Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Northeast

Known forUltra-selectiveHigh yieldTop test scoresVery small student-faculty ratioDraws students nationallyBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation rate

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 34–35 (fall 2024: 34–36)Massachusetts Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 98.6% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 99.1%)Massachusetts Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Massachusetts Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Massachusetts Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 22 applicants admitted

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits about 1 in 22 applicants (4.6%). That puts it in the "Most selective" tier, more selective than 100% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

4.6%

acceptance rateMost selective

Applied

29,281

Admitted

1,334

Yield

86%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1520–1570

10001600

ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836

Applications +54% since fall 2014 · admit rate 7.9% → 4.5%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,535 undergrads, where 19% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

4.5K

undergrads · larger than 76% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

19%

below the median

First generation

26%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-III · New England Women's & Men's Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.76 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (28% of graduates). 3 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 99% of colleges. 99% of faculty are full-time. Spends $99,057 a year on instruction per student.

3 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 99% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $46,289 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $22K more than the national median. The 59% who received grants paid $20,996 on average; the other 41% paid the full sticker price of $82,730.

44%

$46.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $22K above the national median

Full price: $82,730 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: None; all grants are need-based

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 44% of full price

Federal loans

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −9% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $143,372 ten years after enrolling, more than at 100% of colleges; 96% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

96%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$143.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$14.8K

≈ $157/month for 10 years

Retention

99%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 91% → 96% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 9%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 54% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 7.9% to 4.5%.

Cost
Falling
−9% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+54%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 8% → 5% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
Steady
index 0.76 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Princeton University

4.6% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Johns Hopkins University

6.4% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Rice University

8.0% admit · SAT 1535 · 4.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Yale University

3.9% admit · SAT 1520 · 6.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025–26
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2024; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2026–27)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
20
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2026)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 166683 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything