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Most selectiveUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

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.

Your odds at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

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
SAT middle 50%
1520-1580
of admitted students
Type
Private
Cambridge, MA
Average net price
$20,111
per year after aid

What do students study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Engineering · 355 (32.3%)Computer and Information Sciences · 342 (31.1%)Mathematics and Statistics · 117 (10.6%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 103 (9.4%)Physical Sciences · 79 (7.2%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 52 (4.7%)Architecture · 16 (1.5%)Business, Management and Marketing · 15 (1.4%)Social Sciences · 10 (0.9%)

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.

Calculate your chances at Massachusetts Institute of Technology →

Your chances at Massachusetts Institute of Technology by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Massachusetts Institute of Technology for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 6 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a 3.9 GPA and a 1550 SAT?

About 10% (Reach), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.9 unweighted GPA and a 1550 SAT, the middle of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 4.0 GPA with a 1580 SAT comes out near 11%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Massachusetts Institute of Technology by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 152025th pctSAT 1550middleSAT 158075th pctNo testtest-optional
3.68%Reach9%Reach9%Reach8%Reach
3.89%Reach10%Reach10%Reach9%Reach
3.910%Reach10%Reach11%Reach9%Reach
4.010%Reach11%Reach11%Reach10%Reach

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology.

How to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Built from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Getting into Massachusetts Institute of Technology comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Massachusetts Institute of Technology carries about a 3.95 core GPA and a 1530 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. At this selectivity that is the entry ticket, not the deciding factor.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1520 to 1580 SAT (34 to 36 ACT). Scores are required, so schedule a retake if you are below the midpoint.

Step 3
Build the file around what Massachusetts Institute of Technology weighs

Massachusetts Institute of Technology rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Selective private colleges admit a larger share of their class in binding Early Decision; if Massachusetts Institute of Technology is your clear first choice and the net price works, ED is the single biggest lever an applicant controls. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Massachusetts Institute of Technology's exact dates at web.mit.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Massachusetts Institute of Technology →Add it to your college list →Official site: web.mit.edu ↗

How many students apply to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and how many get in?

26,914 students applied to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for fall 2023; 1,291 were admitted (4.8%). 1,092 enrolled. A yield that high means most admitted students choose Massachusetts Institute of Technology over their other options, a sign the school is a first choice rather than a backup. Massachusetts Institute of Technology enrolls about 4,535 undergraduates in total, 48% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1.

Applied
26,914
fall 2023
Admitted
1,291
4.8% of applicants
Enrolled
1,092
85% yield
Undergraduates
4,535
Cambridge, midsize city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology scored between 1520 and 1580 on the SAT (average 1560). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 34 to 36. A score above 1580 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1520 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Massachusetts Institute of Technology requires test scores, so plan a test date that leaves time for one retake.

SAT middle 50%
1520-1580
average 1560
ACT middle 50%
34-36
of admitted students
Test scores
Required
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

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 1570 SAT →Colleges for a 36 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Massachusetts Institute of Technology cost after financial aid?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $82,730 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $62,396. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $20,111 a year, and it ranges from $0 for families earning under $30,000 to $48,479 for families earning over $110,000. 19% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$82,730
per year, before aid
Average net price
$20,111
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
19%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$0 (aid exceeds cost)
$30k to $48k$93
$48k to $75k$1,480
$75k to $110k$11,555
Over $110k$48,479

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Massachusetts Institute of Technology student who received federal aid earns $143,372 a year, up from $131,633 at six years. 96% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 99% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $14,768; 7% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$143,372
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
96%
within six years
Retention
99%
return for year two
Median debt
$14,768
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

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 is Massachusetts Institute of Technology's acceptance rate?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admitted 1,291 of 26,914 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 4.8% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 85% of admitted students enrolled.

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

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1520 to 1580 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. A score above 1580 is in the top quarter of admits.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology test-optional?

No. Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports that test scores are required for admission.

How much does Massachusetts Institute of Technology cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $20,111 a year against a sticker price of about $82,730. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $0 on average.

What do Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $143,372 a year among students who received federal aid, and 96% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

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.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.