Most people know that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the foremost university in the world for the study of STEM disciplines, but some may be surprised to learn that the university’s admissions cycle is just as competitive as the most elite Ivies. In the 2026 edition of the US News and World Report’s Best Colleges ranking, MIT comes in at #2, surpassing Harvard and Yale, and just shy of Princeton. As the institution behind many of the world’s biggest advances in scientific knowledge, MIT draws the brightest, most ambitious minds to its Cambridge campus each fall.

What Is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

MIT is located in the Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, MA. The school’s 2024-25 Common Data Set indicates that 4,489 full-time undergraduates call campus home, which breaks down into 2,320 men and 2,169 women. The Class of 2029 represents 49 states and 56 countries, and the most popular names in the class are Daniel and Katherine. 

MIT Admissions Requirements

While there is no minimum GPA requirement to be admitted, many students with near-perfect grades and test scores still find themselves with rejection letters each year. Still, the most competitive applicants have consistently challenged themselves for all four years of high school with the most difficult coursework available to them.

MIT GPA Requirements

MIT admission officers employ a “holistic and student centered” approach to evaluate candidates. GPA is just one of many criteria used to gauge how well a candidate has taken advantage of the opportunities available to them, but it certainly is one of the more important criteria, as MIT’s admissions office notes that “competitive applicants generally have a GPA of 3.5 or above, and mostly A’s in mathematics and science courses.”

Does MIT Look at Class Rank?

According to the 2024-25 Common Data Set, of the 30% of enrollees in the Class of 2028 who submitted class rank, 96% were in the top tenth of their graduating class, and 99% were in the top quarter.

This does not necessarily mean that MIT will only accept students with a stellar academic record, but admitted students who had shortcomings in their transcripts supplemented their applications with strong performances in other aspects, such as essays.

MIT Score Requirements

MIT requires applicants to submit either the SAT or the ACT.

Amongst members of the MIT Class of 2028, 83% submitted SAT scores, and 29% submitted ACT scores (some students, unwisely, submit both). 

	SAT	ACT
Median	1,550	35
Mid 50% Range	1,520 — 1,570	34 — 36

Does MIT Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. MIT does superscore, asking applicants to submit all results from each test sitting, while only considering the highest scores achieved in each section. 

However, submitting multiple test administrations shows MIT that you had to work harder than many to achieve your scores (that’s not a good thing!). Students should submit more than one score report only for the purposes of superscoring.

What High School Courses Does MIT Require?

The MIT undergraduate curriculum requires a rigorous selection of coursework in calculus and calculus-based physics. As such, MIT’s admissions office recommends that all applicants complete the following high school curriculum, which places special emphasis on calculus:

For students in an American curriculum

If you’re attending a secondary school⁠ that offers an American curriculum,⁠ then we look at three main categories of coursework to evaluate whether you’re well-prepared—and well-matched—for academics at MIT: 

Math, including calculus, the analytic foundation of the MIT education⁠

Science, including physics, chemistry, and/or biology

Some challenging courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences

Calculus

We find that students are much more likely to succeed at MIT academically when they have taken math classes throughout high school,⁠ including at least some exposure to the foundations of calculus⁠ by the time they graduate. These cumulative skills and knowledge better prepare students to succeed in Single Variable Calculus, the most fundamental level of math taught at MIT.

If your high school doesn’t offer a calculus class, we recommend some options to supplement your education and demonstrate your preparation here.

Science

Most students who are well-prepared for MIT will have taken at least some physics, chemistry, and/or biology by the end of high school, which builds a foundation for our Science Core.⁠ We recommend that you take at least introductory coursework across all three subjects, if available,⁠ because you will be better set up for success in the corresponding GIRs.

As with calculus, if your school doesn’t offer courses in these areas, we recommend some options to supplement your education and demonstrate your preparation here.

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS)

In order to prepare for our HASS Requirement,⁠ we recommend that you pursue at least some challenging courses in areas like English, history, economics, music, and/or foreign languages…among many other options. 

There are no specific high school courses in these fields that we require. However, students who take few or no challenging courses in these areas may not be well-prepared—or well-matched—for the MIT education, given the extent and rigor of our HASS Requirement.

We at Ivy Coach would not recommend MIT-aspiring high school students to take anything less than four years of social science or foreign language. At any highly selective college, including MIT, admissions officers prize students who excel in core subjects for all four years of high school (and in the case of foreign language study, five years).

For those students who are unable to access calculus courses through their high school, MIT lays out a variety of alternatives that they recommend, such as dual-enrolling in local college courses, enrolling at virtual high school programs, taking online certification courses, and sitting for AP Calculus exams. 

What Extracurriculars Does MIT Look For in Applicants?

MIT allows applicants to list only four extracurricular activities on their application (though there’s a work experiences section, too). This quality over quantity approach stresses deep involvement and passion, not well-roundedness. At Ivy Coach, we understand that all highly selective colleges seek students who pursue their “thing” to the greatest extent possible.

At MIT, this “thing” usually takes the form of some kind of research, invention, revolutionary idea, or niche interest. They want to admit the next generation of Einsteins, Hawkings, and Curies, students who have taken their passions as far as they will go!

MIT Application Requirements

MIT applicants must complete their applications through the MIT application portal, not The Common Application. The application consists of a series of short and long essay questions, a self-reported coursework form, two high school teacher recommendations, and a secondary school report that includes a counselor recommendation.

Let’s focus on each individual component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot of admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to MIT should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers, in addition to their school counselor for letters of recommendation. One of the teacher recommendations must come from a math or science teacher, and the other from one of the remaining core subjects.

Does MIT Require an Alumni Interview?

MIT conducts alumni interviews with applicants “whenever possible.” Many students stress over the unpredictability of an interview, but across all highly selective colleges, the interview component of any given application is one of the least important aspects. Don’t overthink it! MIT puts it best: “as is true for all parts of our application process, just be yourself!”

What are MIT’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Essays, on the other hand, are one of the most important aspects of a competitive college application. MIT applicants have to complete the following essay questions:

For the 2025–2026 application, we’re asking these short answer essay questions:

• What field of study appeals to you the most right now? (Note: Applicants select from a drop-down list.) Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.
• We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.
• While some reach their goals following well-trodden paths, others blaze their own trails achieving the unexpected. In what ways have you done something different than what was expected in your educational journey?
• MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.
• How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?

Depending on the question, we’re looking for responses of approximately 100–200 words each. There is also one final, open-ended, additional-information text box where you can tell us anything else you think we really ought to know.

When are MIT’s application deadlines?

MIT’s two admissions rounds are Early Action and Regular Action. Both rounds are non-binding. In fact, the only difference between them is the deadline: November 1st for Early Action, and January 5th for Regular Action.

MIT Acceptance Rate and Statistics

Just how competitive is admission to this world-class research university? 28,349 starry-eyed high schoolers applied to join the MIT Class of 2030, but only a slim 1,299, or 4.58%, were admitted. This acceptance rate is lower than most Ivies!

How Much Does MIT Cost?

In the academic year 2026-27, the cost of attendance for undergraduates at MIT will be $92,760, including their projected costs for personal expenses. 

• Tuition: $66,720
• Student life fee: $420
• Housing: $14,090
• Food: $8,104
• Books, course materials, supplies & equipment: $930
• Personal expenses: $2,496

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into MIT

81% of Ivy Coach’s package clients earned admission to MIT’s early round over the past five years. The MIT admissions philosophy and the Ivy Coach secret sauce are one and the same: the budding specialists and experts stand the best chance. 

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance in optimizing your child’s case for admission to MIT, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.