MIT vs. Hunter

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and CUNY Hunter 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

MIT vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than MIT ($4,431 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 41.7% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($11,832 vs. $20,280).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 745.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $55,014 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 307% higher at MIT than at CUNY Hunter College (about $47,064 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (87% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 532.8% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($61,734 vs. $9,755).

MIT vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 290 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

MIT vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $93,300 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $5,768 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($11,548 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($119 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 56%)

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.