Is Harvard or MIT harder to get into?

Harvard is harder to get into than MIT. Harvard's 3.6% acceptance rate is lower than MIT's 4.5%.

Which is cheaper, Harvard or MIT?

Harvard costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Harvard's average net price is $19,066 vs $20,111 at MIT.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Harvard or MIT?

MIT graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $101,817 at Harvard and $143,372 at MIT.

Harvard vs. MIT: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Harvard	MIT
Acceptance rate	3.6%	4.5%
SAT mid-50%	1500–1580	1530–1580
ACT mid-50%	34–36	35–36
Cost of attendance	$82,950	$87,310
Avg net price (after aid)	$19,066	$20,111
Undergrad enrollment	7,240	4,576
6-yr graduation rate	97.6%	96.4%
Median earnings (10yr)	$101,817	$143,372
Setting	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Harvard's 3.6% acceptance rate and MIT's 4.5% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Net cost is essentially the same at both schools after grants and scholarships, despite different sticker prices. Both schools meet most demonstrated need for in-range income brackets.

MIT graduates earn $41,555 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Harvard grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Harvard is substantially larger with 7,240 undergrads vs 4,576 at MIT. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Harvard is 53.8% women, 14.6% international, and 22.4% Asian-American. MIT is 48.2% women, 11.7% international, and 35.2% Asian-American.

Demographic	Harvard	MIT
Women	53.8%	48.2%
International	14.6%	11.7%
White	30.9%	21.3%
Asian	22.4%	35.2%
Hispanic	11.9%	14.1%
Black	8.9%	7.7%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Harvard vs. MIT?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

Run the calculator

The Verdict

Pick Harvard if

Net price matters: Harvard costs $1,045 less per year on average
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the residential Houses system

Pick MIT if

Your odds are realistic at MIT (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($143,372 vs $101,817)
hands-on UROP research

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Harvard University

3.6% accept · Cambridge, Massachusetts

Full profile

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

4.5% accept · Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

Keep going

Calculate your odds All colleges Most selective Best financial aid Highest earnings

Harvard University vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology