Applying for Undergraduate Financial Aid

Graduate students, please follow the graduate student financial aid application process.

If you are unable to complete any of these steps, please contact The HUB for assistance.

The following list details the information and documents that you will need to complete the financial aid application process at Carnegie Mellon:


  1. 2008 Tax Doxuments or Employer/Income Information

    • U.S. Federal Income Tax Return

    • If you were required to complete a Schedule C, and/or Partnership Schedule K-1, and/or IRS Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion)

    • Parental W-2 Wage and Tax Statements - Dependent, undergraduate students only

    • Foreign Tax Documents, if necessary:

      Note: If you and/or your spouse/parent(s) are required to file a Federal Income Tax Return in a country other than the United States, you must provide us with a copy of your foreign tax return and provide tax information translated into U.S. dollars on a 2008 U.S. Federal Income Tax Return. This document must be signed by you and/or your spouse/parent(s), and a tax accountant.

    • If you and/or your spouse/parent(s) are not required by the IRS to file a U.S. Federal Tax Return or to file a tax return in any other country, you are required to provide a list of employers and the source(s) of all income for 2008.

      Additional Note      : All tax documents must be signed by the filer and, when applicable, the tax preparer.



  2. 2009-2010 FAFSA

    You are required to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you wish to apply for federal or Carnegie Mellon institutional financial aid. Federal financial aid includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, and Federal Work-Study.

    Prior to completing the FAFSA on the web, you need to request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the Department of Education. If you are a dependent, undergraduate student, your parent must also request a PIN in order to electronically sign your FAFSA. Request a PIN by visiting the U.S. Department of Education PIN Website. If you already have a PIN, you do not need to request a new one. If you have lost or forgotten your PIN, you need to request that it be sent to you again. If you think someone knows your PIN, select the Change PIN option to request a new PIN combination.

    • Your PIN serves as an electronic identifier and allows you to electronically sign and immediately transmit the FAFSA.

    • Your PIN provides access to personal records, guard it as you would your ATM PIN.

    • Please use school code 003242, including for undergraduate Tepper students.

    Important: Please be sure to review your SAR (Student Aid Report) for any correctable items and comply with the resolution instructions provided.



  3. Completed 2009-2010 Carnegie Mellon Financial Aid Application.

    There are two options for completing this application:

    1. 2009-2010 Electronic Carnegie Mellon Financial Aid Application - Parents: You MUST have your student authenticate to the system. We cannot provide you with the login information. On the Aid/Account page, select Financial Aid, change the aid year to 2009-2010 and then select Financial Aid Application at the bottom of the page.

    2. PDF Version - 2009-2010 Carnegie Mellon Financial Aid Application - Must be mailed to: Carnegie Mellon, Enrollment Services - The HUB, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3890.

    3. The application deadline for undergraduate students is April 15, 2009.

    4. The Carnegie Mellon Federal School Code is 003242.

    5. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to complete the PDF form.



  4. Federal Stafford/PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) - If you previously borrowed a Federal Stafford Loan (FSL) at Carnegie Mellon and completed a Stafford Master Promissory Note (MPN), then you do not need to complete another Stafford MPN for each subsequent academic year.

    First-Time Borrowers:
    To apply for your Federal Stafford Loan, all first-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The earliest you can complete a Stafford MPN online for the 2009-2010 academic year is June 1, 2009. To complete your MPN online, please follow the instructions HERE.

  5. Noncustodial Parent Information Form - Dependent, undergraduate students only - Since we believe that parents have the responsibility to provide educational support for their children regardless of marital status or living arrangements, we require information from your noncustodial parent in cases where parents are divorced, separated or remarried. The information we require is listed specifically on the Noncustodial Parent Information Form. This applies to dependent, undergraduate students only.

  6. Federal Student Loan Entrance Counseling - Prior to Federal Stafford and/or Perkins Loan funds being credited, first-time borrowers at Carnegie Mellon are required to complete Federal Entrance Loan Counseling.