MIT vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required to be considered for admission
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 58%
  • Rutgers 36%
  • % Women
  • MIT 42%
  • Rutgers 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

MIT vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than MIT ($20,522 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 22.5% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($15,714 vs. $20,280).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 248% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $44,467 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.7% higher at MIT than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $24,955 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 268.7% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($61,734 vs. $16,742).

MIT vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 140 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; Rutgers - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

MIT vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $75,900 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $4,899 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($17,316 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($179 vs. $229).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 68%)

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.