MIT vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

MIT vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or RIT ? 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 RIT ($20,996 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 20.4% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,142 vs. $20,280).
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $3,122 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at MIT than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $3,122 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (98% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 76% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($61,734 vs. $35,077).

MIT vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 170 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming MIT students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; RIT - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than MIT (4.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 16.3% at RIT .

MIT vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $77,200 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $10,684 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($17,316 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($179 vs. $289).
• More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 75%)

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.