships. We recommend the following sites to get you started:
What you should do if you get a private scholarship or grant
First, congratulations! If you receive outside scholarships or grants, we need you to submit the Outside Award Reply Form. This let’s us update your financial aid award.
