What the funding covers
- Need-blind admission for all applicants, domestic and international.
- 100% of demonstrated need met for the full length of your degree.
- Family income under $200,000 (with typical assets): no tuition. Under $100,000: no family contribution towards the cost of attendance.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition ($66,720), housing, food, books and personal costs — $92,760 in 2026–27 | MIT Scholarship, up to your full demonstrated need |
| Travel between home and MIT | MIT adds a travel allowance to your cost of attendance, based on where you live |
| Application fee | You, or request a fee waiver in the application — international applicants can, and it does not affect your chances |
| CSS Profile ($25 for the first college, $16 for each extra one) | You |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- First-year applicants from any country applying to MIT's undergraduate programme.
- MIT assesses need from your family's income and assets; typical assets are assumed in the published thresholds.
Documents you will need
- SAT or ACT — required for every first-year applicant, including international students
- An English test, strongly recommended if you have used English for fewer than five years: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo or Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency (official scores)
- CSS Profile (MIT code 3514)
- Your parents' tax return from their country, with an English translation — or other income documents — uploaded through IDOC by 30 November (Early Action) or 15 February (Regular Action)
How to apply
- Apply through MIT's own application portal (MIT does not use the Common App).
- Early Action closes on 1 November; Regular Action closes in early January (4 January in the latest cycle).
- Submit the financial aid application separately: by 30 November for Early Action applicants and by 15 February for Regular Action.
- Complete MIT's essays and interview if one is offered in your country.
Before you apply: things to know
- Aid deadlines differ from admission deadlines — put both in your calendar.
- Early Action at MIT is non-binding, so applying early costs you nothing.
- Very few international students are admitted each year; apply to other need-blind and full-need colleges too.
Common questions
Can international applicants get an application fee waiver?
Yes. Fee waivers are open to domestic and international applicants — request one in the application. Because MIT is need-blind, asking has no effect on your chances.
Is the SAT or ACT required for international students?
Yes. MIT requires the SAT or ACT from every first-year and transfer applicant.
When will I hear about my aid?
If you apply Early Action and send all aid documents by 30 November, MIT aims to send your aid offer by mid-January, soon after your admission decision.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next typical deadline (≈ Nov 1, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Aug 9, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Aug 23, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Sep 6, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Sep 20, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 4, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Oct 18, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Oct 25, 2026Submit — never on the last day
Nov 1, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
Harvard University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Princeton University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Yale University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Dartmouth College
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Sources
- MIT Admissions — Deadlines & requirements
- MIT Admissions — Undergraduates with family income below $200,000 can attend tuition-free
- MIT Admissions — Access and affordability
- MIT Admissions — International applicants
- MIT Admissions — How do I request a fee waiver?
- MIT Student Financial Services — International students
- MIT Student Financial Services — Aid deadlines and process
- MIT Student Financial Services — Cost of attendance
- College Board — What does the CSS Profile cost?
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS fee
- Boston University ISSO — Visa integrity fee (with the $185 visa fee)
Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.