Harvard vs. MIT

Should I go to Harvard University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard or MIT is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Harvard University vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology comparison
Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Overview

Harvard MIT
Location Cambridge, MA Cambridge, MA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,631 11,858
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #8
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu mit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard MIT
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $57,590
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $57,590
Room & Board $19,502 $18,790
Avg Net Price $19,491 $20,232
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $45,591
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 71%

Admission

Harvard MIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 33,767
Admitted 1,984 1,337
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 4%
Enrolled % 83% 85%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.96
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 34/36 35/36
SAT Range 1490/1580 1530/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Harvard MIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 3:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Harvard MIT
Graduation Rate 97% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $142,100
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $17,316
Median Loan Payment $67 $179

Diversity

Harvard MIT
% Men 46% 57%
% Women 54% 43%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 37%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 10% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 6%
% International 11% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Harvard MIT
% In-State 15% 7%
% Out-of-State 69% 81%

Campus

Harvard MIT
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than MIT based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 11,858 students)

Harvard vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or MIT?

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 9.4% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($57,590.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.4% higher at MIT than Harvard University ($57,590.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than MIT ($19,491 vs. $20,232)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are 3.8% lower than costs at Harvard University ($18,790 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Harvard University (71% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 35.6% larger than aid received Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($61,801 vs. $45,591)

Harvard vs. MIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or MIT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MIT or Harvard .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1507) is 10 points higher than at Harvard (1497)
  • Incoming Harvard students have at the same average ACT score (34) as students at MIT (34)
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MIT (3.96)
  • MIT has a higher acceptance rate (4%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard or MIT? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MIT and Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Massachusetts Institute of Technology (97% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn on average $5,400 more per year than Harvard graduates after ten years. ($142,100 vs. $136,700)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $10,816 lower median federal student loan debt than MIT graduates. ($6,500 vs. $17,316)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $112 less per month on federal student loans than MIT graduates. ($67 vs. $179)
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/