Cambridge, MA · 4.5k students
Trajecta score
-0.3 since '20Ranked #3 of 2,375
5-year trend
89.3 · #1
2020
93.4 · #2
2021
88.9 · #7
2022
89.0 · #5
2023
89.0 · #8
2024
Academic Profile
98/ 100
Career Outcomes
99/ 100
Student Success
98/ 100
Affordability
72/ 100
Academic Investment
100/ 100
Access & Equity
54/ 100
Academic Profile
98
Career Outcomes
99
Student Success
98
Affordability
72
Academic Investment
100
Access & Equity
54
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at Massachusetts Institute of Technology — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$83k / $20k
SAT Avg
1,560
Retention
99%
Grad Rate
96%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$62,396
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$62,396
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
19%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
7%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$14,768
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Important | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Important | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2025-26
school's admissions site ↗Field of study
Requiredapproximately 100–200 wordsTell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.
Pleasure
Requiredapproximately 100–200 wordsWe know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.
Unconventional path
Requiredapproximately 100–200 wordsWhile some reach their goals following well-trodden paths, others blaze their own trails achieving the unexpected. In what ways have you done something different than what was expected in your educational journey?
Collaboration
Requiredapproximately 100–200 wordsMIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world's biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.
Managing a challenge
Requiredapproximately 100–200 wordsHow did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn't expect? What did you learn from it?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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