IIT vs. MSOE

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology and Milwaukee School of Engineering? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IIT Yes
  • MSOE Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IIT No
  • MSOE No
  • Meal Plan
  • IIT Yes
  • MSOE Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IIT Yes
  • MSOE Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • IIT No
  • MSOE No

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Institute of Technology is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (8,834 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

IIT vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or MSOE? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than MSOE ($24,796 vs. $25,669).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 19.4% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($13,984 vs. $17,356).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $1,906 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at IIT than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $1,906 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology as at Milwaukee School of Engineering (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students ($44,547 vs. $36,997).

IIT vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT or MSOE? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MSOE and IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Institute of Technology (1310) is 30 points higher than at MSOE (1280).
  • Incoming IIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (58.9%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

IIT vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and MSOE? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Illinois Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than MSOE graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $68,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee School of Engineering and IIT graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee School of Engineering and IIT graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More MSOE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IIT students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 81%)

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.