Acceptance Rate
5%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“The playground where tomorrow's inventors hack reality, one all-nighter at a time.”
Cambridge, MA
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
You step into MIT's world in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a city buzzing with Harvard's shadow just across the Charles River, tech startups in Kendall Square, and Boston's gritty energy a T ride away. Founded in 1861 by William Barton Rogers amid the Civil War, MIT rejected ivory-tower academia for hands-on training in science and engineering, launching the American tech revolution when Europe still dominated. You'll thrive here if you're a relentless tinkerer who geeks out on building robots at 3 a.m. or debating quantum mechanics over pizza—the collaborative hacker spirit defines the place, where 'course 6' (computer science) majors outnumber poets, and failure is just data for the next prototype. But tradeoffs hit hard: Cambridge's winters bury you in slushy gloom, housing costs devour budgets (even with aid), and the hyper-competitive vibe weeds out anyone craving balance or a traditional college party scene.
Photo Gallery
+49
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In MIT classrooms, you dive into problem sets that span 100 hours weekly, surrounded by peers who treat exams like puzzles to crack collaboratively. The 3:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name, pulling you into labs where undergrads co-author papers via the legendary UROP program—think designing fusion reactors or AI for self-driving cars as a freshman. Engineering, computer science, and physics reign supreme, with quirks like the 'giraffe' problem-solving classes blending math and mayhem, fostering a culture where questioning authority sparks breakthroughs. Yet honesty demands noting the grind: infamous weed-out courses like 8.01 physics crush GPAs early, and the research obsession leaves little room for breadth unless you fight for it.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
4,535 undergrad • 7,351 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
23%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
10%
Asian
21%
Other / Multi-racial
41%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Cambridge, MA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week at MIT pulses with psets until dawn, hackathons birthing drone swarms, and spontaneous dorm pranks—like hoisting a fire truck atop the Great Dome. Dorms form quirky tribes: East Campus channels punk-rock chaos with foam weapons and indie bands, while New House hosts foam parties and chocolate chip cookie deliveries at 4 a.m.; you'll pick your vibe during rush, committing to hall life that feels like family (or fraternity). Traditions glue it together—the Brass Rat ring ritual, where juniors forge class rings in a foundry, or Unity, the post-admission ritual welcoming you with cheers and cake. Socially, it's collaborative nerd heaven with over 500 clubs from Underwater Basket Weaving to Mystery Hunts, but don't expect Greek life dominance; the scene skews intense, sleep-optional, and weather-beaten by Nor'easters that turn campus into an ice rink. Positives abound in the tight-knit bonds forged over shared suffering, though introverts or party seekers might feel isolated amid the Type-A swarm.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
-$6,711
$30K – $48K
-$8,846
$48K – $75K
-$8,561
$75K – $110K
-$134
$110K+
$37,836
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
99%
4 Years Graduation Rate
90%
6 Years Graduation Rate
97%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$143,372
99% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and return in the fall. 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 97% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
90%
4-6 years
7%
Non-grad
3%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$57,590
Acceptance
5%
Undergrads
4,535
4-Year Grad Rate
90%
Endowment
$18.2B
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307