Harvard vs. MIT

Deciding between Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • MIT 11,886
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • MIT #8
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • MIT -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • MIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MIT $62,396
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MIT $62,396
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • MIT $20,280
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • MIT $20,996
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • MIT $61,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • MIT 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • MIT 28,232
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • MIT 1,284
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • MIT 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • MIT 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • MIT 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • MIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • MIT Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • MIT Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • MIT 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required to be considered for admission
  • MIT Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • MIT 3:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • MIT 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • MIT $142,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • MIT 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • MIT $17,316
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • MIT $179

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 45%
  • MIT 58%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 55%
  • MIT 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • MIT Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • MIT No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • MIT 37%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • MIT 25%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • MIT 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • MIT 15%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • MIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • MIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • MIT 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • MIT 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • MIT 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • MIT 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • MIT 80%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • MIT Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • MIT No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • MIT Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • MIT No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • MIT Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1.

Harvard vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or MIT? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than MIT ($17,525 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are 4.3% lower than at Harvard University ($20,280 vs. $21,190).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $720 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at MIT than at Harvard University (about $720 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Harvard University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($68,015 vs. $61,734).

Harvard vs. MIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or MIT? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MIT and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is the same as at MIT (1550).
  • Incoming Harvard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 35) as students at MIT (35).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required to be considered for admission; MIT - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MIT (3.96).
  • MIT has a higher acceptance rate (4.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Harvard vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and MIT? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (93%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Harvard graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $136,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $10,816 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($6,500 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($67 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.