Federal Loans and Work-Study Program

Carnegie Mellon expects that enrolling students with sizable financial need will accept some amount of self-help financial support, such as college loans and work-study, in order to help self-fund their education. There are several loan and/or work-study opportunities available for students to self-fund their education.

Federal Perkins Loans

Perkins Loans are low-interest loans funded by the federal government and administered by Carnegie Mellon. Eligibility is determined using your financial aid application.

Federal Direct Student Loans

The Federal Direct Student Loan is the most widely-used loan for college students. There are two types of Federal Direct Student Loans, subsidized and unsubsidized, and your eligibility is determined using your financial aid application.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a financing option for parents of undergraduate students. The PLUS Loan is only available to creditworthy borrowers.

Private Loans

There are many other loan options provided by private lenders that can provide supplementary funding for students.

Student Employment

Carnegie Mellon utilizes several types of work-study programs to allow students to earn a paycheck while attending classes. Job opportunities are plentiful on campus and campus employers are often times flexible with their requirements for student employees.

Read the Financial Aid FAQ page to get additional financial aid help.