School Overview
Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is an internationally-renowned, private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT employs over 1,000 faculty and professors. Previous and current faculty affiliated with the institute include 52 National Medal of Science recipients, 77 Nobel Laureates, 45 Rhodes Scholars, and 38 MacArthur Fellows.
MIT has 5 academic schools and one college made up of 32 departments that offer some of the best science, applied technology and engineering programs of any higher education institution in the world. In addition to premier science and engineering programs, MIT also offers several arts and humanities programs. In fact, many programs at MIT now combine technology and arts to provide students with broader perspectives.
MIT’s new emphasis on art is reflected in its student organizations. Multiple student dance, music, and theater groups are located on-campus. MIT also sponsors intramural sports and 33 men’s and women’s NCAA athletic programs, including a Division I rowing program.
Unlike many other research universities, MIT employs a European, polytechnic education-model that emphasizes laboratory instruction at both the graduate and undergraduate level. MIT students work closely with industries throughout their education and participate on real-world projects in cooperation with top domestic and international businesses and corporations. In fact, MIT researchers have been involved with the development of current computer technology, integrative cancer research, and inertial guidance systems employed in defense research.
MIT is also one of the most entrepreneurial institutions of higher education in the world. Many MIT graduates have gone on to found and grow some of the most successful companies the world has ever seen. In fact, the total revenue of companies founded by MIT graduates is equal to the annual revenue generated by the 11th largest economy in the world. Currently, MIT has an endowment of about $8 billion and manages over $700 million in research expenditures.
MIT is committed to helping qualified students attend who cannot afford the cost of tuition. Nearly 20 percent of undergraduate students come from middle-class families. Most undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarships, loans, or federal Pell grants.
During the 2011-12 school year MIT had an enrollment of 4,384 undergraduates and 6,510 graduate students. With an average annual acceptance rate of 9%, MIT is a very selective university. Students interested in attending MIT are encouraged to schedule an interview with an admission representative. Students applying for undergraduate study must complete all application materials by January 1. Graduate application requirements differ by program.
MIT has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges since 1929.
Academics
The majority of students that attend MIT are enrolled in graduate or professional programs. Classes begin each year during the fall semester which begins in early September and ends mid-December. Between the end of fall semester, and the beginning of the spring semester in February, is a 4-week “Independent Activities Period” that extends throughout the entire month of January. Spring semester begins in February and ends in late May.
Rankings
MIT is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, QS World University, Academic Ranking of World Universities and several other national and international reputable college ranking associations. MIT’s School of Engineering has been ranked number one in the world by both the National Research Council and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Many other MIT programs, including their natural science, computer science, economics, business, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy and political science programs are also ranked among the best in the nation.
Undergraduate Programs
MIT consists of four academic schools, one college and 32 departments that offer 44 undergraduate degrees. At the undergraduate level, MIT only offers the bachelor of science. The most popular undergraduate program at MIT is the engineering program which enrolls nearly 63% of all undergraduate students in one of its 19 degree programs. The second most popular undergraduate program at MIT is the science program offered by the MIT School of Science. It enrolls nearly 29% of undergraduate students. The remaining 7 to 8% of students are enrolled in programs offered by the School of Humanities, Sloan School of Management, Arts and Social Sciences, and School of Architecture and Planning. The most popular undergraduate degrees at MIT are in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.
All MIT undergraduate students are required to complete the General Institute Requirements (GIRs), the school’s core general education curriculum. A major component of the core curriculum is the Science Requirement which is also a prerequisite for students pursuing science and engineering degrees. The Science Requirement includes two semesters of calculus, two semesters of physics, one semester of biology, and one semester of chemistry. The second component of the GIRs is the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement which includes a minimum of one semester of humanities, one semester of arts, and one semester of social sciences. The final general education requirements include a Communication Requirement (which is completed as part of the HASS) and a physical education component which requires all students to complete four quarters of physical education courses and a swimming test.
Even though the difficulty of MIT’s undergraduate programs has been compared to “drinking from a fire house”, the school’s retention rate is on par with other national research universities. Most of the classes at MIT employ lectures, recitations by graduate students, regular problem sets and exams. Even though undergraduate coursework at MIT is challenging, some of the stress students experience is mitigated by MIT’s “pass/no-record” grading system – which reports nothing more than whether or not a student passes the course.
Graduate Programs
MIT’s graduate degree programs are ranked as some of the best in the nation within their respective discipline. MIT offers a breadth of master’s degrees and comprehensive doctoral programs with degrees in social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields. MIT also offers an extensive selection of professional degree programs.
At the graduate level MIT offers academic degrees including the Master of Science (SM), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Science (ScD). Other graduate degrees include Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of City Planning (MCP), Master of Finance (MFin), Master of Engineering (MEng), and various interdisciplinary programs such as the MD/PhD degree that is offered in cooperation with Harvard Medical School.
Graduate admissions at MIT are done through the individual department and/or degree program. The vast majority of students pursuing doctoral degrees at MIT are supported by grants, research assistantships, fellowships, or teaching assistantships.
The largest graduate degree programs at MIT are the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Sloan MBA, and Mechanical Engineering.
Library system
The library system at Massachusetts Institute of Technology consists of five individual, discipline-specific libraries including the Barker Library (Engineering), Lewis Library (Music), Hayden Library (Humanities and Science), Dewey Library (Economics), and Rotch Library (Arts and Architecture). The MIT library system also includes a few smaller specialized libraries and archives. MIT’s library system is home to nearly 3 million printed volumes, 2 ½ million microforms, over 650 reference databases and nearly 50,000 electronic or print journal subscriptions.
Traditions and Activities
Unlike several popular Ivy League and research universities, MIT does not award honorary degrees. Two of the core values espoused by both faculty and students are, technical proficiency and meritocracy. However, MIT did award honorary professorships to Winston Churchill and Salman Rushdie, in 1949 and 1993 respectively.
It is not uncommon to see MIt students and alumni sporting a large, heavy, and very distinctive ring called the “Brass Rat”. The ring’s official name is the “Standard Technology Ring” and while several derivations of the ring exist, they all feature a three-piece design, displaying the MIT seal, the class year, and an image of a beaver.
Campus
MIT resides on a 168-acre campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the north side of the Charles River basin. The campus is split down the middle by Massachusetts Avenue, with student housing, dormitories and student facilities located to the west and the majority the school’s academic buildings located on the east side of campus. The neighborhood surrounding the MIT campus includes a mix of high-tech companies and residential neighborhoods.
While most of the buildings on campus have a name, they’re also assigned a number which typically corresponds to the order in which they were built. Offices and academic buildings are usually referred to by their number and student residence halls by their name. MIT’s campus buildings are connected by an extensive network of underground tunnels so students can get around campus in comfort during cold winter months.
Architecture
MIT’s School of Architecture (whose name was recently changed to the “School of Architecture and Planning”) was the first of its kind in the United States and is well known for designing progressive buildings, as exemplified by many of the buildings found across MIT’s campus. MIT’s first buildings were constructed in 1916 and were named the “Maclaurin buildings” in honor of MIT’s President, Richard Maclaurin, who commissioned and oversaw their construction. The Maclaurin buildings, designed by William Bosworth, were the first non-industrial buildings to be built with reinforced concrete. The Building 7 atrium which runs along Massachusetts Avenue is considered the entrance to the Infinite Corridor, as well as the rest of the MIT campus.
While MIT’s campus is considered a contemporary campus by many, others see it as a less-than-attractive, hodgepodge of disparate architectural concepts and influences. In fact, MIT was included in The Princeton Review list of twenty colleges whose campuses are “tiny, unsightly, or both”.
Housing
All entering freshman at MIT are guaranteed housing for their freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years in one of MIT’s 12 undergraduate dormitories. Undergraduate students who choose to live on-campus in one of MIT’s dormitories can look forward to mentoring and academic support from live-in, graduate student tutors, faculty housemasters, and resident advisors. As students are allowed their preference of on-campus housing, several unique and diverse social atmospheres have been developed over the years. In fact, according to the Yale Daily News Staff’s The Insiders’ Guide to the Colleges 2010 there appears to be a noticeable social difference between East Campus and West Campus. In addition to on-campus, undergraduate housing, MIT also has 5 dormitories dedicated to graduate students and 2 apartment complexes designated for student family housing.
While MIT is considered one of the most prestigious, academic institutions in the World, it is also known for its active and vibrant campus life. MIT has a well-developed Greek housing system that includes 36 fraternities, sororities and independent living groups. About 90% of undergraduate students live in MIT housing, with 50% of the men living in fraternities and over 30% of the women living in sororities.
General Information
Admission Office
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Rm 3-108 Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 (617) 253-3400 Fax: (617) 258-8304 [email protected] Contact: Stuart Schmill Dean of Admissions |
Main Address
77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 (617) 253-1000 |
Size
Total undergrads: 4,153 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 1,048 Degree-seeking undergrads: 4,138 Graduate enrollment: 6,146 Setting Urban setting Small city (50,000 – 249,999) Residential campus |
Degrees offered:
Bachelor’s Master’s Doctoral |
Tuition & Fees
Estimated Annual Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
Tuition and fees | $34,986 | $36,390 | $37,782 | $39,212 | +3.78% |
Books and Supplies | $1,114 | $1,150 | $1,150 | $1,050 | -8.70% |
Living Arrangement – On Campus | |||||
Room and Board | $10,400 | $10,860 | $11,360 | $11,234 | -1.11% |
Other | $1,700 | $1,700 | $1,708 | $1,714 | +0.35% |
Living Arrangement – Off Campus | |||||
Room and Board | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
Other | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
Total Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
In-state On Campus | $48,200 | $50,100 | $52,000 | $53,210 | +2.33% |
In-state Off Campus | $36,100 | $37,540 | $38,932 | $40,262 | +3.42% |
In-state with Family | $36,100 | $37,540 | $38,932 | $40,262 | +3.42% |
Average Graduate Student Tuition & Fees | |
Tuition for In-state Students | $38,940 |
In-state Student Fees | $2,012 |
Tuition for Out-of-state Students | $38,940 |
Out-of-state Fees | $2,012 |
Financial Aid
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students | ||||
Type of Aid | Students | Percent | Amount | Average Per Student |
All students financial aid | 899 | 86% | ||
Grant or scholarship aid | 684 | 65% | $21,439,432 | $31,344 |
• Federal grants | 269 | 26% | $1,906,984 | $7,089 |
• Pell grants | 176 | 17% | $642,528 | $3,651 |
• Other federal grants | 269 | 26% | $1,264,456 | $4,701 |
State/local government grant or scholarships | 25 | 2% | $56,826 | $2,273 |
Institutional grants or scholarships | 641 | 61% | $19,475,622 | $30,383 |
Student loan aid | 262 | 25% | $1,588,654 | $6,064 |
• Federal student loans | 236 | 23% | $1,037,592 | $4,397 |
• Other student loans | 26 | 2% | $551,062 | $21,195 |
All Degrees and Programs
BA/BS | MA/MS | PhD | AA/AS | CERT | |
Total of All Education Programs | 1150 | 1597 | 577 | - | - |
Architecture and Related Services | 23 | 166 | 17 | - | - |
Architecture | 12 | 63 | 6 | - | - |
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | 11 | 73 | 11 | - | - |
Real Estate Development | - | 30 | - | - | - |
Biology and Biomedical Sciences | 124 | 3 | 53 | - | - |
Biology and Biological Sciences, General | 93 | 3 | 41 | - | - |
Computational Biology | - | - | 3 | - | - |
Neuroscience | 31 | - | 9 | - | - |
Business, Administration, Management, Marketing, etc. | 82 | 567 | 10 | - | - |
Business/commerce | 82 | 535 | 10 | - | - |
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | - | 32 | - | - | - |
Communication and Journalism Programs | 12 | 53 | 4 | - | - |
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | - | 31 | 4 | - | - |
Journalism, Other | - | 7 | - | - | - |
Mass Communication/Media Studies | 12 | 15 | - | - | - |
Computing and Information Sciences | 150 | 136 | 45 | - | - |
Computer and Information Sciences | - | 22 | - | - | - |
Computer Science | 150 | 114 | 45 | - | - |
Engineering | 433 | 643 | 284 | - | - |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 56 | 74 | 13 | - | - |
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering | 38 | 13 | 46 | - | - |
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | 44 | - | - | - | - |
Chemical Engineering | 32 | 42 | 32 | - | - |
Civil Engineering | 17 | 39 | 6 | - | - |
Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 67 | 89 | 58 | - | - |
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 13 | 20 | 10 | - | - |
Materials Engineering | 20 | 22 | 38 | - | - |
Mechanical Engineering | 136 | 142 | 49 | - | - |
Nuclear Engineering | 10 | 24 | 15 | - | - |
Operations Research | - | 13 | 5 | - | - |
Systems Engineering | - | 137 | 10 | - | - |
Transportation and Highway Engineering | - | 28 | 2 | - | - |
English Language, Composition and Literature/Letters | 8 | - | - | - | - |
Creative Writing | 2 | - | - | - | - |
English Language and Literature | 6 | - | - | - | - |
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | - | 3 | - | - |
Foreign Languages and Literatures | 2 | - | - | - | - |
Linguistics | 1 | - | 3 | - | - |
History | 1 | - | - | - | - |
History | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 6 | - | - | - | - |
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 6 | - | - | - | - |
Mathematics and Statistics | 116 | 3 | 22 | - | - |
Mathematics | 116 | 3 | 22 | - | - |
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 20 | - | 5 | - | - |
Cognitive Science | 9 | - | 4 | - | - |
Mathematics and Computer Science | 11 | - | - | - | - |
Science, Technology and Society | - | - | 1 | - | - |
Physical Sciences | 116 | 20 | 104 | - | - |
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | - | 1 | 2 | - | - |
Chemistry | 28 | 6 | 34 | - | - |
Geology and Earth Science | 8 | 4 | 5 | - | - |
Geophysics and Seismology | - | 3 | 2 | - | - |
Meteorology | - | 1 | 4 | - | - |
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical | - | 3 | 12 | - | - |
Physics | 80 | 2 | 44 | - | - |
Planetary Astronomy and Science | - | - | 1 | - | - |
Social Sciences | 46 | 6 | 30 | - | - |
Anthropology | - | - | - | - | - |
Economics | 39 | 1 | 20 | - | - |
Political Science and Government | 7 | 5 | 10 | - | - |
Visual and Performing Arts | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Music | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Admissions Information
Application Fee
College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $75 Online application fee: $75 |
Enrollment Rates
Percent applicants admitted: 10% Percent students who return for sophomore year: 98% |
Admissions Considerations
Secondary school GPA: Recommended Secondary school record: Required Recommendations: Required Admission test scores (SAT/ACT): Required College-preparatory program: Recommended TOEFL: Recommended Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2011 Number of Applicants: 17,909 Percent Admitted: 10% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled: 65% |
Test Scores: Fall 2011
SAT Critical Reading
SAT Math
SAT Writing
ACT Composite
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Writing
|
Enrollment Statistics
Undergraduate Attendance Status
|
Undergraduate Student Gender
|
Undergraduate Student Age
|
Undergraduate Student Residence
|
Graduate Attendance Status
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Retention and Graduation Rates
Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
|
Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students
|
Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Undergraduate Majors
Architecture & Related Programs
Architecture B City/Community/Regional Planning B Arts, Visual & Performing Music – General B Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biology B Business, Management, & Marketing Business – General B Communications & Journalism Mass Communications/Media Studies B Computer & Information Sciences Computer Science B Engineering Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering B Biomedical Engineering B Chemical Engineering B Civil Engineering B Electrical/Communications Engineering B Environmental Engineering B Materials Engineering B Mechanical Engineering B Nuclear Engineering B English Language & Literature Creative Writing B English Language & Literature – General B Foreign Language & Literature Foreign Language & Literature – General B Linguistics B History History – General B Liberal Arts & Sciences Liberal Arts & Sciences B Mathematics Mathematics – General B Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Cognitive Science B Mathematics/Computer Science B Neuroscience B Science, Technology & Society B Philosophy & Religion Philosophy B Physical Sciences Chemistry B Geology B Physics B Social Sciences Anthropology B Economics B Political Science/Government B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
|
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Highlights
School Information
Phone Number: | (617) 253-1000 |
Website: | web.mit.edu/ |
Type of School: | 4-year, Private non-profit |
Apply Online: | my.mit.edu/ |
Address: | 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 |
Setting: | City: Midsize |
Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
Student Population: | 11,520 |
6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 94% |
Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 3 to 1 |
Distance Learning Programs: | |
Distance Learning Students*: | 11,474 (100% of total students) |
Degree Levels Offered: | Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
In-state Tuition: | $53,790 |
Out-of-state Tuition: | $53,790 |
% of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 74% |
Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $49,775 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Architecture and Related Services | 2 | 4 | 3 | ||
Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
Engineering | 10 | 12 | 12 | ||
English Language and Literature/Letters | 2 | ||||
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
History | 1 | ||||
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | ||||
Mathematics and Statistics | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 | 2 | |||
Philosophy and Religious Studies | 1 | 1 | |||
Physical Sciences | 3 | 8 | 8 | ||
Social Sciences | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||
Visual and Performing Arts | 2 | ||||
Grand total | 39 | 38 | 37 |
* Based on programs that produced 2019-2020 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
---|---|
In-state | $53,790 |
Out-of-state | $53,790 |
Books and supplies | $820 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
---|---|
In-state | $57,059 |
Out-of-state | $57,059 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2018-2019
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
---|---|---|---|
Any student financial aid | 825 | 74% | – |
Grant or scholarship aid | 666 | 60% | $49,775 |
Student loan aid | 100 | 9% | $8,568 |
All Undergraduate Students
Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
---|---|---|---|
Grant or scholarship aid | 2,981 | 65% | $46,952 |
Federal student loans | 432 | 9% | $6,057 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled Massachusetts Institute of Technology students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2020
Total | Male | Female | |
---|---|---|---|
Number of applicants | 21,312 | 14,522 | 6,790 | Percent admitted | 100% | 5% | 11% |
Percent admitted who enrolled | 5% | 4% | 8% |
Admissions Considerations
Required | Recommended | Optional | |
---|---|---|---|
Secondary school GPA | |||
Secondary school rank | |||
Secondary school record | |||
Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
Recommendations | |||
Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
Admission test scores | |||
Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Enrollment, Fall 2020
Total Enrollment | 11,520 |
---|---|
Undergraduate enrollment | 4,530 |
Graduate enrollment | 6,990 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Accreditation
This institution is accredited by New England Commission of Higher Education
Specialized institution accreditations:
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
If you work for a school and would like to update your data please contact us.
Recent Comments