MIT does not include a computer in the cost of attendance. However, if you plan to purchase a computer while at MIT and need financial assistance, we can help in the following ways:
Outside scholarships
If you have any outside scholarships or resources (including Pell grants) that exceeded your original student contribution on your financial aid, you may be able to use a portion of your outside scholarships toward the one-time purchase of a computer.
If you’d like to explore this option, you should reach out to your financial aid counselor. Email them with your full name and MIT ID number, and let them know you would like to use outside scholarship funds to purchase a computer. Please attach a screenshot and price of the computer you want to purchase, or the receipt if you’ve recently purchased one.
Allowances for a computer are limited to the most expensive computer that IS&T01 MIT's Information Systems and Technology group recommends.
MIT Computer Access Program
Students with a $0 parent contribution are eligible to receive a new laptop—at no cost—to use during their time as an undergraduate at MIT.
While the laptop will be owned by MIT until you graduate, you will have full administrative privileges to configure the laptop to your preferences and install any needed software. You will also have the laptop during all breaks and over the summers.
Your laptop will be delivered to you with recommended security applications and will satisfy the computer hardware requirements for MIT students. It will come with a 4-year extended warranty to allow IS&T to coordinate support, at no cost to you, should any technical issues arise.
Eligible first-year students are contacted about the program in the early summer after they enroll. Students should reach out to IS&T directly at firstyear-computing@mit.edu with questions.
Please note: You may acquire a computer through the MIT Computer Access Program or via an outside scholarship, but not both.
A credit on your account
If you have a credit on your student account, you may request a refund to use toward your computer or to reimburse yourself if you already bought one.
Taking out a loan
Although we don’t encourage students to take out loans, we recognize that sometimes this may be helpful. If you need a loan to purchase a computer, we can help.
A Federal Direct Loan or an MIT Tech loan may be good options depending upon eligibility, and we can help you figure that out. Email us at getaloan@mit.edu with your full name and MIT ID number, and let us know you’d like to take out a loan for a computer and include the amount you are looking to borrow. Also, please attach a screenshot of the computer you’d like to purchase, or a receipt if you’ve already purchased one.
Please keep in mind that your loan is divided between the fall and spring semesters, so the full amount you borrow will not be immediately available on your student account.
Short-term loaner laptops
If you need a laptop while your computer order is being processed/shipped, IS&T has a Computing Equipment Loan Program where you can request a short-term loaner laptop.
- MIT's Information Systems and Technology group back to text ↑