MIT vs. F&M

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Franklin and Marshall College? 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required to be considered for admission
  • F&M Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 58%
  • F&M 22%
  • % Women
  • MIT 42%
  • F&M 78%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

MIT vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or F&M? 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than F&M ($20,996 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 20.2% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,188 vs. $20,280).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $8,398 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at F&M than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $8,398 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (80% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 47.3% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($61,734 vs. $41,901).

MIT vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT or F&M? 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 F&M and MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 160 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; F&M - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 17.1% at F&M.

MIT vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and F&M? 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $80,200 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $4,684 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($17,316 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($179 vs. $227).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former F&M students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)

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.