20 Scholarships MIT Students Should Apply for in 2024

Whether students are looking for a full-ride or tuition financial help, pursuing a degree can be a stressful time. If you are a student enrolling or returning to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the upcoming Fall school year, here is the perfect guide to finding the best scholarships.

Best MIT Scholarships to Apply to

While there are many scholarships to aid different people, it isn’t easy to distinguish which ones are legit or best for you, especially when searching online. Finding the best MIT scholarship to apply for can be challenging for current or future MIT students. We’ve made it easier by selecting 20 top scholarships for MIT students to apply to this year.

John Alfred Smythe Memorial Scholarship

Open to graduate or undergraduate students studying material sciences.

Amount: $12,700
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
Winner Announced: December 1, 2022

Cybersecurity Scholarship

Aims to support any undergraduate student pursuing a career in cybersecurity.

Amount: $750
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
Winner Announced: December 1, 2022

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – High School Award

One of the technology scholarships open to any high school student who plans to pursue a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or data science.

Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: July 4, 2022
Winner Announced: August 4, 2022

Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship – College Award

Aims to support a university student pursuing a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or data science.

Amount: $2,500
Application Deadline: July 4, 2022
Winner Announced: August 4, 2022

Elevate Women in Technology Scholarship

Open to any female student at any educational level who intends to enter a technical or non-technical career.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: October 31, 2022
Winner Announced: November 30, 2022

Software Engineers Scholarship

Aims to encourage and support any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student studying software engineering, computer science, applied math, or other software development fields or who possesses knowledge of the area and wishes to improve.

Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: July 15, 2022
Winner Announced: August 15, 2022

Rho Brooks Women in STEM Scholarship

Open to any female high school senior or undergraduate student pursuing a STEM degree.

Amount: $2,000
Application Deadline: July 30, 2022
Winner Announced: August 30, 2022

Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship

This opportunity is for any Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) and/or female high school senior or undergraduate who is a first-generation, low-income student interested in STEM.

Amount: $1,085
Application Deadline: July 2, 2022
Winner Announced: July 31, 2022

Rajesh Aggarwal Scholarship for Scientific Studies

Open to any low-income high school junior or senior in Massachusetts or New Jersey with a 3.0 GPA or higher and a passion for science.

Amount: $2,900
Application Deadline: June 29, 2022
Winner Announced: July 18, 2022

Learner Education Women in Mathematics Scholarship

Available for current high school seniors who plan to study mathematics or related fields or an undergraduate currently studying in these fields.

Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: August 1, 2022
Winner Announced: August 26, 2022

WCEJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship

Any student from a low-income household planning to be enrolled in continuing education in the August 2022 academic year is eligible to apply.

Amount: $1,001
Application Deadline: August 1, 2022
Winner Announced: July 1, 2022

Carlos F. Garcia Muentes Scholarship

Aimed at first or second-generation immigrants (including DACA recipients and international students) who are first-generation college students attending an academic school year in the United States.

Submit a video and essential information on your family story.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: August 9, 2022
Winner Announced: September 9, 2022

Show your Mettle – Women in STEM Scholarship

Open to any female student pursuing IT or STEM.

Amount: $1,500
Application Deadline: September 1, 2022
Winner Announced: September 30, 2022

Black Students in STEM Scholarship Fund

For African American high school seniors who have at least a 2.5 GPA and plan to study STEM at a historically Black college or university (HBCU). he application process involves writing an essay on career goals.

Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: June 30, 2022
Winner Announced: July 30, 2022

Affordable College Prep’s First Time Winners Scholarship

Targets current high school seniors who have never been awarded a scholarship. The application process requires an essay based on students’ learning from applying for scholarship opportunities.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: November 1, 2022
Winner Announced: December 1, 2022

Earl Pascua Filipino-American Heritage Scholarship

Filipino-American graduate students pursuing a STEM degree and planning to pay it forward to other Filipino-Americans in the future can apply.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022
Winner Announced: December 31, 2022

Francis “Slip” Madigan Scholarship

Any high school senior in Massachusetts who will be a first-generation college student may apply.

Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: September 1, 2022
Winner Announced: September 30, 2022

Bold Financial Literacy Scholarship

Any student who is passionate about taking charge of their finances is eligible to apply.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: July 14, 2022
Winner Announced: August 14, 2022

First-Year College Students: Jennie Gilbert Daigre Education Scholarship

Open to any undergraduate student at a two-year or four-year institution.

Amount: $500
Application Deadline: September 1, 2022
Winner Announced: September 30, 2022

Cappex Adult Learners Scholarship

Designed to aid students at least 25 years old and to look to return to school to get their bachelor’s degree.

Amount: $500
This scholarship is available monthly, with the deadline being the first of each month.

About MIT Scholarships

MIT scholarships are need-based financial aid awards given to students currently enrolled or attending MIT. Admission is highly competitive and expensive, with MIT having an acceptance rate of 7.3 percent, which is why many financial aid awards exist.

What Are MIT Scholarships?

MIT Scholarships are grants that do not need to be repaid, and about 60 percent of undergraduates received one last year, according to the MIT website.

For students who receive outside scholarships, MIT admits the student and awards they receive, even if they get tuition help or a full scholarship. Scholarships are not to be used for personal expenses but should go toward graduate programs or even helping the student with the admissions process.

What Qualifies as an MIT Scholarship?

MIT provides financial aid to students who have demonstrated financial need only. According to their website, they don’t award money based on any measure of academic merit or athletic or artistic merit.

MIT will only give out internal scholarships to those who require financial aid. However, any external scholarships awarded to a student, whether due to academic success or artistic abilities, will be accepted.

Types of MIT Scholarships Available

Scholarships are divided into categories to appeal to specific demographics of students more likely to win the award. Various scholarship lists have particular criteria students must meet, such as a challenging financial situation or excellent academic performance.

Here are five types of scholarships that might interest those enrolling in MIT.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are awarded to those who show exceptional academic performance. They are based on the student’s level of success and do not consider financial status. Test scores and GPA are the most common ways to assess merit.

University Scholarships

Colleges or universities distribute scholarships to help students fund their studies. Many of these are entrance or tuition-based, so students don’t need to apply to be considered for the award.

Government Scholarships

With government scholarships, different agencies register with the government and offer help to students. Governments may offer scholarships for international students to study in their country.

Private Scholarships

Private scholarships are scholarships funded by individual donors or privately-owned businesses. However, most private scholarships have strict eligibility requirements, such as being from a developing country or only for minorities in specific areas of study.

Financial Scholarships/Bursaries

Also known as bursaries or need-based scholarships, financial scholarships are a form of aid to enable students who require financial assistance to attend colleges or graduate schools. Financial scholarships are independent of merit scholarships. In some cases, students may qualify for merit-based and need-based scholarships depending on the program or university.

How to Find MIT Scholarships to Apply For

There are many ways to find scholarships, whether online through Google or reputable scholarship platforms such as Bold.org.

It’s essential to conduct additional research to ensure any website you discover is legit and accepted by the higher education institution you want to attend or are currently attending.

Tips For Winning Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scholarships

Each year, educational institutions and their college board, including MIT, offer various scholarships for college students who need financial aid. These fellowships, scholarships, and grants are the best opportunities for students to receive a high-quality professional education without debt. Brushing up on some best practices can enhance your chance of securing top MIT scholarships.

Apply to As Many Scholarship Opportunities as Possible

Many educational institutions offer scholarships with diverse attributes, such as grants, fellowships, athletic scholarships, government-funded scholarships, etc. Have a look at the requirements before applying to any fully-funded program.

Practice Skills Required for the Scholarship

It’s helpful to practice and improve your skills in writing scholarship essays. Many scholarships require personal essays for an applicant to be considered. The selection committees use these writing samples to get to know you better and discover what makes you unique.

Try Your Best

Hard work pays off, and you need to be willing to go the extra mile to reach your goals. Getting accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology isn’t enough to be chosen as the winner of any financial award.

Frequently Asked Questions About MIT Scholarships

Here are some frequently asked questions about MIT scholarships that enrolled students tend to be curious about.

Are MIT Scholarships Legit?

Yes, MIT scholarships are legit. While the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers limited scholarships to students needing financial aid, there are many external scholarships that MIT students can receive. However, be aware of scholarship scams when applying to MIT scholarships found via an online search. It’s worth conducting additional research to ensure your aid is genuine and not a scam to obtain personal information.

How Can I Improve My Chances of Winning MIT Scholarships?

As mentioned previously, the best way to improve your chances of winning Massachusetts Institute of Technology scholarships is to be prepared and confident. Take time to research the scholarship to ensure it’s valid and that you match all of the qualifications.

How Many Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scholarships Can You Get?

There’s no limit to how many scholarships you can receive from the school or external sources. At MIT, getting a “full-ride” (which means your entire tuition is paid off in scholarships or by the institution) is possible. After all, it’s money you earned.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scholarships Taxable Income?

Scholarships are not taxable income. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), scholarships are not taxable if they are only used for educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Scholarships become taxable if you use them for non-educational purposes.

What’s the Best Way to Apply For an MIT Scholarship?

The best way to apply for scholarships is by finding relevant opportunities online or contacting your high school guidance office or academic advisor.