MIT Merit Aid

1. STEM-focused families assuming MIT offers academic merit awards for top science and math students.+

   MIT's FAQ is unambiguous: 'MIT does not offer merit scholarships of any kind.' No academic, athletic, or artistic merit awards exist. The CDS confirms 0% of freshmen received non-need institutional merit aid.

2. Not knowing about the new $200,000 tuition-free threshold.+

   Effective 2025-2026, MIT expanded its tuition-free threshold to families earning up to $200,000 (with typical assets). Many upper-middle-class families who assumed MIT was unaffordable now qualify for significant aid.

Families who need to understand that MIT is not a merit-optimization target, even for top STEM students. A perfect score on the math SAT does not earn a merit scholarship. MIT's need-based system is generous: 57% of full-time undergraduates received an MIT Scholarship in 2024-2025, and the median net price actually paid by aid recipients was about $10,268. The $200,000 tuition-free threshold (effective 2025-2026) makes MIT accessible to a much wider range of families than most expect.

Outside scholarships first cover the student contribution (up to $5,400). Excess reduces the MIT Scholarship. Students may use a portion toward a one-time computer purchase or health insurance before the MIT Scholarship is reduced.

Outside scholarships first replace the student contribution (up to $5,400 per year). Any excess must reduce the MIT Scholarship. Students may use a portion of outside awards toward a one-time computer purchase or health insurance before the MIT Scholarship is reduced. Contact your MIT financial aid counselor for case-specific options like multi-year payment timing.

Source

From the MIT Common Data Set 2024-2025:

Source: Common Data Set

• Does MIT offer merit scholarships for top STEM students?

  No. MIT does not offer merit scholarships of any kind. All financial aid is based solely on financial need. The CDS confirms 0% of freshmen received non-need institutional merit aid. Academic excellence is expected of all admitted students; it is the baseline, not a basis for extra funding.

• What does MIT cost for families earning under $200,000?

  Families with income below $100,000 (typical assets) have zero expected family contribution. Starting in 2025-2026, families earning up to $200,000 (typical assets) pay no tuition. 57% of full-time undergraduates received an MIT Scholarship in 2024-2025, and the median net price actually paid by aid recipients was approximately $10,268. MIT awarded $162 million in need-based aid in 2024-25 and planned $176 million for 2025-26.

• How does MIT handle outside scholarships?

  Outside scholarships first replace the student contribution (up to $5,400/year). Any excess reduces the MIT Scholarship. Students may apply a portion toward a one-time computer purchase or health insurance before the MIT Scholarship is reduced.

• Northeastern merit aid — Massachusetts private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
• BU merit aid — Massachusetts private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
• Brandeis merit aid — Massachusetts private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
• Clark merit aid — Massachusetts private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.

• MIT scholarship stacking — Whether outside awards land as upside or quietly displace institutional aid.
• Does MIT displace outside scholarships? — The dollar math on a $5,000 outside award, plus peer schools that handle it differently.