MIT vs. Harvard

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University? 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
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

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

  • Cost

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

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

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

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Harvard University 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

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

MIT vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Harvard? 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).

MIT vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT or Harvard? 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 Harvard and MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is the same as at Harvard (1550).
  • Incoming MIT students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 35) as students at Harvard (35).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; Harvard - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Harvard 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 85.8% at MIT vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

MIT vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and Harvard? 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.