Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus

MIT Admission Requirements

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MIT Admission Overview

MIT admission requirements are extremely competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in the nation. Last year MIT admitted 4.5% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1520-1580 / ACT 34-36. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

MIT requires the SAT or ACT for 2026-27.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/tests-scores/

MIT Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

4.5%

Admission Standards

Elite

Applicant Competition

Extreme

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The MIT acceptance rate is 4.5%. Last year, only 1,284 of 28,232 applicants were admitted. That is the 2nd lowest acceptance rate in Massachusetts and the 8th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into MIT and can you get accepted?

MIT is an extremely competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than one in ten applicants. You have a very low chance of acceptance even if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those admitted, 86% enrolled. That suggests MIT is the top choice for most students who are offered a place.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

MIT GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.96*

Typical High School Grades

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.96*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

MIT has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.96 GPA (A) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. An estimated 3.96 GPA does not by itself determine admission.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 4.0 GPA range.

*3.96 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

MIT Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

MIT requires first-year applicants in the 2026-27 admissions cycle to submit SAT or ACT scores. You should self-report official full sittings of every exam taken rather than a self-calculated superscore; MIT considers the highest section scores across sittings and verifies scores upon enrollment. MIT does not require the SAT Essay, ACT Writing, or ACT Science and sets no cutoff score. Required tests must be taken before November 30 for Early Action and before December 31 for Regular Action.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/tests-scores/

MIT SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1520-1580

Freshmen who sent SAT

83%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 740
Math 780
Composite 1520

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 780
Math 800
Composite 1580

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at MIT typically score around a 1550 SAT (middle 50% 1520–1580) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 99th percentile nationally. MIT ranks #1 in the state of Massachusetts and #2 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1520 to 1580

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Matching last year's 1520–1580 range does not by itself determine admission.

SAT policy

You must send SAT or ACT for 2026-27. Confirm current rules on the school's site.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1550 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1580+	Above 75th	>9%
1550 to 1580	Avg +	5%-9%
1520 to 1550	Avg -	3%-5%
Below 1520	Below mid-50	<3%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

MIT ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

34-36

Freshmen reporting ACT

29%

25th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 35
Composite 34

75th Percentile Scores

English 36
Math 36
Composite 36

Average ACT

Incoming testers at MIT typically have around a 35 ACT (mid-50 34–36) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 99th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. MIT places #2 among colleges in Massachusetts and #5 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 34 to 36

1 9 18 27 36

Landing in last year's 34–36 band does not, on its own, decide admission.

ACT policy

ACT or SAT is required for 2026-27. Check the school's site for current rules.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 35.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
36	Above 75th	>9%
35 to 36	Avg +	5%-9%
34 to 35	Avg -	3%-5%
Below 34	Below mid-50	<3%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

99% of Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Massachusetts Institute of Technology students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	99%
Top 25% of class	100%
Top 50% of class	100%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and SAT or ACT compare with last year's enrolled class. This is not a personal probability of admission.

Open the MIT chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	8,975	17,210	28,232
Accepted	612	606	1,284
Acceptance Rate	7%	4%	5%
Enrolled	497	542	1,102
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	81%	89%	86%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted