MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)
MIT Need-Based Aid for International Undergraduates
full · bachelors
- Meets 100% of needPolicy
- Need-blind admissionFor all applicants
- Grant, no loansAid type
- ~USD 50,000+/yr avgScholarship (est.)
- UndergraduateStudy level
- Founded 1861University
At a glance
full
Funding
€80k
Max amount
Nov 10, 2026
Deadline
Open to international undergraduate applicants from any country
Country
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Provider
MIT Need-Based Aid for International Undergraduates reflects the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's policy of meeting the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted undergraduate, including international students. MIT, founded in 1861 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is need-blind for all applicants, so the ability to pay does not affect the admission decision. The aid is a grant (scholarship) that does not have to be repaid and is built into the financial-aid package without student loans. The amount is set by each family's assessed need: many lower-income international students receive aid covering nearly all of the roughly USD 80,000 yearly cost of attendance, and the average MIT scholarship is well over USD 50,000 per year (2025 figures, est.). Around half of undergraduates receive need-based MIT scholarships. The key dates are MIT's undergraduate admission deadlines — early action around 1 November and regular action around 1 January; a representative date is 10 November (est.). Treat the figures and date here as estimates and confirm current details on MIT's Student Financial Services pages.
What's covered
- Full demonstrated need — MIT meets 100% of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need.
- Grant aid — Aid is a scholarship/grant that is not repaid; the standard package has no loans.
- Average award — The average MIT scholarship is well over USD 50,000 per year (2025 figures, est.).
- Cost of attendance — Need is assessed against the roughly USD 80,000 yearly cost of attendance.
- Renewable — Need-based aid is reassessed and renewed each year of the undergraduate degree.
How to apply
Apply for MIT undergraduate admission and submit the required financial-aid forms by the deadlines.
- Apply for admission — Submit your MIT first-year application (early or regular action).
- Gather financial documents — Collect family income and asset information for the aid forms.
- Submit aid forms — Complete MIT's required financial-aid application (e.g. CSS Profile and MIT forms).
- Meet the deadlines — Submit admission and aid materials by the relevant dates (~early November / early January).
- Aid determination — If admitted, MIT calculates your aid to meet full demonstrated need.
- Enrol — Accept your offer and aid package and enrol.
Eligibility
LevelApplying for first-year (or transfer) undergraduate admission to MIT.
Need-blindInternational applicants are considered need-blind — applying for aid does not affect admission.
Demonstrated needAid is based on assessed family financial circumstances.
Financial-aid applicationSubmitting MIT's required financial-aid forms with the admission application.
Open to internationalsThe full-need policy applies to international as well as U.S. students.
There is no separate "scholarship" competition — aid is determined by need once you are admitted. Submitting the financial-aid forms on time is essential.
Eligible countries
Open to international undergraduate applicants from any country
Deadlines
2027 entry2026-11-10
Selection
There is no separate scholarship contest: MIT admits need-blind (including international applicants) and then meets the full demonstrated need of every admitted student with grant aid. The size of each award is determined by the family's assessed financial circumstances, not by a competition.
Verified sources
- MIT Student Financial Services — Types of Aidsfs.mit.eduofficial
About the provider
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), founded in 1861 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a private research university. It is need-blind for all undergraduate applicants, including international students, and meets the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted student with grant aid.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is MIT need-based aid for international undergraduates?
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MIT's policy of meeting the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted undergraduate, including international students, with grant aid that is not repaid.
Is MIT need-blind for international students?
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Yes — MIT is need-blind for all applicants, so applying for financial aid does not affect the admission decision, even for international students.
What does the aid cover?
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It covers your full demonstrated need against the roughly USD 80,000 cost of attendance; the average MIT scholarship is well over USD 50,000 per year (2025 figures, est.).
Are there loans in the package?
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No — MIT's standard need-based package is grant aid (scholarship) without loans.
Is it merit-based?
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No — MIT does not award merit scholarships; all undergraduate aid is need-based, determined by family financial circumstances.
How do I apply?
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Apply for MIT undergraduate admission and submit the required financial-aid forms (such as the CSS Profile and MIT forms) by the deadlines.
When are the deadlines?
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Early action is around 1 November and regular action around 1 January; a representative date is 10 November, and the 2026 date here is an estimate.
Do I need to compete for a scholarship?
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No — there is no separate scholarship competition. Once admitted, your aid is calculated to meet your full demonstrated need.
Does the aid renew each year?
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Yes — need-based aid is reassessed and renewed each year of the undergraduate degree based on your circumstances.
Can low-income students attend for free?
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Many lower-income students receive aid covering nearly all costs; families below certain income levels may pay little or nothing toward tuition.
How old is MIT?
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in 1861 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Where can I confirm current details?
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On MIT's Student Financial Services pages, which set out the need-based aid policy, required forms, and deadlines.