Carnegie Mellon University

Financial Aid 

POLICY TITLE: Carnegie Mellon University Financial Aid Policy Statement
DATE OF ISSUANCE: This policy was issued on December 22, 1995.
ACCOUNTABLE DEPARTMENT/UNIT: Associate Vice President and Director of Enrollment Services. For questions about policy content, contact the Director of Student Financial Services at 412-268-8981; for questions about financial aid, contact The HUB at 412-268-8186.
ABSTRACT: Policy Statement includes information on academic scholarship renewals, undergraduate tuition exchange programs, undergraduate study abroad programs and undergraduate international students

Statement

University Academic Scholarship Renewals

Carnegie Mellon University awards academic scholarships as part of the freshman financial aid process. Each of these scholarships is renewable for four academic years of study (five for architecture) based upon the maintenance of a specific cumulative quality point average. The academic scholarship renewal criteria are included in the scholarship notification letter which is mailed to the student prior to the May 1 matriculation deadline.

Each scholarship recipient's cumulative quality point average is reviewed at the end of each academic year. If the student achieves the scholarship renewal criteria, then the scholarship is automatically renewed for the next academic year.

If the student does not meet the cumulative quality point average requirement for renewal, then s/he is given the opportunity to appeal. A merit scholarship appeal form and instructions are automatically sent to the student at the end of each academic year.

The student's completed appeal form is reviewed by members of the Enrollment Services staff. Input from the Associate Dean of the student's college is also considered. The student is notified, in writing, of the decision. The decision may be to renew the scholarship for the entire academic year, renew the scholarship for one academic term, or to reject the appeal. If the appeal is rejected, a written explanation is provided to the student.

Undergraduate Tuition Exchange Programs

Carnegie Mellon University assesses the standard tuition charge for the undergraduate tuition exchange programs.

Since Carnegie Mellon assesses the tuition charge, the student can be considered for all forms of institutional, state, and federal aid for which the student may have eligibility with the exception of any student employment program.

Undergraduate Study Abroad Programs

Carnegie Mellon University does not assess the tuition charge for any of the Study Abroad Programs.

Since Carnegie Mellon does not assess the tuition charge, the student is not considered for any institutional grants and scholarships. However, Carnegie Mellon will consider any student participating in an approved Study Abroad Program for all state and federal student aid programs for which the student may have eligibility with the exception of any student employment program.

The U.S. Department of Education and Carnegie Mellon University define an approved Study Abroad Program as one which is part of a contractual agreement between Carnegie Mellon and the host institution. Additionally, courses taken in the Study Abroad Program must be accepted for transfer to Carnegie Mellon by the Dean of the student's college.

Undergraduate International Students

For purposes of undergraduate student financial aid, an International Student is defined as someone who is neither a U.S. citizen nor an eligible noncitizen. The U.S. Department of Education defines an eligible noncitizen as:

  1. An individual who is a permanent resident of the United States (as evidenced by an I-151 or I-551 card); or
  2. An individual who can provide documentation from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) that s/he is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

An undergraduate, International Student is ineligible to receive any federal or state student financial aid. Additionally, Carnegie Mellon does not award any institutional financial aid funds to undergraduate International Students.