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If you’re wondering what it takes to get into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this guide will cover everything you need to know about the admission process.
If you’re just here for the requirements, click here.
The acceptance rate at MIT is 4.55%. In the Class of 2028, there were 28,232 applications and 1,284 students accepted. That means your odds of getting into MIT are less than 5 in 100.
Here is a table with MIT’s acceptance rates over the past three admissions cycles:
| Year | Number of Applicants | Number of Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 28,232 | 1,284 | 4.55% |
| 2022-2023 | 33,767 | 1,337 | 3.96% |
| 2021-2022 | 33,240 | 1,365 | 4.11% |
MIT has maintained extremely selective admissions with a consistent acceptance rate near 4%. Even as application volume shifts, the number of admitted students is trending downward.
The median rejection rate of 95.79% across three years highlights just how competitive the process remains. Even a slight dip in acceptance rate or class size can significantly lower your acceptance odds. That means every aspect of your application needs to be well above average to stand out in a pool where over 95% get rejected each year
The Early Action (EA) acceptance rate at MIT is 5.26%. In the Class of 2028, MIT had 12,563 students apply via EA, and only 661 were accepted.
This means applying to MIT early won’t drastically improve your admissions odds. Instead, only apply EA if MIT is your clear first choice and you’re fully prepared to submit a polished application by the deadline.
MIT is incredibly difficult to get into. Considering the 5.26% acceptance rate, 94.74% of applicants were rejected in the Class of 2028.
MIT’s acceptance rate has remained relatively consistent over the past four years, signifying that your application must highlight what makes you unique beyond the numbers.
Estimate your chances of getting into MIT with our free quiz.
Here are the GPA and SAT/ACT requirements to get into MIT. We collected our data with MIT’s 2023–2024 Common Data Set (CDS), a standardized annual report used by colleges to outline key admissions criteria.
The average GPA of admitted MIT students is 3.9. According to the CDS, 97% ranked in the top 10% of their class, 99% in the top 25%, and 100% in the top 50%. This means the average admitted student ranked around the top 5.6% of their high school class.
You should be in the top 5% of your class at a minimum. If your school doesn’t rank, make sure your transcript, teacher recs, and school profile clearly communicate that you’ve excelled academically.
For comparison, the national average high school GPA is just 3.0, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That means MIT admits are performing at nearly a full letter grade above the national average—and doing so while taking far more challenging coursework.
The average SAT score of admitted students at MIT is 1550. By contrast, the national average SAT score is around 1050, meaning admitted students to MIT score approximately 48% higher than the national average on the SAT.
A 1550 SAT score places students in the top 1% of all test-takers nationwide, according to College Board data. This reflects the extreme academic competitiveness of MIT’s applicant pool, where near-perfect scores are common.
To stand out, you should aim to submit an SAT score of 1570 or above, as this is the 75th percentile score of admitted students. This is one way to show that you’re academically prepared for MIT’s offerings.
The average ACT score of admitted students at MIT is 35. In comparison, the national average ACT score is 19.4, meaning admitted MIT students score approximately 80% higher than the national average on the ACT.
A score of 35 places students in the top 1% of all ACT test-takers nationwide. This underscores the exceptional academic profile expected of successful applicants to MIT.
To stand out, you should aim to submit an ACT score of 36, which represents the 75th percentile for admitted students. A perfect score is one way to demonstrate you’re prepared for MIT’s academic rigor, particularly in math and science.
MIT looks for students who are collaborative, hands-on, intellectually curious, and driven by a desire to make a positive impact. MIT wants students who take initiative, embrace risk and failure, and care deeply about their communities.
MIT states that it wants students who match the Institute’s mission and values:
“The MIT Office of Admissions enrolls a talented and diverse undergraduate student body composed of some of the world’s most intelligent and creative individuals interested in an education centered on science and technology. The students we enroll add to a vibrant campus community and will become the leaders and innovators of our global society.”
MIT looks for creative problem-solvers who take initiative and lead with action. Competitive applicants are curious, hands-on, and collaborative. They build projects, solve real problems, and create positive change in the world around them.
If your application doesn't show impact, resilience, and the ability to thrive in uncertainty, strong test scores and grades alone won’t be enough to stand out.
Here is a table with the traits that MIT looks for and how to demonstrate them in your application.
| Trait | MIT Admissions Jargon Decoded | How to Show It in Your Application (Be Specific) |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment With MIT’s Mission | You’re driven to make a meaningful impact, whether on a local or global scale. MIT values practical changemakers. | In your main essay or short responses, describe a specific problem you’ve tackled or a way you’ve helped others. Keep the focus on real-world impact, not abstract goals. |
| Collaborative and Cooperative Spirit | MIT thrives on teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration. | In the activities list, highlight team-based projects (e.g., robotics club, group research). Ask a teacher recommender to speak to your teamwork or leadership in class projects. |
| Initiative | You don’t wait for permission; you start things, chase ideas, and create your own opportunities. | In your short answers, describe something you started (a club, initiative, event, project). Use the activities list to show long-term involvement in self-directed efforts. |
| Risk-Taking | You take bold steps, even when failure is possible, and you don’t hide from mistakes. | Use your essays to tell a story where you failed, learned, and grew. Admissions wants to see your mindset more than your success rate. |
| Hands-On Creativity | MIT is about experimenting, building, and applying theory to practice. | In the activities list or supplemental essays, highlight anything you’ve built or created: apps, machines, art installations, experiments, models, etc. Photos or links help. |
| Intensity, Curiosity, and Excitement | You’ve gone deep in a few areas you truly care about, not just doing things to check boxes. | Use the activities list to show depth (not just breadth). In essays, explain why something excites you, what drives your curiosity, and how far you've taken that interest. |
| The Character of the MIT Community | MIT values kindness, responsibility, and people who uplift those around them. | Ask a recommender (especially a community-oriented one) to speak about your character. In your essays, include moments where you supported or led others with empathy. |
| The Ability to Prioritize Balance | You need to know how to unwind and maintain perspective, not just work all the time. | Use MIT’s “Tell us about something you do for fun” essay to give a genuine answer. Choose something personal and enjoyable, not strategic or impressive. |
The only academic factor that MIT labels as “Considered” is Class Rank. All other academic factors are labeled “Important.”
| Academic | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of Secondary School Record | X | |||
| Class Rank | X | |||
| Academic GPA | X | |||
| Standardized Test Scores | X | |||
| Application Essay | X | |||
| Recommendation(s) | X |
MIT’s admissions team repeatedly emphasizes the importance of intellectual depth over superficial achievement. In an MIT op-ed, Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Services at MIT, highlighted the importance of course rigor with admissions decisions:
“We expect academic excellence, and looking at a student’s transcript – the choice of classes they took and the grades they achieved – is of primary importance … We want students to take the most rigorous classes available in the subjects that most interest them.”
Schmill highlights that Class Rank isn’t as important as taking AP, IB, and honors classes that actually interest you. This is also reflected in the CDS, as Class Rank is the only academic factor marked “Considered.”
Standardized Test Scores are labeled “Important” in the CDS, but MIT consistently frames them as just one piece of a larger puzzle. As Dean of Admissions Stu Schmill explains, “Standardized tests provide an important service for us… but not in a system of strict cutoffs, but as one of many parts of a contextual, holistic review.”
In short, strong scores can support your application, but they won’t be the sole deciding factor, which is likely the reason why this factor isn’t labeled “Very Important.”
No academic factor receives a “Very Important” rating in MIT’s CDS. This suggests that if you’re not part of the 97% of admitted students who rank in the top 10% of their class, there are other ways to help your application stand out.
The only non-academic admissions criteria that MIT marks as “Very Important” is Character/Personal Qualities. MIT also labels Interview, Extracurricular Activities, and Talent/Ability as “Important.”
Here is a look at how MIT evaluates other non-academic admissions criteria.
| Non-Academic | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | X | |||
| Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
| Talent/Ability | X | |||
| Character/Personal Qualities | X | |||
| First Generation | X | |||
| Alumni/ae Relation | X | |||
| Geographical Residence | X | |||
| State Residency | X | |||
| Religious Affiliation/Commitment | X | |||
| Volunteer Work | X | |||
| Work Experience | X | |||
| Level of Applicant’s Interest | X |
MIT admits students who want to make the world better through tangible, authentic action.
The CDS suggests that high academic performance can lead to acceptance into the school, but “the match between you and MIT” is how admissions officers determine acceptance. In MIT’s own words:
“Ask any admissions officer at MIT, and they will tell you that while grades and scores are important, it’s really the match between applicant and the Institute that drives our selection process.”
That match comes down to how well you embody the eight core traits MIT values. This helps you demonstrate your “Character/Personal Qualities”, which the CDS lists as “Important.” Show you’ve made a real difference, even at a small scale.
For example, highlight how you tutored one student in math and helped them get an A on their test. This shows that you’re willing to make a big impact on someone’s future.
Use your short response questions and essays to highlight a cause or problem you’ve acted on, not just talked about. Link your work to real outcomes, no matter how small.
The CDS designates Extracurricular Activities as “Important,” which allows you to prove this outside the classroom. Admissions officers are looking for team players.
Use your activities list to highlight group-based involvement. Your recommendation letters should reflect moments where you led or contributed to collaborative success.
The ideal Massachusetts Institute of Technology applicant:
Here are the application requirements to get into MIT.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Common Application | Not Accepted |
| Application Portal | Required |
| Essay | Required |
| Letters of Recommendation | Required (2) |
| High School Transcript | Required |
| Interview | Optional |
| Application Fee (2025) | $75 |
| Fee Waiver Available? | Available |
| Test | Requirement | Scores Due |
|---|---|---|
| SAT or ACT | Required | EA by November; Regular by December |
| Subject | Recommended Units |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 2 |
| Social Studies | 2 |
| History | 0 |
| Academic Electives | 0 |
| Computer Science | 0 |
| Visual/Performing Arts | 0 |
| Total | 16 |
| Admission Type | Offered? | Deadline | Notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Admission | Yes | January 6 | Mid-March |
| Early Decision | No | — | — |
| Early Action | Yes | November 1 | Mid-December |
Please note that there are additional language proficiency requirements for non-native English speakers and some international students.
To improve your chances of getting into MIT, work with our MIT admissions consultants. Our former admissions officers can help you understand what MIT is looking for.
Here are some of our other top tips for getting accepted to MIT.
Go beyond simply taking AP or IB math and science classes. MIT expects intellectual rigor across your entire transcript, including the humanities and social sciences.
Demonstrate mastery in English and History; use these classes to sharpen your critical thinking and communication skills. MIT’s collaborative, multidisciplinary environment values students who can analyze, write, and present as well as they can solve equations.
MIT values students who are eager to make things. Start a GitHub or personal website to showcase your hands-on work, such as Arduino gadgets, apps, mechanical inventions, or even art-meets-technology projects.
If you’ve participated in MIT’s Maker Portfolio (an optional part of the application), highlight this in your main application and essays. MIT’s admissions officers are known to browse applicant portfolios, so make yours detailed and reflective of your process, not just your results.
Seek out research opportunities that cross traditional boundaries, like bioengineering, computational art, or sustainable urban design. If you can’t access a formal lab, design your own experiment at home and publish your findings on a platform like arXiv or a science blog.
Reference MIT’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) in your essays, and explain how your past research prepares you to contribute to UROP’s culture.
MIT looks for students who make a real difference, not those who simply collect club memberships. Focus on a few activities where you’ve shown leadership or made a tangible impact.
If you love robotics, don’t just compete, but mentor others, organize events, or invent something new. Demonstrate that you elevate those around you and create positive change in your community.
Explore Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s student organizations like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, the MIT Rocket Team, or the MIT Media Lab’s student projects.
Reach out to current students or alumni via MIT’s “Ask a Student” platform by sending an email to askastudent@mit.edu, and mention these conversations in your application. Show how you’ll contribute to and benefit from these specific communities.
MIT is known for its ethical solutions to real problems. Show your affinity for this by participating in local or virtual hackathons, or by designing and building something tangible.
Document your process in a blog or video diary, then reference this in your essay or interview. Bonus points if your project is open-source or solves a real-world challenge, such as automating a tedious task at home or building a device to help a neighbor.
MIT offers free access to its course materials through MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW). Take a class that excites you, like “How to Make (Almost) Anything” or “6.0001 Introduction to Computer Science,” and complete a project or problem set.
Email an MIT professor or grad student with a thoughtful question about their research (after reading their latest paper). Mention this intellectual engagement in your essays to demonstrate authentic interest and initiative.
MIT typically does not award college credit for IB and AP classes as a way to ensure all students “start on equal footing.” However, if you know, you can test out of some introductory courses by taking the Advanced Standing Exam (ASE).
Yes, MIT accepts transfer credits. MIT states that if you gain admission as a transfer student, you "can expect to receive credit for subjects of study that are equivalent to corresponding MIT subjects."
However, if the classes you have taken don't merit credit in MIT's eyes, you may have the option to prove that you are entitled to credit if you can pass the Advanced Standing Examination.
MIT typically releases Early Action decisions in mid‑December. For the most recent cycle, decisions were posted on December 17, 2024, at 6:28 PM ET, with results accessible through the applicant portal. Regular Action decisions are released in mid‑March.
Getting accepted to MIT takes time, effort, and support. Thankfully, Quad Education can help you submit an exceptional application.
Our counselors can help you speak to your strengths and highlight why you’d be a good fit for MIT. Book a free consultation today to learn how we can get you accepted.
