MIT vs. Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Stanford University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Stanford (3.6% admitted vs 4.5%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1550.
  • Cheaper after aid: MIT. Average net price is $20,996 vs $25,078 at Stanford.
  • Graduation: MIT 93% vs Stanford 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MIT $142,100 vs Stanford $122,900 (median).
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Key differences

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stanford University
Acceptance rate
Stanford more selective
MIT4.5%
Stanford3.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
MIT higher
MIT1520-1580
Stanford1510-1580
Average net price
MIT $4,082 less
MIT$20,996
Stanford$25,078
In-state tuition
MIT $3,514 less
MIT$62,396
Stanford$65,910
Out-of-state tuition
MIT $3,514 less
MIT$62,396
Stanford$65,910
Graduation rate
Stanford +3 pts
MIT93%
Stanford96%
Median earnings (10 years)
MIT +$19,200
MIT$142,100
Stanford$122,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Stanford 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical high school grades
  • MIT A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • SAT range
  • MIT 1520-1580
  • Stanford 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • MIT 34-36
  • Stanford 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • MIT Required
  • Stanford Required
  • Application deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average net price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average grant aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Stanford 61%
  • Graduation rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median student loan debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median loan payment
  • MIT $179
  • Stanford $128
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Stanford #3

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 11,886 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are 4.9% lower than at Stanford University ($20,280 vs. $21,315).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Stanford than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $3,514 more per year; $65,910 vs. $62,396).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (61% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($62,755 vs. $61,734).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at MIT than at Stanford (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at both MIT and Stanford.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman MIT students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at Stanford (3.96).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $4,841 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($12,475 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($128 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 88%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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