Types of Aid for Freshmen Students
About 91% of our students receive some form of financial aid. Scholarships, loans, grants, work-study and other forms of financial aid make a great undergraduate education even more affordable.
Financial aid comes in a variety of forms. Some types of aid, like scholarships and grants, are gifts that you don’t have to repay. Others are loans that you’ll start repaying after you’ve earned your degree. Most students receive more than one form of assistance in their financial aid packages.
Here’s an overview of the types of aid available to incoming freshmen at CMU.
Scholarships
Scholarships are gift funds that you don’t have to repay. They're based on academic achievement and other factors, and they can provide up to 100 percent of your cost. Each year, we award more than $55 million in scholarships. Here are some of the options:
Grants
Based on financial need, grants are gift funds that you don’t have to repay. Grants are available from CMU, the federal government, and other sources.
Loans
Federal loans with low-interest rates can help you pay for your education. You’ll have to pay them back, but borrowing can ease your upfront costs.
Student employment
The federal work-study program gives you the opportunity to contribute toward your education with a campus job.