
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is committed to making its education accessible to talented and diverse students from around the world, regardless of their financial circumstances. MIT is one of only nine colleges in the U.S. that is need-blind and full-need, meaning that prospective students are not disadvantaged in the undergraduate admissions process because of their financial need. The university meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students who apply for aid, offering financial aid based entirely on an applicant's financial situation rather than any measure of merit. While MIT is not free for international students, the university works closely with students and their families to develop a financial plan tailored to their circumstances. International students are considered for aid using the same process as domestic applicants, and about six out of every ten students receive MIT need-based aid.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Financial aid for international students | MIT is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students. |
| Financial aid process | MIT's financial aid team works with students and their families to develop a financial plan. |
| Documents required for financial aid | Parental tax returns or income documentation, submitted through the College Board's IDOC platform. If parents live outside the U.S., a tax return from their country is required, along with an English translation if needed. |
| Cost of attendance | The median annual price paid by an undergraduate who received an MIT Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year was $12,938. |
| Debt upon graduation | 87% of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free. The median debt for those who did borrow was $14,844, lower than the national average. |
| Tuition fees for low-income students | Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, students from families with a total income of less than $100,000 (with typical assets) will not be expected to contribute towards tuition fees. |
| Tuition fees for high-income students | From the 2025-2026 academic year, students from families with an income under $200,000 (with typical assets) will attend MIT tuition-free. |
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What You'll Learn
- International students are considered for financial aid using the same process as all applicants
- MIT is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students
- International students must submit parental tax returns or income documentation
- MIT offers need-based scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid
- % of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free

International students are considered for financial aid using the same process as all applicants
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is committed to enrolling a talented and diverse class of undergraduates from around the world, regardless of their financial circumstances. MIT ensures that admitted students can afford their education at the institute.
MIT is one of only nine colleges in the U.S. that is need-blind and full-need. This means that prospective students are not disadvantaged in the undergraduate admissions process because of their financial need. MIT meets the full financial need of all admitted students who apply for aid, offering financial aid based entirely on a family’s demonstrated financial need and not any measure of merit.
To apply for financial aid, students must submit two documents that outline their financial situation: the CSS Profile and parental tax returns or income documentation. The CSS Profile is a tool provided by the College Board that MIT uses to determine if applicants qualify for a need-based MIT Scholarship. If parents live outside the U.S., they must provide their tax return from their country, along with a translation to English if applicable. If the parents are separated or divorced, each parent must complete their own CSS Profile application and submit their income documentation.
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MIT is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students
To determine whether an international student qualifies for a need-based MIT scholarship, the university uses the CSS Profile, a tool provided by the College Board. This tool helps the university understand a student's financial situation and develop a financial aid plan tailored to their circumstances. International students are considered for aid using the same process as all other applicants, and the university works closely with students and their families to ensure that MIT is an affordable option.
In addition to need-based scholarships, MIT offers a range of other financial aid options, including grants, student employment, and federal loans. The university also has an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, which provides paid research projects for undergraduates. As a result of these opportunities, 87% of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free, and those who did borrow had a median debt at graduation of $14,844, lower than the national average.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, MIT will also offer tuition-free attendance for students from families with a total income of less than $100,000 to $200,000 (with typical assets). Students from families with a total income of under $200,000 per year (with typical assets) will be expected to contribute towards their expenses through summer savings and student employment during the school year.
Overall, MIT is committed to making its education accessible to talented and diverse students from around the world, regardless of their financial circumstances. The university works closely with students and their families to ensure that financial need does not prevent qualified individuals from attending.
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International students must submit parental tax returns or income documentation
International students at MIT are considered for financial aid using the same process as for all applicants. MIT is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students, just as it does for domestic students. The financial aid team works closely with students and their families to develop a plan tailored to their financial circumstances.
Before deciding on the financial aid package, MIT needs to understand the student's financial situation. To do this, they require two documents: the CSS Profile and parental tax returns or income documentation.
The CSS Profile is a tool provided by the College Board to determine if a student qualifies for a need-based MIT Scholarship. International students must submit their parents' tax returns or income documentation through the College Board's secure IDOC platform. If the parents live outside the U.S., they should provide the tax return from their country, along with an English translation if necessary. If the parents are separated or divorced, each parent will need to complete their own CSS Profile application and provide their income documentation.
International students must also submit copies of their parents' income tax statements for their country of residence to the Financial Aid Office. If the parents file separately, a copy of each parent's tax return is required. These tax returns must be in English, and the student's name should appear at the top of each page.
It is important to note that international students on F-1 visas in the U.S. are considered nonresident aliens for tax purposes and must file a U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR) if they earned income from U.S. sources. Additionally, every international student is required to file a tax return if they were in the U.S. during the previous calendar year and earned income.
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MIT offers need-based scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid
MIT is committed to making its education accessible to all students, regardless of their financial background. To achieve this, MIT offers various scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid, ensuring that students can graduate debt-free.
The MIT Scholarships are the most common type of aid, with about 58% of undergraduates receiving one in 2023-2024. These scholarships are solely based on financial need and are funded by the endowment, gifts from MIT alumni and friends, and MIT general funds. The median scholarship amount for this period was $66,663, with the median annual price paid by an undergraduate being $12,938.
For international students, MIT ensures that they are considered for financial aid using the same process as all other applicants. The financial aid team works closely with each student and their family to develop a tailored plan to cover their expenses. International students are required to submit parental tax returns or income documentation through the College Board's secure IDOC platform, which helps determine eligibility for need-based scholarships.
Additionally, MIT offers the First Year Grant of $2,000 to low-income first-year students, helping with the extra expenses associated with the transition to college. This grant is divided equally between the fall and spring semesters and is credited to the student's account along with other financial aid.
Beyond the MIT Scholarships, undergraduates can also benefit from scholarships and grants from government and private sources. Federal grant programs are automatically considered when applying for financial aid each year, and eligible students may also qualify for financial aid from their home state.
With these comprehensive financial aid options, MIT strives to ensure that its education is accessible to talented and diverse students from all backgrounds.
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87% of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is committed to making education affordable for all its students, including international students. MIT is one of only nine colleges in the US that is need-blind and full-need. Need-blind means that the institute does not consider an applicant's ability to pay for college during the admissions process. Full-need means that MIT is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need with its aid. This applies to both domestic and international students.
MIT offers various scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities to make education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds. About six out of every ten students receive MIT need-based aid. The median annual price paid by an undergraduate who received an MIT Scholarship was $12,938 in the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, MIT students can work on paid research projects before they graduate through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. This allows students to gain valuable experience and income to support their education.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, students from families with a total income of less than $100,000 (with typical assets) are not expected to contribute financially to their education. Instead, they may be able to offset their expenses with outside scholarships or Federal Pell Grants. MIT plans to award $167.3 million in need-based scholarships in 2024-2025, an increase from the previous year.
As a result of these initiatives, 87% of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free. The small proportion of students who did borrow had a median debt of $14,844 at graduation, which is lower than the national average. MIT alumni benefit from a high return on investment, with an average starting salary of $126,438 for graduates entering the industry.
International students are considered for financial aid using the same process as domestic applicants. MIT works closely with international students and their families to develop a financial plan tailored to their circumstances. International students are required to submit parental tax returns or income documentation through the College Board's secure IDOC platform. If the parents live outside the US, they must provide the tax returns from their country, along with an English translation if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
No, MIT is not free for international students. However, MIT offers financial aid to international students based on their financial need.
MIT uses two documents to assess the financial need of international students: the CSS Profile and parental tax returns or income documentation.
The CSS Profile is a tool provided by the College Board that helps MIT determine if an international student qualifies for a need-based MIT Scholarship.
If an international student's parents live outside the U.S., they must provide their tax returns from their country, along with an English translation if necessary. If the student's parents are separated or divorced, both parents' income documentation is required.
Approximately 58% of MIT undergraduates received financial aid in the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, 87% of MIT students from the Class of 2024 graduated debt-free.
























