Faculties and programs of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, entry requirements, admission process, study cost at MIT and other facts
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The institute was founded on April 10, 1861, two days before the start of the Civil War. The idea of establishing a new polytechnic institute belonged to the professor of natural philosophy, William Barton Rogers, who later became the president of MIT. Rogers wanted to create a university with a teaching methodology that is different from other universities: the professor believed that science is developing rapidly, and the classical principles of teaching can not keep up with the real economic situation.
First classes began in 1865. First, MIT was located in Boston, the Back Bay area, but in 1916 the university moved to Cambridge. The institute was favorably different from other universities as it had a practical orientation, in a short time it became a leader in the field of engineering. The beaver was chosen as the mascot of the institute, due to this rodent’s natural talent for engineering.
War and the post-war periods proved to be very productive for MIT. The educational institution has become a platform for military research. During the Cold War, MIT students took an anti-war position. They went on strike, demanding that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology stop all military research. The students were heard, the military laboratories were renamed, but as a result the government greatly cut the funding of the university. However, this had little effect on its subsequent achievements. Today, MIT is considered to be the leading engineering university in the world.
For one and a half centuries, this educational institution has been and remains an innovator in the field of engineering, high technology and artificial intelligence. Also, it was here where Ellen Swallow Richards studied in the XIX century — the first American woman to be admitted to the Polytechnic Institute and to receive a degree.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most famous technical universities in the United States and around the world, an innovator in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence and IT.
| Subject | Place in QS 2024 |
|---|---|
| Engineering & Technology | 1 |
| Natural Sciences | 2 |
| Accounting & Finance | 2 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 4 |
| Life Sciences & Medicine | 5 |
| Arts & Humanities | 7 |
| Type | Age | Duration | Cost/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 16+ | 4 years | 53,450 USD[3] |
| Master's | 20+ | 1-2 years | 53,450 USD[4] |
| Master's at MIT Sloan | 20+ | 1-2 years | 77,168-133,475 USD[5] |
| Doctoral | 21+ | 3 years | 53,450 USD[4] |
The cost of training at MIT is the same for everyone, regardless of the level of training. For master’s and doctoral studies, the amount is usually divided into semesters. The only exception is the master's programs at the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA, Master of Finance, Master of Business Analytics, SM in Management Studies , etc.)[5]. Current prices must be checked on the university website.
| Item | Cost[6] |
|---|---|
| Housing | 8,253-18,135 USD |
| Meals | 1,770-5,960 USD |
| Study materials | 820 USD |
| Application fees | 340 USD (2,200 USD for MIT Sloan) |
| Personal expenses | 2,160 USD |
| Medical insurance | 3,269 USD |
| Total per year | 16,612-30,684 USD |
MIT has five schools. Unlike many American universities, MIT does not limit schools exclusively to graduate programs: bachelor’s studies also take place under their supervision. The schools are divided into departments, which are assigned numbers to denote their respective courses, or programs[7].
Most students attend an engineering school — about 70% of bachelor’s and 45% of master’s and doctoral students[8]. Next is the school of science and the school of management. Among the most popular specializations are computer science, physics, electronic engineering, mathematics and biology[9].
The newly formed MIT Schwarzman College of Computing has a special status. Being a completely new unit that is interacting with all of the MIT schools, the College does not accept students yet, but in the future it is planned to open new programs in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as create interdisciplinary programs from existing courses[10].
| College / school | Founded |
|---|---|
| School of Engineering (SoE) | 1861 (1932) |
| School of Architecture + Planning (SA + P) | 1868 (1932) |
| MIT Sloan School of Management (MIT Sloan) | 1914 (1950) |
| MIT School of Science | 1932 |
| School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) | 1950 |
| MIT Schwarzman College of Computing | 2019 |
The main campus is located in Cambridge stretching along the Charles River Basin for almost 2 kilometers. More than 30% of the population are MIT and Harvard students, making Cambridge a real student city. Bicycles are popular here, the city has several subway stations and it is connected with nearby megalopolises by a railway line and bus routes. On campus there are more than 30 parks and squares, as well as more than 60 art pieces in public spaces.
Massachusetts Avenue divides the campus into approximately two parts: educational buildings — to the east, dormitories and other infrastructure — to the west. The historical Maclaurin buildings remain the heart of MIT, built in 1916 they are connected by underground tunnels. At the beginning of the XXI century, a few additions were constructed designed by the renowned architects Frank Gehry, Stephen Hall and Fumihiko Maki. New buildings are distinct, their modern look contracts greatly with the classical architecture of the Boston agglomeration.
In their academic and research endeavors, MIT students have the opportunity to use the most cutting-edge tools, including high-tech laboratories and coworking spaces. Specialized campus equipment includes 3D printers, lasers, wind tunnels, drone and robot testing laboratories. A special role in the development of research and entrepreneurship is played by interdisciplinary structures such as the MIT Media Laboratory, The Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research, MIT.nano nano-laboratory and others.
Cambridge's vibrant neighborhoods are located around the MIT campus, including Kendall Square, the center of industry and innovation research. Many large IT companies are located here. In the near future, the Institute plans to use Kendall territory for the construction of new facilities: an open venue for public events, a museum, a bookstore, admissions office buildings, a new family hostel, etc.[11]
MIT bachelor’s students are guaranteed to have accommodation on campus in one of ten residence halls for the entire duration of their studies[12]. Freshmen are obligated to live there. With the exception of the female-only McCormick Hall, all of the institute's hostels are mixed.
Since each residence is a full-fledged community with its own unique features, students are offered to choose one upon admission: they study a special guide and indicate priorities for the eight residences they like. Distribution takes place in August via a special lottery[13].
In the second year of study, students can stay in the residence or move to a dormitory, which is at the disposal of any student community with which they associate themselves. These may be fraternities, sororities, or independent living groups — FSILG[14]. Approximately 24% of senior students use this option.
Almost all MIT hostels offer standard rooms for 1-2 (less often 3-4) people with furniture for a comfortable stay. Kitchen, bathroom and shower, as a rule, are in common use. Block type dormitories are also common, where amenities are designed for 2-3 rooms. The cost of living varies from 8,240 USD to 11,790 USD per year[15]. For an additional fee, students can include meals in the dining room in their plan (breakfast, brunch, dinner, and even evening snacks are available). The residences also have study and game rooms, common living rooms, lounge areas, sometimes a gym, dance and/or creative studios and other spaces for study, work and entertainment.
For those who study at master’s and doctoral levels there are six dormitories of block or apartment type, also located on campus. The cost is from 838 USD to 2,083 USD per month.
Two more housing complexes are designed for student families: here you can find fully equipped apartments: from small studios to full-fledged one-bedroom apartments, costing from 1,517 USD to 2,148 USD per month.
Details on campus accommodation can be found on the MIT Housing website.
Admissions Office opens its doors in August a year before the start of studies. By this time, applicants are already advised to take exams and collect documents. Unlike most universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can enroll applicants that are younger than 17 years old if the applicant managed to finish school early.
As a rule, all applicants must submit the results of a standardized American exam SAT or ACT, as well as two SAT Subject Tests: one in maths (level 1 or 2), the other in the field of exact sciences (physics, chemistry or biology). For foreign applicants, there is an alternative: to pass TOEFL instead of SAT (recommended for those who are not very proficient in English and had little practice). For TOEFL exam there is a minimum and recommended score (see table below). There are no such restrictions for SAT, but it should be kept in mind that according to statistics, SAT scores of applicants are extremely high.
In a digital application it is required to indicate the desired specialization, but this is only necessary to demonstrate the current interest of the future student: in the second year, the student will have the opportunity to choose her major without any quotas, restrictions and additional competitions[16].
The process of entering MIT is divided into the following stages:
| Exam | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Based Test (iBT) | 90 | 100+ (23+ for each part) |
| Revised Paper-Delivered Test (rPDT) | 90 | 23+ for each part |
| Paper Based Test (PBT) | 577 | 600+ |
| Stage | Early Action | Regular Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Examinations (one year before the start of studies) | March — November | March — December |
| Application deadline (including all documents) | November | 1 January 1 |
| An interview | November | January |
| Admission Committee decision | mid-December | mid March |
| Submission of mid-term academic performance/deadline for applying for financial assistance | until February 15 | until February 15 |
| Confirmation of intent to study | until May 1 | until May 1 |
| Classes start | September | September |
* The dates must be checked on the university website
If the documents are not in English, then in addition to the originals, it is also necessary to provide translations made by a professional translator or a school teacher (with a signature and the date of translation)[21].
In order to enter one of the 46 master's or doctoral programs at MIT, an applicant must have a bachelor's and/or master's degree in a relevant field. However, the admission process is very decentralized even among the faculties of the same school: some departments require work experience, while others, on the contrary, allow the applicants with no work experience related to the direction of training. Each program has its own online application and set of requirements that should be specified directly on the page of a program.
Particular attention should be paid to the language exams TOEFL/IELTS: in some cases, the selection committee indicates them as interchangeable (or may indicate one as preferred), in others, only IELTS is accepted. The same principle applies to the standardized tests GRE/GMAT: most often the preference is given to GRE.
Most deadlines occur on December 15 and early January, but some programs have multiple deadlines for receiving applications at an earlier or later date. Actual dates must be specified on the program pages.
| Stage | Approximate date |
|---|---|
| Opening of online applications | September (one year before the start of the training) |
| Application deadline | December / January |
| An interview and evaluation process | January / February / March |
| Deadline for submitting a financial assistance request | April 15[22] |
| Start of classes | September |
Main list of documents:
Depending on the program, the list of documents may also include:
Original documents that are not in English should be submitted with notarized translated copies.
| Applicants | Applications | Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 21312 | 1427 (6.7%) |
| Of them foreigners | 4,327,134 | (11%) |
| Early action | 9600 | 707 |
| Regular Decision (New + pending after the Early Action) | 11712 + 6350 | 530 + 190 |
| Put on waiting list | 460 | 17 |
| Male to female ratio | - | 53% / 47% |
| Total | 29114 |
| Accepted | 3670 (12.6% ) |
| Of them foreigners | 42.5% |
| Male to female ratio | 63%/37% |
| SAT part of the exam | Average score (25% -75%) |
| SAT ERW | [730, 780] |
| SAT Math | [790, 800] |
| ACT part of the exam | Average score (25% -75%) |
| ACT English | [35, 36] |
| ACT Mat | [35, 36] |
| ACT Composite | [34, 36] |
| Autumn semester | from September 4-9 to December 9-14 |
| Exams (4-5 days) | from December 13-18 to December 17-22 |
| IAP (4 weeks) | from January 3-9 to January 28 — Feb 3 |
| Spring semester | from February 1-6 to May 10-16 |
| Exams (4-5 days) | from May 13-19 to May 18-24 |
| Commencement (2 days) | from May 26 to June 2 |
| Summer exams | from June 6-12 to August 16-22 |
In January, MIT organizes the Independent Activities Period (IAP). For four weeks, students and teachers are exempted from scheduled classes and instead interact more freely. As part of the IAP, special lectures and workshops are held, students work on individual and group projects, organize their own activities, etc. Participation can earn you up to 12 credits.
During semesters, there are holidays and a short Spring vacation (about 5 days). The summer educational session is intended for graduate students who study on a more intensive academic calendar. A detailed academic calendar for the next 5 years is listed on the university website.
Bachelor’s programs at MIT are characterized by a fairly large set of specializations: 54 majors and 58 minors[23]. All programs are full-time (4 years) and lead to obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. To successfully complete the training, the student, first of all, must master the basic General Institute Requirements (GIRs). This includes the following elements[24]:
Most basic disciplines are taught during the first two years of study. Starting from the 2nd year, a specialized Departmental Program is also added to the curriculum, which corresponds to the chosen major. Throughout the entire period of study, students can expand and deepen their knowledge with the help of electives, as well as acquire up to two additional specializations.
In addition to the academic program, each student has the opportunity to participate in research projects along with the faculty. One striking example is the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).
MIT Schools offer students the following graduate degrees:
A special feature of MIT as a technological institute is engineering degrees, which involve obtaining more advanced knowledge and competencies, compared to the master's programs, in the field of engineering and exact sciences, but at the same time place less emphasis on research compared to doctoral programs. As a rule, education here lasts 2 years. The duration of study for the remaining programs varies from 1 to 3.5 years, depending on the specialization.
Graduate and doctoral students can also choose one of the existing interdisciplinary programs[25] or create their own educational trajectory with the support of the faculty. In general, any program implies the possibility of choosing subjects for study within the various departments, provided that the final curriculum meets the requirements of the main specialization.
MIT is known worldwide as a true forge of gifted engineers, but much attention is also given to the humanities and economics. For example, MIT Sloan School is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world (US News — 1st place, QS — 3rd place), which diplomas are highly valued by well-known companies in all corners of the planet.
Enrolling in Sloan is very difficult, because the admission committee is more likely to select applicants with decent business experience who have professional achievements, excellent GMAT or GRE test results, and good recommendations from employers or professors. An equally important stage of entering a business school is a personal interview, which can be held at the university itself, via Skype or in large cities around the world.
At Sloan you can get a master's degree in finance, an MBA, or even a PhD. The cost of training in the classical MBA program is about 79,000 USD per year[5].
The doors of MIT are open to all talented applicants, regardless of the country of residence. Moreover, almost all types of financial assistance are available to foreign students on the same basis with US citizens. The university admission committee does not consider the size of the candidate’s bank account, but the applicant himself, his potential, ability to think and find innovative solutions for simple problems. Therefore, most of the financial assistance is awarded based on the financial situation of the student (need-based aid).
For bachelor’s programs, the most common is MIT Scholarship, the average size of which is 48,000 USD per year[26]. Scholarships are given to 59% of students. If the student’s family income is below 90,000 USD, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology promises to cover all the costs of student education (the cost of the course itself, accommodation in a university dormitory, travel and meals), which actually allows about 31% of undergraduate students to study at MIT for free. To receive financial assistance, the applicant must provide a package of documents, which includes a certificate of parental income and a bank statement on the status of accounts. In addition to MIT Scholarship, a first-year student may receive a small amount of money to cover the costs of moving (First Year Grant — 2,000 USD).
The US government also offers a number of federal grants for bachelor’s students[27]. One of the most famous is the Federal Pell Grant that offers 6,345 USD. Usually, a student submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) every year, according to which his candidacy is automatically considered for all available grants.
Finally, student loans, which, unlike grants and scholarships, need to be returned after some time, are a fairly common way of financing studies. At MIT, the only loan program available to foreign students is MIT Technology Loan which offers loans with 7% interest for up to 10 years after graduation. Interest also begins to accumulate only after graduation. For amounts over 3,400 USD a surety is required.
At the graduate and doctoral level, financial assistance is provided by individual schools and departments. The possibility of obtaining it largely depends on the specific program. For almost half of MIT students financial support takes the form of paid positions: research or teaching assistants[28]
About 26% of students receive fellowships based on low income, various achievements, and research activity[29]. Future academics are often financed by alternative funds, well-known IT corporations and large research companies, which look after their employees. The amount of assistance may partially or fully cover the cost of training (depending on the scale and importance of the research project)[30].
Some graduate students participate in paid internships or work as resident tutors for bachelor’s students living in a dormitory.
Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are given the opportunity to study at the most prestigious universities in the world. For example, students of years 2-3 with knowledge of the Spanish language can apply for an exchange semester at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain, under the MIT-Madrid Program with an internship included.
Active cooperation in certain areas of education is organized with Imperial College London: semester and one-year exchanges, as well as summer research programs (mainly for engineering specialties) are available for students.
MIT partners also include: The University of Edinburgh, London School of Economics, University of Oxford and many other universities in Britain, Australia and China.[31]
MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) is a widely known program, according to which each year over 1000 students of all levels undergo internships, teach and do research in more than 25 countries. It is worth noting that the program requires the student not only to know the language, but also to fulfill a number of requirements, which include the development of a number of courses and the writing of special course work on culture, history, politics and other features of the host country[32].
Additionally, there are short-term summer and winter exchanges during the Summer Session and Independent Activities Period (IAP).
Double degree programs are especially popular among the students of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university offers several ways to obtain a second degree: choosing the right program at the institute itself (for example, the joint program of the engineering school and the business school Sloan — Leaders for Global Operations) or at the partner university (for example, the joint program of MIT and Harvard — Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology)[33].
A feature of MIT is the ability to take courses in any major and/or minor in nearby universities: Harvard University, Wellesley College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
MIT organizes online training, mainly through two resources:
Graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology are always in demand on the labor market. According to statistics, 39% of bachelor’s students receive a job offer after completing an internship during their studies. About 53% of students find jobs through job fairs, 38% get jobs thanks to MIT partnership agreements, 47% get jobs through the institute's career services, professional conferences or other networking sites. The total amount exceeds 100%, due to the fact that such resources often serve as a substitute for each other.
Of all graduates, approximately 55% choose work, 36% continue their education at MIT and other leading universities in the world (including Stanford, Harvard, University of California, Cambridge and others). As for graduate students, 82% choose job placement as the next step, 13% choose further studies in doctoral studies.
| Degree | Average salary |
|---|---|
| SB | 89,710 USD |
| SM | 105,238 USD |
| MEng | 119,473 USD |
| MBA | 145,598 USD |
| PhD (postdocs) | 64,258 USD |
| PhD (employment) | 122,755 USD |
leading areas of employment are IT, finance and insurance, research. Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates are offered jobs by well established companies such as Google, Apple, Oracle, Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Ford Motor Company, McKinsey & Company, US Air Force, Bank of America, Amgen, ExxonMobil , etc.[34]
Doctoral students receive proposals from the institute itself, as well as from Harvard, Stanford and Princeton universities.
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