MIT: What the Numbers Actually Say
Every superlative about MIT turns out to be checkable, and most of them check out. Its graduates post the highest median earnings ten years after entry of any college in the federal data — not among the highest; the highest. It runs the lowest student–faculty ratio of any school on this site. And six admitted students in seven take the offer. What the reputation misses is the aid: for most families who get in, MIT costs a fraction of its sticker price.
MIT admitted 4.5% of 28,232 applicants, and 86.1% of them enrolled. Ten years on, the median MIT student earns $143,372, the highest figure of any US college in the Scorecard. Average net price after aid: $20,111.
At a glance
| Massachusetts Tech | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Cambridge, MA | |
| Undergraduates | 4,535 | |
| Acceptance rate | 4.5% | |
| Applicants / admits | 28,232 / 1,284 | |
| Middle 50% SAT | 1520–1580 | |
| Middle 50% ACT | 34–36 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 3:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $20,111 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $143,372 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,768 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: what MIT says it weighs
MIT drew 28,232 applications and admitted 1,284. Its early round is non-binding Early Action, and its yield — 86.1% of admits enrolling — says more than any ranking: six admitted students in seven take the offer.
| Application factor | Massachusetts Tech says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Very important | 34% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Very important | 27% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | only 18% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Very important | 32% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Very important | 26% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Very important | only 14% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Important | 47% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Important | only 11% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Considered | 40% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Considered | 65% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Considered | 69% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Not considered | 38% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Not considered | 57% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 362 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
Two rows are genuinely rare. MIT rates the interview important — only one school in nine does — and it maintains an interview programme most applicants are offered. And like the other schools at this level, talent and ability sit at the top of the scale, a rating only 14% of schools share. Grades and rigour are table stakes; the file is read for evidence of exceptional making, building and problem-solving.
The admitted middle 50% runs 740–780 on SAT reading and 780–800 on maths — the maths 75th percentile is a perfect 800 — and 83% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score, the highest submission share on this site. Check current testing requirements directly; they change year to year.
Cost
The sticker is about $86,904; the average net price after grants is $20,111. MIT meets 100% of demonstrated need with an average first-year grant of $67,740, and only 12.9% of students borrow at all — the median graduate owes $14,768.
| Family income | Massachusetts Tech | US median |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $93 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $1,480 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $11,555 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $48,479 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
The earnings bar is the national ceiling: a median $143,372 ten years after entry, first among the roughly 1,800 colleges the Scorecard covers. Students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $132,300 a decade after they started. 99% of first-years return and 96% graduate within six years.
The classroom behind it: a 3:1 student–faculty ratio — the lowest on this site — with 67.8% of course sections under 20 students. Campus life runs more Greek than the reputation suggests: 50% of men join a fraternity, among the highest shares anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is MIT’s acceptance rate?
4.5%. MIT received 28,232 applications and admitted 1,284 students. 86.1% of those admitted enrolled — six in seven with an MIT offer take it.
How much does MIT actually cost?
An average $20,111 a year after grants, against a sticker of about $86,904. A family earning $75,000–$110,000 typically pays $11,555. MIT meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Do MIT graduates really earn the most?
Yes, by the federal data: median earnings ten years after enrolling are $143,372, the highest of any US college in the Scorecard. Students from the lowest-income third of families earn a mean $132,300 ten years after entry.
What SAT scores do you need for MIT?
The admitted middle 50% scored 740–780 on reading and 780–800 on maths — the top of the maths range is a perfect 800. 83% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score.
Does MIT interview applicants?
Yes, and unusually, its filing rates the interview important — a weight only about one school in nine declares. Most applicants are offered a conversation with an alum, and it is worth taking seriously.
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