Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Massachusetts Institute of Technology #57 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $161,961, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects Massachusetts Institute of Technology's concentration in engineering and applied science fields driving its earnings profile. --- Students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn far above what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, a gap that reflects the institution's deep concentration in engineering and applied science — fields where early-career earnings are among the strongest in the country. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $161,961, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with program-level strength in Computer Science anchoring the institution's return profile.
Azimuth ranks Massachusetts Institute of Technology #57 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology enrolls roughly 4,535 undergraduates. Retention is 99.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 96.4%, figures that place the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Massachusetts Institute of Technology performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts Institute of Technology #1 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $161,961, and graduates earn about $64,343 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Engineering anchors the degree portfolio, and the institution's concentration in engineering, computer science, and quantitative fields drives much of that earnings strength. The composite is shaped by trade-offs in access and affordability. Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits about 4.5% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (19.3% Pell, 25.9% first-generation). Access sits in the 81.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability sits in the 64.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes are notably strong at the 71.0 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the fact that students who do enroll — including those from lower-income backgrounds — achieve substantial long-term financial outcomes.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology publishes a cost of attendance of $82,730, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately −$2,533 per year in net price — a figure that reflects MIT's deep commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need. Middle-income families see annual costs around $1,480, while higher-income families pay approximately $48,479. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts Institute of Technology #510 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay is one of the defining features of MIT's financial aid structure; the net price illusion is especially pronounced here, where published costs bear little resemblance to what low- and middle-income students pay. MIT's aid program is need-based, with no merit component, and the institution has historically committed to meeting full demonstrated need for all admitted domestic undergraduates. Families apply through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and aid packages are structured to minimize loan obligations for qualifying students. The result is that net price for low-income students is among the lowest in the Azimuth coverage set — a meaningful advantage given the institution's cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,768, well below the peer median of $24,250 among comparable institutions — a reflection of MIT's aid generosity rather than low sticker price. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,501; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $161,961, median federal debt of $14,768 projects to a monthly payment of about $167 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, computer science, and applied sciences who want a private research university experience in Cambridge, MA, and who are prepared for a highly selective admissions process — the institution admits about 4.5% of applicants. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $161,961, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Massachusetts Institute of Technology also sits in the 100.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $64,343 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the institution's outcomes hold up even after accounting for the academic profile of its incoming students. The aid structure is need-based and broad in reach for those who qualify. 19.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 25.9% are first-generation students — a meaningful access footprint for a highly selective private institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology also sits in the 99.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, suggesting that Pell-eligible students who enroll convert their degrees into strong long-term financial outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the admit rate makes the application process among the most competitive in the country, and the program portfolio is concentrated heavily in Engineering and related technical fields — students whose academic interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes here.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology publishes a cost of attendance of $82,730, but need-based aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately −$2,533 per year in net price — a figure that reflects MIT's deep commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need.
Middle-income families see annual costs around $1,480, while higher-income families pay approximately $48,479. Azimuth ranks Massachusetts Institute of Technology #510 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay is one of the defining features of MIT's financial aid structure; the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is especially pronounced here, where published costs bear little resemblance to what low- and middle-income students pay. MIT's aid program is need-based, with no merit component, and the institution has historically committed to meeting full demonstrated need for all admitted domestic undergraduates.
Families apply through the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and aid packages are structured to minimize loan obligations for qualifying students. The result is that net price for low-income students is among the lowest in the Azimuth coverage set — a meaningful advantage given the institution's cost of attendance.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,768, well below the peer median of $24,250 among comparable institutions — a reflection of MIT's aid generosity rather than low sticker price. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,501; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $161,961, median federal debt of $14,768 projects to a monthly payment of about $167 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn median earnings of $161,961 four years after enrollment, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $64,343 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 100.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Low-income graduates earn median earnings of $132,300 on a [historical ten-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/), placing this cohort in the 99.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Massachusetts Institute of Technology's deep concentration in quantitative and technical fields. Engineering is the dominant program family, representing 31% of degree output, followed by other STEM fields at 7% and Social Sciences at 6%.
Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 384 graduates earning median earnings of $225,141 — 2.1x the national benchmark for the field.
Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 142 graduates earning median earnings of $131,967, and Azimuth ranks Mathematics #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 126 graduates earning median earnings of $174,951. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering adds further depth, with 73 graduates earning median earnings of $161,118 — 1.6x the national benchmark for the field.
Computer Science
384 graduates
Mathematics
126 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
73 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
11 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
142 graduates
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's program mix is defined by its Engineering concentration, with Engineering accounting for 31% of graduates — a share that shapes the institution's earnings profile and national reputation. Other STEM fields represents 7% of degrees and Social Sciences accounts for 6%, rounding out a portfolio heavily weighted toward quantitative and technical fields.
Across 31 programs serving roughly 1,353 students annually, 9 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — and several sit at or near the top nationally. The earnings and ranking concentration is striking.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #3 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 384 graduates earning $225,141 — the highest four-year earnings at the institution. Azimuth ranks Mathematics #3 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $174,951, and Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #4 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning $161,118.
Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with strong pay, graduating 384 students annually at median earnings of $225,141 — making it the institution's primary driver of aggregate economic return. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #3 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Many of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Mathematics, fields where employer demand remains strong and starting compensation reflects that. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, with 73 graduates earning $161,118, and Economics represent fields where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school, meaning four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Massachusetts Institute of Technology's dominant program families align with national wage trends and hiring demand. ```
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin W Olin College Of Engineering Higher acceptance rate (16.9 percentage points higher) and located 10 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 22% | $129,455 | Compare |
Mcphs University Higher acceptance rate (80.5 percentage points higher) and located 2 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 85% | $125,557 | Compare |
Babson College Higher acceptance rate (15 percentage points higher) and located 10 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 20% | $123,938 | Compare |
University Of Health Sciences And Pharmacy In St. Louis Higher acceptance rate (70.4 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MO | 75% | $137,047 | Compare |
Albany College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences Higher acceptance rate (54.3 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | NY | 59% | $131,426 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia University In The City Of New York Similar quality tier in Northeast (#2107 ranked) | NY | 4% | $102,491 | #2107 | Compare |
Yale University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4165 ranked) | CT | 4% | $100,533 | #4165 | Compare |
Rice University Similar quality tier (#4171 ranked) | TX | 8% | $89,718 | #4171 | Compare |
Vanderbilt University Similar quality tier (#4172 ranked) | TN | 6% | $91,565 | #4172 | Compare |
University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier in Northeast (#1584 ranked) | PA | 5% | $111,371 | #1584 | Compare |
