Types of Aid for CMU Online Students

You’ve worked hard to get to where you are. We're here to help you access the financial support you deserve. Scholarships, loans, grants, and other forms of financial aid make your CMU Online education even more affordable.

Explore the options

Financial aid for students 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 students at CMU.

Scholarships

CMU Online scholarships are gift funds that you don’t have to repay. They're based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, grade point average, your academic program, where you live, and military status. Here are some of the options.

    Open to admitted students who are pursuing a degree through CMU Online.

    Preference is given to students admitted to or enrolled in their first semester.

    Apply through Scholarship Universe

    Open to admitted CMU Online students with an interest in studying business and a minimum GPA of 2.8.

    Preference is given to first-generation college students who have a history of supporting minority causes, who have graduated from a historically black college, and to single parents.

    Apply through Scholarship Universe

    Open to admitted CMU Online bachelor’s degree students in their junior year or higher (56+ earned credit hours).

    Minimum GPA of 3.0.

    Must be employed full-time by a publicly held electric utility.

    Apply throughScholarship Universe

    Open to admitted CMU Online students pursuing a degree leading toward a career in education.

    Minimum GPA of 2.5 for undergraduates.

    Minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduate and doctoral students.

    First-year students may be eligible if they earned the minimum GPA for the highest degree earned.

    Preference is given to students with a history of supporting minority causes.

    Apply through Scholarship Universe

    You can earn up to $13,500 over three years by combining these scholarships designed specifically for transfer students. No matter where you've taken classes before, or if you're planning to take classes in-person or online, you'll find a scholarship to meet your needs.

    If you have questions, reach us at onlineprograms@cmich.edu.

    Explore Transfer Scholarships

    If you are interested in a specific program of study, diversity, equity and inclusion, study abroad, or have a parent or a grandparent who graduated from CMU, we have scholarship opportunities for you.

    Learn More about Departmental Scholarships

    Connect to even more scholarships with Scholarship Universe! Answer a few initial questions, and we'll match you with the opportunities you qualify for.

    Open to admitted CMU students. Scholarship Universe connects you to donor-based internal (CMU) scholarship opportunities.

    Explore More

    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.

    Information on Loans

      • Available to undergraduates with financial need who are enrolled at least half time.
      • The federal government pays the interest on this loan while you’re in school, for the first six months after you leave school, and during deferments.

      Learn More about Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

      • Available to undergraduate and graduate students with and without financial need.
      • You are responsible for paying the interest on this loan even while you’re in school.

      Explore More

      • Available to parents with good credit history.
      • based on need.
      • Parents can borrow up to the total cost of education minus other expected financial assistance.

      Explore More

      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.

      Information on Grants

        Up to $7,395 per academic year. Available to full-time undergraduates who:
        • Have not received a baccalaureate degree.
        • Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $5,846 or less.
        • Have not received a Federal Pell grant for more than the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.
        • Meet the general eligibility criteria.
        • Apply by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)or a Renewal Application.

        Learn more about Federal Pell Grants

        Up to $4,000 per academic year. Available to undergraduate students who:
        • Are enrolled at least half time.
        • Qualify on the basis of need.
        • Recipients must have a zero EFC in order to be eligible for the SEOG.
        • Have applied for financial aid by CMU’s priority deadline date.
        • Apply by submitting aFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

        Learn More about Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant