next steps
We understand it's a busy time. Help your student through the final steps to becoming a student at CMU!
Help your student get ready
Help your student take the next steps to reserve their spot in the incoming class, book a time to schedule classes at orientation and apply for housing.
First, your student will need to submit their enrollment deposit. Start by having them log in to their student portal!
Step 1: Log in to student portal
Your student can access all of their next steps in the student portal. To log in, they'll use the same username and password they used for their online application to CMU.
Step 2: Submit the deposit
Let us know your student is ready! Your student’s $200 enrollment reservation deposit saves their spot in the incoming class.
The deposit is not binding – you may request a refund within the timeframes mentioned below.
For students starting Fall 2025:
Your deposit is refundable if you request a refund before June 1.
For students starting Spring 2025:
Your deposit is refundable if you request a refund before Dec. 1.
Step 3: Set up a CMU account
Next, your student will need to set up their CMU account and their official CMU email. They'll use the "New CMU Account PIN" to get started – found at the bottom of their congratulations letter, or in the "Next Steps" section after logging in to the portal.
To log in to the portal, they'll use the same username and password they created for their application.
They’ll use their student account to:
- Create their student email, where we’ll send important updates and information.
- Register for classes.
- Apply for housing.
- View and accept a financial aid package.
- Log in to Scholarship Universe, a portal for finding more scholarship opportunities.
- Receive their student ID card.
Step 4: Reserve an orientation date
The sooner, the better!
Your student will sign up for classes at orientation. Spots are first-come, first-served, so it’s best to do this as soon as possible!
Orientation is where your student will sign up for classes – help them get their first choices with an early orientation date.
To reserve an orientation date, your student must have submitted the $200 enrollment deposit. It also helps if they've set up their CMU student email and their student account.
Orientation is valuable for supporters, too! You’ll hear from current CMU students and staff and have the chance to ask questions about your student’s time here.
For students starting Fall 2025:
Orientation registration opens in February. Orientation dates are held from April to June.
For students starting in Spring 2025:
Orientation registration opens in August. Orientation dates are held from October to January.
Step 5: Apply for housing
All first- and second-year students are required to live on campus, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Once the deposit is processed, we'll send our Residential Community Living Guide to their new cmich.edu email. This guide will help them through next steps like choosing a meal plan, selecting campus housing and finding a roommate.
Once your student has set up a CMU account, they’ll use that username and password to log into the housing process, too.
For students starting Fall 2025:
The housing process is now open.
For students starting in Spring 2025:
The housing process opens in October.
Other reminders
Send final transcript
We recommend having your student submit official transcripts submitted as soon as they can after high school graduation.
Have your student’s high school counselor email their final transcripts to apply@cmich.edu or order them through Parchment.
Encourage your student to have all official transcripts sent to us before registering for courses. That way, all their earned credit will be applied in advance.
Complete the FAFSA
If you and your student haven’t already, don’t forget to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
FAFSA is the only way to qualify for some of the $120 billion the U.S. Department of Education awards in federal grants, loans and work study aid. CMU’s school code is 002243. Even if you don’t plan on taking out loans, we strongly encourage you to complete the FAFSA.
Plus, Michigan high schools students could earn up to $27,500 over five years ($5,500 a year) as a full-time student at CMU with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Just have your student mark CMU as their first-choice school on their FAFSA.
Michigan residents with adjusted gross income and assets less than $65,000 are eligible to attend CMU tuition-free with the CMU Tuition Advantage. No extra application; FAFSA determines eligibility!
Plan to complete your student's FAFSA as soon as possible. We'll use that information to calculate their scholarship and aid offer.
Check out our blog on FAFSA!
Find scholarship matches
Students looking for more scholarships can check out Scholarship Universe!
Students can answer a few questions and Scholarship Universe will help connect them with donor-based internal (CMU) scholarship opportunities which may qualify for. Find even more opportunities with Scholarship Universe - Gold, which connects students to external opportunities (outside CMU).