Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT's value score of 100 actually undersells the story. On the raw math — $143k median earnings against a $20k annual net price — graduates recover the full cost of attendance in roughly two months of their first post-graduation salary. That is not typical for elite private universities. Even Stanford's ratio, at similar tuition levels, comes out lower.
The reason is that MIT's aid formula is aggressive by design. Families under about $100k in income typically pay zero tuition, and admitted students are not asked to take on loans as part of the standard aid package. Median debt at graduation sits around $14,700, which is unusually low for a school with a $60k+ sticker price. Most families with incomes below $200k pay well under the headline net price.
The caveat is admission: 4.55%. For nearly every applicant, MIT is not a strategic bet. If you are the kind of engineering or CS candidate who could plausibly earn a place at Caltech, Berkeley EECS, or CMU SCS, MIT will almost always be the strongest financial outcome of the group. If you are more interested in the humanities or want a broader liberal arts experience, the intensity of the culture is worth honest research before applying.
Bottom line: for STEM-track students who get in, this is the highest-ROI degree in the United States. There is no serious argument otherwise.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology at a Glance
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1861 to advance "useful knowledge", the university has played a significant role in the development of many areas of technology and science.
1861
165 years old
$27.4B
$27.4 billion (2025)
11,816
4,561 undergrad · 7,255 grad
1,090
4.6%
1,334 of 29,281 admitted
168 acres
20 residence halls
56
62 minors
70+
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Official admissions pageJanuary 4
November 1 (Early Action, non-binding, non-restrictive)
$75
Fee waiver available
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
Interview
Fee waiver
Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology Worth It?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $20,111/year net price and $143,372 median earnings, graduates earn 7.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 96% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 5%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $14,768 is manageable at just 10% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Massachusetts Institute of Technology delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Massachusetts Institute of Technology compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 8 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 100 | $20,111 | $143,372 |
| #2 | Yale University | 100 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| #3 | Princeton University | 100 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| #4 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
| #5 | Brown University | 89 | $25,184 | $93,487 |
| #6 | Duke University | 80 | $29,612 | $97,800 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in MA.
Best Programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The highest-earning program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is Mathematics at $120,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $36,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mathematics graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earns $120,300, while a Biology, General graduate earns $36,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Mathematics graduates carry $8,219 in median debt vs. $14,482 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,111/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | $120,300 | $120,300 | $8,219 |
| Computer Science | $118,100 | $118,100 | $12,292 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $116,600 | $116,600 | $13,733 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $88,700 | $88,700 | N/A |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $80,100 | $80,100 | $14,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $78,200 | $78,200 | $10,878 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $75,100 | $75,100 | $13,829 |
| Physics | $73,900 | $73,900 | $13,687 |
| Materials Engineering | $64,300 | $64,300 | N/A |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $62,600 | $62,600 | $14,000 |
| Biology, General | $36,700 | $36,700 | $14,482 |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Cambridge, MA
- Student Body
- 4,535 students
- Admission Rate
- 5%
- Graduation Rate
- 96%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,111
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $143,372
- Median Student Debt
- $14,768