Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, TEXAS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley
TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Edinburg, Texas
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance94.2%
Median SAT985
Graduation rate50.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$50K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#3 World rank · ARWU #801-900
#2 Rank · THE -
4.55% Acceptance rate 94.2%
1550 Median SAT 985
96.4% Graduation rate 50.9%
11,886 Enrollment 31,864

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

4.55% Acceptance rate 94.2%
86.1% Yield rate 55.4%
1550 Median SAT 985
- Avg. GPA -
28,232 Number of applications 12,137
11.7% Int'l students 1.7%
$143K Median earnings · 10 yrs $50K
$88K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $29K
$243K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
96.4% Graduation rate 50.9%
99% Retention rate 78.9%
$14,768 Median debt $12,950
$64,730 Tuition · year $22,287
$68,358 Avg. aid package $11,242
100% % of need met 72%
$29,488 Avg. graduate debt $14,589
$75 Application fee -
$77,266 Avg. int'l aid $6,258
At a glance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance4.55% vs 94.2%
Aid$68,358 vs $11,242
Tuition$64,730 vs $22,287

The verdict, from the data

Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts most of the applications it receives (94.2%), while Massachusetts Institute of Technology turns away the overwhelming majority (4.5%).

The share of international students differs sharply: 11.7% (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) against 1.7% (Texas Rio Grande Valley).

Average aid for an international student is $77,266 (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and $6,258 (Texas Rio Grande Valley).

The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Massachusetts Institute of Technology lists $86,904 against $37,183 (Texas Rio Grande Valley), but after average aid what remains is $18,546 against $25,941.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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 94.2% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#3 vs #801-900). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $64,730 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.

Choose Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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 94.2% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 985).

Graduate outcomes

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $50K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 50.9%).

Cost and aid

Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $64,730); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $11,242).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Massachusetts Institute of Technology Texas Rio Grande Valley
World rank · ARWU#3#801-900
Rank · THE#2-
Acceptance rate4.55%94.2%
Yield rate86.1%55.4%
Median SAT1550985
Avg. GPA--
Number of applications28,23212,137
International students11.7%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$143K$50K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$88K$29K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$243K$67K
Graduation rate96.4%50.9%
Retention rate99%78.9%
Median debt$14,768$12,950
Tuition · year$64,730$22,287
Avg. aid package$68,358$11,242
% of need met100%72%
Avg. graduate debt$29,488$14,589
Application fee$75-
Enrollment11,88631,864

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.

Do Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $50K.

How much is tuition at Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Sticker-price tuition is $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What SAT score do you need for Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The median admitted SAT score is 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Which university offers more financial aid - Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The average aid package is $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

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.