<p>Yes, although of course it’s not totally trivial. Many of MIT’s fraternities are open for summer boarders, and they’re reliably cheaper than the dorms over the summer. There are reasonably-priced supermarkets in Cambridge, and of course cooking for oneself is usually cheaper than eating out. Boston is a city of students, so there are lots of free or low-priced things to do for fun.</p>
<p>Campus minimum wage is $9 an hour, so a student working 40 hours a week can expect to make at least $4300 in a summer before taxes. There are UROPs and off-campus jobs that pay more than that, as well – my husband’s UROP paid him $20 an hour.</p>