STUDENT Consumer information

Welcome to MIT’s student consumer information site. Student Financial Services (SFS) created this site to provide easy access to the information you need to be an informed consumer of an MIT education.

The US Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires all institutions of higher education, who receive federal student financial assistance, to make student consumer information available to all enrolled and prospective students. Please contact SFS if you would like a paper copy or have any questions about this information.

For general inquiries about MIT, please call the main MIT number (617-253-1000) during business hours, or access the MIT home page .

Subject to Change: Because of the nature of federal, state and institutional guidelines affecting financial aid programs, the information contained on this website is subject to change.

1. General MIT Information

• Accreditation and State Approval
• Academic Programs
• Admissions
• Faculty
• Student Body Diversity
• Instructional Facilities and Labs
• Facilities and Services for Disabled Students
• Transfer of Credit
• Textbooks
• Withdrawals

2. MIT Policies

• Nondiscrimination Statement
• Privacy and Disclosure of Student Education Records
• Protecting Sensitive Information
• Copyright Infringement
• Vaccination

3. Student Outcomes

• Graduation Retention Rates
• Employment for Graduates
• Graduate and Professional Education for Graduates

4. Campus Life

• Athletic Program Participation and Financial Support
• Campus Safety and Security
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
• Emergency Management
• Fire Safety
• Health and Wellness
• Voter Registration

5. Costs and Financial Aid

• Price of Attendance
• Net Price Calculator
• Refund Policy
• Repayment Policy
• Overview of Financial Aid
• How to Apply for Aid
• Aid Eligibility
• How Aid is Awarded
• How Aid is Disbursed
• Terms of Student Loans
• Code of Conduct for Student Loans
• Terms of Student Employment
• Financial Aid for Study Abroad
• Scholarship Fraud

6. Rights and Responsibilities of Aid Recipients

• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Entrance and Exit Loan Counseling
• Loan Repayment
• Books and Supplies for Pell Eligible Students

 

1. General MIT Information

 

Accreditation and State Approval

MIT is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

Inquiries regarding MIT’s accreditation status should be directed to the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Individuals may also contact:

Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
209 Burlington Rd.
Bedford, MA 01730-1433
781-271-0022
cihe@neasc.org

View details on MIT’s accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.

Many degree programs at MIT are accredited by specialized professional accrediting bodies, including:

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
• American Chemical Society
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Computer Science Accreditation Board
• National Architectural Accrediting Board
• Planning Accreditation Board. 

Academic departments can provide information on the accreditation of the specific degree programs they offer. 

The Charter of MIT is comprised of the Acts and Resolves of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pertaining to the Institute from its act of incorporation in 1861. The Charter was last updated in January 2000. The Institute is subject to Massachusetts' statutory provisions governing corporations organized for charitable purposes.

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Academic Programs

MIT has five schools — architecture and planning; engineering; humanities, arts, and social sciences; management; and science — and more than 30 departments and programs. View a full list of MIT schools and departments.

The Institute offers a wide variety of courses to study, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Online MIT Course Catalogue details the undergraduate programs and requirements and the graduate programs and requirements.

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Admissions

Applicants for an undergraduate degree are selected based on outstanding academic achievement as well as on a strong match between the applicant and the Institute. The Admissions website provides information for prospective students, including transfer and international students.

Applicants for graduate degree programs are evaluated for previous performance and professional promise by the department in which they wish to register.  MIT graduate admissions collaborates with the MIT departments in support of this process.

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Faculty

The MIT faculty instructs undergraduate and graduate students and engages in research.  Each academic department, lab and center at MIT has its own web site with listings of faculty members and other instructional personnel. View academic departments here.

The Office of Institutional Research provides information on the number and type of faculty at MIT. MIT also engages lecturers, instructors and adjunct faculty as part of the teaching staff.

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Student Body Diversity

The Office of Institutional Research maintains information on student body diversity.

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Instructional Facilities and Labs

Information on MIT’s instructional facilities and laboratories is available from the various schools and departments who manage those facilities. You can also view images and information about the inventory of classrooms managed by the Registrar’s Scheduling Office.

The Department of Facilities maintains detailed maps and floor plans of MIT buildings and rooms that are used for academic, residential or support activities. This information includes gross area breakdowns, room inventory definitions, how buildings are numbered, and more. To quickly locate a building, street or other element on the MIT campus, use the online MIT campus map.

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Facilities and Services for Disabled Students

The Student Disabilities Services office provides information on academic, housing and other accommodations made by MIT for disabled students. The Assistive Technology Information Center (ATIC) provides consultations and equipment (alternative pointing devices and keyboards, text readers, etc.) to allow technology accessibility for disabled students and other members of the MIT community.

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Transfer of Credit

MIT departments may grant some credit for study at other colleges and universities both before and after an enrolled student begins study at MIT. In general, credit and/or appropriate placement may be offered if the subjects are substantially equivalent to those in the MIT curriculum, and if the grade earned meets MIT standards. However, each department sets its own policies about awarding transfer credit and delegates this decision to its transfer credit examiner who reviews each request individually.  View a list of current transfer credit examiners.

A registered regular student who wishes to receive credit for work done at another higher education institution must follow the procedures detailed by the Office of the Registrar.

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Textbooks

Federal regulations require higher education institutions to disclose specific information about required and recommended reading on internet-based course schedules.  The goal is to reduce costs by making required textbook information, including ISBN number, available as early as possible, so students have time to shop for the lowest price. Specific information about required and recommended reading is available on the MIT Online Subject Listing and Schedule.

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Withdrawals

Undergraduates withdrawing from MIT should make arrangements through Student Support Services (S3).

Graduate students should consult their departments and the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education.  View Graduate Policies and Procedures on changes in registration.

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2. MIT Policies

 

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. The Institute does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other Institute administered programs and activities, but may favor U.S. citizens or residents in admissions and financial aid.

The Vice President for Human Resources is designated as the Institute’s Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator.

Inquiries concerning the Institute’s policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504), and complaints may be directed to the:

• Vice President for Human Resources, Room E19-215, 617-253-6512, or
• Manager of Staff Diversity and Inclusion, Room E19-215, 617-452-4516.

In the absence of the Vice President for Human Resources or the Manager of Staff Diversity and Inclusion, inquiries or complaints may be directed to the

• Executive Vice President, Room 4-204, 617-253-3928, or
• Director of Labor and Employee Relations, Room E19-215, 617-253-4495, respectively.

All addresses listed above end with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307.

Inquiries about the laws and about compliance may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, US Department of Education.  

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Privacy and Disclosure of Student Education Records

In order to carry out their assigned responsibilities, many offices at MIT collect and maintain information about students. Although these records belong to MIT, both MIT policy and federal law accord students a number of rights concerning their records.

The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (commonly known as FERPA) governs student access to, and disclosure of, student records.

Under FERPA students have:

• The right to inspect and review their own education records within 45 days of request.
• The right to request amendment of their education records to the extent that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's rights under FERPA.
• The right to provide written consent before MIT discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records to third-parties, unless a FERPA exception allows disclosure without prior consent.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by MIT to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
  

  Family Policy Compliance Office
  U.S. Department of Education
  400 Maryland Ave SW

  Washington, DC 20202-5901

In its privacy policies, MIT uses the term student information to refer to education records. MIT’s student information policy builds upon FERPA. View the full text of MIT’s student information policy.

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Protecting Sensitive Information

In response to Massachusetts regulations for the protection of Personal Information Requiring Notification (PIRN), MIT implemented a Written Information Security Program (WISP), which includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for this type of data. There are other MIT information protection initiatives in place that aim to protect student, health, and personal financial information.

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Copyright Infringement

MIT provides its students with electronic resources to support and advance the Institute's mission of teaching, research, and public service and to conduct the Institute's business operations. The Office of Student Citizenship (OSC) and Information Services & Technology share a goal of promoting responsible management and use of these resources.  Issues surrounding unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials on college and university campuses, particularly music, movies and textbooks are of a concern both within and beyond MIT’s community. These activities, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, have the potential to subject students to civil and criminal liabilities. View MIT policies and sanctions related to copyright infringement.

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Vaccination

Massachusetts State Law requires all new students, regardless of age or gender, to submit documentation of immunity to certain infectious diseases.  View MIT’s policy on immunization requirements on the MIT Medical web site.

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3. Student Outcomes

 

Graduation and Retention Rates

The Student Right-to-Know Act requires disclosure of information on graduation and retention rates for all students and for student-athletes. Since MIT does not offer financial aid based on athletic achievement, it is not required to report graduation or retention rates for student athletes. The Office of Institutional Research provides the student graduation and retention disclosures.

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Employment for Graduates

The Student Right-to-Know Act requires disclosure of information on the placement of, and types of employment obtained by, graduates of a higher education’s degree programs.  The Office of Institutional Research provides the required placement and employment disclosures.

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Graduate and Professional Education for Graduates

The Student Right-to-Know Act requires disclosure of the types of graduate and professional education in which its graduates of 4-year programs enroll.  The Office of Institutional Research provides the graduate and professional education disclosures.

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4. Campus Life

 

Athletic Program Participation and Financial Support

The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) requires disclosure of athletic program participation rates and financial support data, demonstrating the school’s commitment to providing equitable athletic opportunities for male and female students. MIT’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation is responsible for this report.  MIT’s most recent report may be found at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education website. Choose the option for obtaining data for one institution, simply enter MIT’s name, and hit search for the most recent data.

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Campus Safety and Security

MIT Police officers on cruiser, motorcycle, bicycle, and foot patrols provide law enforcement, crime prevention and emergency medical services. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is published by the MIT Police. This report includes information on campus safety, security and resources as well as crime and fire statistics.  The report also includes emergency response and evacuation procedures and the missing student notification protocol.

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Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention

Under the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1991, higher education institutions are required to have an alcohol and other drug policy outlining prevention, education and intervention efforts, and consequences for policy violations. MIT’s Office of Community Development and Substance Abuse Programs (CDSA) is dedicated to educating students about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. The CDSA offers a number of services including community forums, events and programs, including and education and training for students, staff and parents.

CDSA is part of the Division of Student Life, which publishes the Mind and Hand Book, which is a guide to all aspects of student life at MIT. The guide includes policies and resources surrounding a drug-free campus.

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Emergency Management

MIT is committed to the safety and security of every member of the MIT community. In the event of a campus emergency, news and information will be posted on MIT's emergency information page and on the MIT homepage.  MIT also uses an alert system to inform the community of an emergency on campus.

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Fire Safety

The MIT Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) maintains the fire safety and prevention policy at MIT. EHS provides information regarding residential fire safety.

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Health and Wellness

At MIT Medical, students, affiliates, staff, faculty, and post-doctoral fellows all have convenient, on-campus access to more than 25 clinical services and medical specialties, each delivered by highly qualified physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, physician assistants, social workers, and other health care professionals.

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Voter Registration

MIT prides itself on maintaining a culture of civic engagement and responsibility and strongly encourages its students to vote either in their home state or in their new resident state of Massachusetts. 

Students are eligible to vote in Cambridge, if they are U.S. citizens, reside in Cambridge, and will be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.  View more information on voter registration for MIT students.

For information concerning voter laws and registration requirements in other states, see the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s website.

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5. Costs and Financial Aid

 

Price of Attendance

Tuition for the forthcoming academic year is set each March by the MIT Corporation.  The Office of the Registrar lists tuition and fees. The Office of Institutional Research provides information on prior academic year tuition and fees.

Information on the estimated total, including tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, and personal expenses, can be found at the Student Financial Services website. View expense information for undergraduates and expense information for graduate students. Graduate students generally incur greater expenses than undergraduates as most attend MIT for a calendar year, rather than an academic year.

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Net Price Calculator

The Net Price Calculator is designed to provide families with a range of what they would pay for an MIT Education as a full-time freshman.  The calculator results include approximate amounts and types of financial aid.  An actual financial aid award package is included with an offer of admission, assuming the family submits the required application materials, including copies of federal income tax returns and wage statements, by the financial aid deadline.

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Refund Policy

MIT has a tuition refund policy that stipulates the amount of tuition that is refunded to a student who withdraws.  View details on the costs, including refunds.

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Repayment Policy (Return of Title IV Funds)

The federal government mandates that students who withdraw from all classes may only keep the Title IV (federal) grant and loan assistance they have earned up to the time of withdrawal.  Funds disbursed in excess of the earned amount must be returned by MIT and/or the student to the federal government.  Student Financial Services (SFS) provides details on this repayment policy.

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Overview of Financial Aid

MIT is the largest source of financial aid to its students.  Students also receive financial aid from federal, state and private sources.

All aid awarded by MIT to undergraduates is based on need and MIT meets the full need. View the types of scholarships, grants, loans and jobs available to undergraduates on the Student Financial Services (SFS) website.

Financial aid for graduate students is, in large part, provided by individual departments. The amount of aid graduate students receive varies significantly.  Financial support includes fellowships, traineeships, teaching and research assistantships.  Most forms of support are granted for merit, while others are granted for some combination of merit and need. Graduate students are also eligible for need and non-need based loans. The Office of the Dean for Graduate Education has information on graduate fellowships, traineeships, and teaching and research assistantships and SFS has information on loans.

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How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students apply for need-based financial aid from MIT by following the instructions on the Student Financial Services Financial Aid page.  Students follow the instructions based on their status as an undergraduate or graduate student, and in the case of an undergraduate student, whether they are a prospective freshmen, transfer or a current students. There are also specific instructions for undergraduate students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

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Aid Eligibility

Student Financial Services (SFS) administers all need-based for undergraduate and graduate students.

Eligibility for need-based undergraduate aid is based on the guiding principle that families have the primary responsibility to pay for an undergraduate education to the degree that they are able. SFS uses information provided by the family on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE, and federal income tax returns and wage statements to determine eligibility for need-based aid.

Need-based aid to graduate students is primarily in the form of federal loans and aid eligibility is determined by SFS using information provided by the student on the FAFSA.

Continued eligibility for need-based aid is based on achieving academic progress, availability of funding, and ability to demonstrate financial need in subsequent years.

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How Aid is Awarded

Undergraduate financial aid is awarded to meet full need.  Need is the difference between the student expense budget, or approximate costs of attending MIT, and the family’s expected parent and student contributions. The financial aid award includes a self-help component, which is an amount students are expected to borrow or earn. Any remaining need above the self-help level is met with an MIT scholarship.

Need-based graduate financial aid is awarded based on the difference between the student expense budget and the expected student contribution. Any need not met through a fellowship, traineeship, or teaching or research assistantship, is met with a loan offer.

More information is available on the Student Financial Services (SFS) website.

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How Aid is Disbursed

Student Financial Services (SFS) provides information on how aid is disbursed.

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Terms of Student Loans

Student Financial Services (SFS) provides information on terms and conditions of the federal and institutional loan programs from which MIT students borrow.

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Code of Conduct for Student Loans

Student Financial Services (SFS) lists MIT’s code of conduct for student loans.

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Terms of Student Employment

MIT does not award student employment.  Undergraduates demonstrating financial need receive a financial aid package that includes an expectation that the student will finance a portion of that education through student loans and/or borrowing. This is called the self-help expectation.  Students choosing to meet all or part of their self-help through a term-time job locate their own employment on-or off-campus and each individual student job has its own terms, conditions and wage rate. However, all jobs on-campus are subject to the MIT minimum hourly student wage. Student Financial Service (SFS) provides information on student jobs.

Graduate students with research assistantship appointments are members of a research group in a laboratory or on a project, whose principal duty is to contribute, under supervision, to a program of interdepartmental research.  Graduate students with teaching assistantship appointments assist a member of the faculty in grading undergraduate quizzes and homework, instructing in the classroom and/or laboratory, preparing apparatus for demonstrations, posting web-based materials and conducting tutorials.  For more information on these opportunities, including the terms and conditions of the assistantships, contact the graduate administrator for the respective department.

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Financial Aid for Study Abroad

MIT meets the full financial need of undergraduates approved to study out of residence.  Student Financial Services (SFS) provides details on how financial aid is applied to study abroad. Global Education and Career Development (GECD) provides information on opportunities for students to study abroad.

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Scholarship Fraud

According to the Federal Trade Commission, perpetrators of financial aid fraud often use the following lines to sell their scholarship services; students should avoid any scholarship service or web site that says the following:

• "This scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."
• "You can't get this information anywhere else."
• "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship."
• "We'll do all the work."
• "This scholarship will cost some money."
• "You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.

If you think you've been the victim of scholarship fraud, wish to file a complaint, or want more information, call 877-FTC-HELP or visit the Federal Trade Commission scholarship scams page. The College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act passed by Congress in 2000 enhances protection against fraud in student financial assistance by establishing stricter sentencing guidelines for criminal financial aid fraud.

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6. Rights and Responsibilities of Aid Recipients

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to receive financial aid MIT students need to meet the Institute’s academic standards.  Student Financial Services (SFS) provides detailed information on the satisfactory academic progress rules for students receiving federal student financial assistance.

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Entrance and Exit Loan Counseling

Entrance loan counseling is required for all first-time borrowers of the following loans: Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal PLUS Loans for Graduate and Professional Students and MIT Technology Loans.

Students who borrowed from any of these programs are also required to have an exit loan prior to graduating or leaving MIT.

Student Financial Services (SFS) provides entrance and exit loan counseling.

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Loan Repayment

Under certain circumstances, students who borrowed student loans and are unable to meet their repayment obligations may be eligible for a deferment or forbearance, allowing them more time to repay the loan and/or lower monthly payments. Borrowers should consult their loan servicer. Student Financial Services (SFS) provides further information on loan repayment. View sample student loan repayments here.

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Books and Supplies for Federal Pell Grant Recipients

Enrolled MIT students who are receiving federal student financial assistance, including a Federal Pell Grant, that exceeds their billed charges for tuition, fees, room and board are eligible to receive an early release of the expected excess funds, i.e. on the seventh day of the academic term. Eligible students are contacted directly by their Counselor for Customer Service.

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