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Rank #2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private · Large City · Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Source: Forbes America's Top Colleges 2024Updated: 1/15/2025Enrollment: 11,858Student-Faculty: 3:1

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Key Stats in Context

Acceptance Rate3.8%
Extremely selective

Strong grades and test scores are table stakes — most qualified applicants are turned away

Average SAT1,540
Exceptional

Near-perfect scores are common — testing is a strength of this student body

Average Net Price$19,998
Affordable

Reasonable cost that many families can manage with some planning

Median Earnings (10yr)$124,700
Exceptional

Among the highest earning graduates nationally — strong return on investment

Freshman Retention99.0%
Excellent

Nearly all students return — a sign that students are thriving

Graduation Rate95.0%
Excellent

Nearly everyone graduates — strong academic support and student commitment

Student-Faculty Ratio3:1
Very small classes

Exceptionally low ratio — expect close mentorship and personalized attention

Crime Rate (per 1,000)8.3
Above average

Higher than typical — worth reviewing specific incident types and campus safety resources

Median Debt at Graduation$11,000
Very manageable

Low debt burden — monthly payments will be very reasonable after graduation

Peer Comparison

Compared against similarly-ranked schools

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2
Acceptance3.8%
Net Price$19,998
Earnings (10y)$124,700
Graduation95.0%
Retention99.0%

Stanford University

#1
Acceptance3.6%
Net Price$17,000
Earnings (10y)$97,500
Graduation95.0%
Retention98.0%

University of California, Berkeley

#3
Acceptance11.0%
Net Price$18,400
Earnings (10y)$79,800
Graduation92.0%
Retention96.0%

Yale University

#4
Acceptance4.6%
Net Price$18,500
Earnings (10y)$89,500
Graduation97.0%
Retention98.0%

Program-Level Earnings & Debt

Median earnings and debt by field of study at this school

Engineering$130,000$12,000
Computer Science$140,000$13,000
Mathematics$105,000$10,000
Physical Sciences$78,000$10,500
Biological Sciences$62,000$11,000
Business & Marketing$95,000$11,500
ProgramEarningsDebt

Admissions & Test Scores

Acceptance rate3.8%
Average SAT1,540
SAT Math (25th-75th)780–800
SAT Reading (25th-75th)730–780
ACT Midpoint35
Graduation rate95.0%
Freshman retention99.0%
Student-faculty ratio3:1

Cost & Financial Aid

In-state tuition$57,590
Out-of-state tuition$57,590
Cost of attendance$79,850
Average net price$19,998
Pell Grant recipients18.0%
Median debt at graduation$11,000
Federal loan rate12.0%
Loan default rate (3yr)0.3%

Outcomes & Earnings

Median earnings (10 years)$124,700
Enrollment11,858
Campus settingLarge City
Official sitewww.mit.edu

Campus Safety

Total on-campus crimes98
Crime rate per 1,000 students8.3

Academic Programs

Engineering35.0%
Computer Science30.0%
Mathematics8.0%
Physical Sciences6.0%
Biological Sciences5.0%
Business & Marketing4.0%

Student Demographics

Female47.0%
Part-time1.0%
White28.0%
Black5.0%
Hispanic16.0%
Asian30.0%