Head-to-head comparison
Harvey Mudd College vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Harvey Mudd or MIT harder to get into?
MIT is harder to get into than Harvey Mudd. MIT's 4.5% acceptance rate is lower than Harvey Mudd's 12.7%.
Which is cheaper, Harvey Mudd or MIT?
MIT costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, MIT's average net price is $20,111 vs $35,924 at Harvey Mudd.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
MIT graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $138,687 at Harvey Mudd and $143,372 at MIT.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Harvey Mudd | MIT |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 12.7% | 4.5% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1500–1570 | 1530–1580 |
| ACT mid-50% | 34–36 | 35–36 |
| Cost of attendance | $90,165 | $87,310 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $35,924 | $20,111 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 921 | 4,576 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 91.9% | 96.4% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $138,687 | $143,372 |
| Setting | Claremont, California | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
MIT is meaningfully harder to get into. A 8.1-percentage-point gap between 12.7% (Harvey Mudd) and 4.5% (MIT) reflects real selectivity differences. Harvey Mudd is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.
MIT is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $15,813 per year, $63,252 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.
MIT is substantially larger with 4,576 undergrads vs 921 at Harvey Mudd. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Harvey Mudd is in Claremont, California; MIT is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
MIT's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (96.4% vs 91.9% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Harvey Mudd is 50.7% women, 11.0% international, and 20.2% Asian-American. MIT is 48.2% women, 11.7% international, and 35.2% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Harvey Mudd | MIT |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 50.7% | 48.2% |
| International | 11.0% | 11.7% |
| White | 24.4% | 21.3% |
| Asian | 20.2% | 35.2% |
| Hispanic | 22.0% | 14.1% |
| Black | 5.2% | 7.7% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Harvey Mudd vs. MIT?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Harvey Mudd if
- Your odds are realistic at Harvey Mudd (slightly easier admit)
- the Common Core
Pick MIT if
- Net price matters: MIT costs $15,813 less per year on average
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($143,372 vs $138,687)
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- 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
Harvey Mudd College
12.7% accept · Claremont, California
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.