Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs Notre Dame - US university comparison

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Cambridge, MA
World rank · ARWU#3
Acceptance4.55%
Median SAT1550
Graduation rate96.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$143K
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1510
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Notre Dame
#3 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#2 Rank · THE -
4.55% Acceptance rate 11.3%
1550 Median SAT 1510
96.4% Graduation rate 95%
11,886 Enrollment 13,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

4.55% Acceptance rate 11.3%
86.1% Yield rate 61.7%
1550 Median SAT 1510
- Avg. GPA -
28,232 Number of applications 29,942
11.7% Int'l students 7.5%
$143K Median earnings · 10 yrs $100K
$88K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $68K
$243K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $141K
96.4% Graduation rate 95%
99% Retention rate 99%
$14,768 Median debt $19,000
$64,730 Tuition · year $67,607
$68,358 Avg. aid package $67,855
100% % of need met 100%
$29,488 Avg. graduate debt $30,400
$75 Application fee $85
$77,266 Avg. int'l aid $62,803
At a glance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance4.55% vs 11.3%
Earnings$143K vs $100K
Yield86.1% vs 61.7%

The verdict, from the data

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 4.5% of applicants, while Notre Dame admits 11.3%.

Real money goes to international students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($77,266 on average), while Notre Dame stops at $62,803.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology: $143K against $100K.

The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1550 against 1510, a gap of 40 points.

None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.

Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.

EXPERT TAKE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the more selective of the two (4.55% vs 11.3% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#3 vs #301-400). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $100K). Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $67,607 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Massachusetts Institute of Technology for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is more selective (4.55% vs 11.3% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1510).

Graduate outcomes

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $100K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 95%).

Cost and aid

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $67,607); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $67,855).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNotre Dame TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Notre Dame highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Massachusetts Institute of Technology Notre Dame
World rank · ARWU#3#301-400
Rank · THE#2-
Acceptance rate4.55%11.3%
Yield rate86.1%61.7%
Median SAT15501510
Avg. GPA--
Number of applications28,23229,942
International students11.7%7.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$143K$100K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$88K$68K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$243K$141K
Graduation rate96.4%95%
Retention rate99%99%
Median debt$14,768$19,000
Tuition · year$64,730$67,607
Avg. aid package$68,358$67,855
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$29,488$30,400
Application fee$75$85
Enrollment11,88613,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Notre Dame?

It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.

Do Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Notre Dame graduates earn more?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $100K.

How much is tuition at Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs Notre Dame?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.

What SAT score do you need for Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Notre Dame?

The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Notre Dame?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.

Which university offers more financial aid - Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Notre Dame?

The average aid package is $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and $67,855 at Notre Dame.

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology with
Harvard Stanford Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins Washington University Northwestern North Carolina
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.