Stanford vs. MIT vs. Harvard

Compare Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Stanford University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Stanford 18,625
  • MIT 11,886
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Stanford #3
  • MIT #8
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Stanford -
  • MIT -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Stanford
  • MIT
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • MIT $62,396
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • MIT $62,396
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Stanford $21,315
  • MIT $20,280
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Stanford $25,078
  • MIT $20,996
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Stanford $62,755
  • MIT $61,734
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Stanford 61%
  • MIT 59%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Stanford 57,326
  • MIT 28,232
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Stanford 2,067
  • MIT 1,284
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Stanford 1550
  • MIT 1550
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Stanford 34
  • MIT 35
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Stanford 3.96
  • MIT 3.96
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Stanford A
  • MIT A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Stanford Elite
  • MIT Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Stanford Extreme
  • MIT Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Stanford 34/35
  • MIT 34/36
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Stanford Required
  • MIT Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Stanford 6:1
  • MIT 3:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • 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
  • Stanford 96%
  • MIT 93%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Stanford $122,900
  • MIT $142,100
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Stanford 88%
  • MIT 92%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Stanford $12,475
  • MIT $17,316
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Stanford $128
  • MIT $179
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Stanford 52%
  • MIT 56%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Stanford 48%
  • MIT 44%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Stanford Very High
  • MIT Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Stanford No
  • MIT No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Stanford 37%
  • MIT 37%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Stanford 20%
  • MIT 25%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Stanford 6%
  • MIT 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Stanford 15%
  • MIT 15%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Stanford 1%
  • MIT 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Stanford 0%
  • MIT 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Stanford 10%
  • MIT 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Stanford 9%
  • MIT 10%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Stanford 0%
  • MIT 2%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Stanford 38%
  • MIT 8%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Stanford 45%
  • MIT 80%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

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

Stanford vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Stanford or MIT? 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 Stanford ($20,996 vs. $25,078).
  • 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).
  • Stanford University is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $3,514 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Stanford than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $3,514 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • 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).

Stanford vs. MIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Stanford or MIT? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MIT and Stanford.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is the same as at MIT (1550).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Stanford).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Stanford University 1510/1580; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Stanford University 34/35; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Stanford - Required; MIT - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Stanford Jan 2, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Stanford students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at MIT (3.96).
  • MIT has a higher acceptance rate (4.5%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 81.9% at Stanford vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Stanford vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Stanford and MIT? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (93%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $19,200 more per year than Stanford graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $122,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.