MIT vs. Barnard

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Barnard College? 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Barnard College 10:1.

MIT vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($20,996 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are 6.6% lower than at Barnard College ($20,280 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $7,492 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at Barnard than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $7,492 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Barnard College (59% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($63,131 vs. $61,734).

MIT vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT or Barnard? 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 Barnard and MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 30 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

MIT vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and Barnard? 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $75,200 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $531 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($17,316 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($179 vs. $184).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.