Does CMU stacks need based and merit based scholarships?
Does CMU allow stacking outside scholarships with need based aid/merit based aid?
I think for any school that gives need based aid, the need is calculated after subtracting the part of tuition that is covered by an internal merit scholarship. However, CMU doesn’t guarantee to meet full need for every student. They actually offer better aid to more desirable students. If there is a student who receives one of their rare merit scholarships, that student also receives the premium aid packages.
With regard to outside scholarships – they actually do stack those. The scholarship adds to the part of the cost of attendance that is covered by the parents, by loans, or by work study, When all of that is taken into account, if there is still more scholarship money, then CMU would reduce their need based grant in response to the outside scholarship.
that is very helpful.