I know CMU doesn’t meet 100% of demonstrated need RD, but how bad is it really? The NPC is very general by using a range of salaries so I don’t think that is very accurate. Collegedata says the average percent of need met is 83% and the average aid package was about $35,000. The ~35k average aid package is confirmed on the CMU website but no mention of official average percent of need met. Are most lowerish middle class families able to afford CMU or is it like NYU in that if you need significant FA, you might as well not apply?
Although the need-based stats are pretty much on par, there is still a chance that those who need a significant FA can get their need met, through a combination of need-based and merit-based gift aid. CMU’s new (started back in 2014) Presidential Scholars and Fellows program awards ~145 highly regarded first-year undergrad and grad students with a generous award. In my case, that scholarship, alongside other institutional grants and need-based aid, covered my full need, and I needed significant financial aid. Middle class applicants who don’t qualify for most need-based awards are eligible for the Carnegie Scholarship. All of these can be viewed on CMU’s Financial Aid office website.
In short, yes it is worth it to apply. The merit scholarships are competitive, but there’s still a chance an applicant can be awarded one. Best wishes 
@MandomeLife I doubt I will have the stats to be competitive for a merit scholarship at CMU. I was hoping more for good need based aid.
For solely need-based aid, CMU does guarantee to meet your full need if you apply and are admitted during Early Decision (November 1 deadline). ED is binding, however, meaning that if you are admitted, you MUST attend Carnegie Mellon. From the way you phrased your OP it seems like you don’t want to go down that route haha. There aren’t many options aside from that, though. Sorry 
Anyone have any recent experience with CMU’s financial aid, especially middle ish income households?
bump
Hi @class0f2017 You’ve probably already seen this page: http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/financial-aid-statistics which shows average grant is $28K.
Our Son was just admitted (hooray!) and we were awarded $22K/yr financial aid grant. We are ‘middle-ish income’ and will have two kids in college next year. I consider this award fair…not too generous, not too skimpy. Son is an NMF so he is eligible for $19K to $25K (to possibly as high as $30K)/yr merit awards at his other three top college acceptances. But CMU is his (and my) first choice so we are satisfied with CMU’s ‘in the ballpark’ offer.
@pickpocket congrats on your son’s acceptance! Is this a reasonable amount for your financial situation that you can afford? I would need more than that but then again I’m wondering if it’s affordable for people looking for aid and everyone’s situation is different.
Thank you @class0f2017 ! I wish the grant were for more, so I will call FA office once I have complete offer info from RPI, etc. My wife is currently doing the paperwork for a HELOC since interest rates and terms are better than student loans. We know CMU is a terrific opportunity so we do not mind ‘digging deep’ to make it happen. Good luck to you next year!
@pickpocket By the way, CMU will match financial aid from RPI, so if RPI offers you more, take that to CMU and ask them for the same. (It’s on the CMU website somewhere. I came across this last year as my D was deciding between RPI and CMU.)
@insanedreamer thank you! Turns out RPI’s offer is just $1000 less than CMU’s. Interesting that RPI’s is all merit and CMU’s is all need-based. But a dollar’s a dollar. I’m relieved I don’t have to fight or risk leaving money on the table.
@pickpocket congrats on your son’s acceptance to CMU! In my D’s case, RPI offered about $18K more/year (full tuition + some) so she choose RPI. I only discovered CMU matching RPI’s offer later but by then she was already set on going to RPI and didn’t want to consider CMU (she’s since very happy with her decision and enjoying RPI). In our case, for various reasons my D qualified for need which CMU did not meet, so it seems they don’t meet full demonstrated need. RPI’s was mostly merit plus some need.
Will CMU match MERIT from RPI or CWRU? So all those CMU awards are one year only, so if one gets a raise then that CMU will go away, or in our case, another son graduates from college, we believe our CMU award is only good for ONE YEAR and will go back to paying full cash price for CMU for years 2, 3 and 4.