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Cambridge, MA · Cambridge, MA
| Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $19,066/yr | $20,111/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,697/yr | -$2,533/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $14,000 | $14,768 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $2,991/yr | $93/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $2,091/yr | $1,480/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $9,941/yr | $11,555/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $53,337/yr | $48,479/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $148/mo | $157/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $21,190/yr | $20,280/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | No data reported | $20,280/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $910/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,449/yr | $2,374/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $85,540/yr | $82,730/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $61,676/yr | $62,396/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $61,676/yr | $62,396/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 4.4% | 6.7% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 3.7% | 4.6% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1510–1580 | 1520–1580 |
| SAT average | 1553 | 1560 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 34–36 | 34–36 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 35–36 · Math 32–36 | English 35–36 · Math 35–36 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 56,937 | 26,904 |
| Students accepted | 1,965 | 1,274 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,645 | 1,091 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 84% | 86% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 52% | 83% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 22% | 31% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Required | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 98% | 96% |
| Freshmen who come back | 98% | 99% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $101,817/yr | $143,372/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $65,309–$200,054 | $88,222–$243,025 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 99% | 96% |
| White students graduating | 98% | 95% |
| Black students graduating | 94% | 95% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 97% | 95% |
| Asian students graduating | 98% | 99% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $99,572/yr | $131,633/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 89% | 93% |
| Graduate on time | 56% | 83% |
| Pell students who graduate | 95% | 93% |
| First-gen students who finish | 87% | 91% |
| Low-income students who finish | 86% | 91% |
| Students who transfer out | 0.1% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $101,095/yr | $135,278/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 27% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 13% · Mathematics & Statistics 11% | Computer & Information Sciences 35% · Engineering 27% · Mathematics & Statistics 10% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 27% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 35% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 13% of degrees | Engineering — 27% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Mathematics & Statistics — 11% of degrees | Mathematics & Statistics — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 10% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | History — 7% of degrees | Physical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Engineering — $177,890/yr | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods — $204,731/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 44% | 83% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,601 | 4,535 |
| Students per professor | 7 : 1 | 3 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 21,415 | 7,351 |
| Average professor pay | $25,048/mo | $24,177/mo |
| Full-time professors | 87% | 99% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $33,066 | $53,870 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Cambridge, MA | Cambridge, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1636 | 1861 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 12% |
| Men | 46% | 52% |
| Women | 54% | 48% |
| White students | 31% | 21% |
| Black students | 8.9% | 7.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 14% |
| Asian students | 22% | 35% |
| Two or more races | 7.5% | 6.8% |
| Other / not reported | 4% | 3.3% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 26% | 26% |
| Part-time students | 6.4% | 1% |
| Students age 25+ | 17% | 0.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $51,780/yr | $99,057/yr |
| Endowment | $53.2B | $24.6B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 14,344 | 7,610 |
| Required to live on campus | Yes — for first-year students | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $12,424/yr | $12,380/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,950/yr | $7,010/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | No | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | No |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 36 | 32 |
| Student athletes | 1,058 | 799 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $47.7M | $9.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $47.7M | $9.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $2.0M | $91,256 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.