Most selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate and admissions profile

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private college in Massachusetts that admits about 5% of applicants, which puts it in the most selective range. A rate like this means it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Massachusetts Institute of Technology weighs, where it ranks among Massachusetts schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1570, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
5%
Most selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1570
of admitted students
Type
Private
Massachusetts
Selectivity in state
#3
of 36 in MA
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Will I get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Massachusetts Institute of Technology, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, your real chance depends on far more than the published 5% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Massachusetts Institute of Technology in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology hard to get into?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is most selective: it admits roughly one in ten applicants or fewer, with about a 5% acceptance rate. At this level, strong grades and scores are the baseline, so essays, recommendations, and a distinctive story are what separate admits.

What GPA do you need to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but admitted students almost universally present a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA earned in the most demanding courses their school offers. Massachusetts Institute of Technology reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1570. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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What Massachusetts Institute of Technology looks for

What Massachusetts Institute of Technology weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Important
Extracurricular activities
Very important
Talent / ability
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1400Well below the admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1550 SAT →Colleges for a 36 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Massachusetts Institute of Technology compares in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks #3 most selective of 36 schools in Massachusetts in our database.

Among the 36 Massachusetts schools we track, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Harvard University (4%) and Northeastern University (5%) sit nearby, which makes Massachusetts a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Harvard University
4%acceptance · MA
Northeastern University
5%acceptance · MA
Williams College
8%acceptance · MA
Amherst College
9%acceptance · MA
Boston University
11%acceptance · MA
Tufts University
11%acceptance · MA
Wellesley College
14%acceptance · MA
Boston College
16%acceptance · MA
See all Massachusetts schools →

Similar to Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Massachusetts Institute of Technology is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Brown University, Dartmouth College, and Northeastern University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Brown University
5%acceptance · RI
Dartmouth College
5%acceptance · NH
Northeastern University
5%acceptance · MA
Princeton University
5%acceptance · NJ
University of Pennsylvania
5%acceptance · PA
Duke University
6%acceptance · NC

Frequently asked questions

What does Massachusetts Institute of Technology value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Massachusetts Institute of Technology weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Massachusetts Institute of Technology consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Massachusetts Institute of Technology's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Massachusetts Institute of Technology specifically.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Massachusetts Institute of Technology's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1570; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.