CMU
Decision sheet

The starting point

Top-ranked private research university in Pittsburgh that has effectively no merit aid for general undergraduates — CMU meets full demonstrated need for domestic students and uses an unusually clean outside-scholarship rule that reduces federal aid (loans first) before institutional grant when displacement is needed.

Start with the aid policy. This research does not list a merit award. Check the school's financial aid options and application requirements; an empty award list is not proof that no aid is available.

Awards to discuss

No merit awards are listed in this research. Ask the school about need-based aid and any other funding options.

Ask before you decide

1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: CMU's published outside-scholarship policy is unusually friendly: institutional aid is NOT reduced when outside scholarships arrive unless total aid exceeds COA or exceeds financial need. Even then, federal aid (loans first) is reduced before institutional grant.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university/merit-aid

• CMU stacking policy: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/faq/
• CMU cost-of-attendance worksheet: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/undergraduate/2526.html
• Need-Based Academic Scholarship (named institutional grant): https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/financial-aid-statement.html

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.