Southern California vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($77,266 on average), while Southern California stops at $25,384.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Massachusetts Institute of Technology: $143K against $92K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (4.5% and 9.8%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1550 against 1495, a gap of 55 points.
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 9.81% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #3). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $92K). Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a larger aid package, lower graduate debt.
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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is more selective (4.55% vs 9.81% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1495).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $92K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 91.8%).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,730 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $68,358).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #3 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | #2 |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 4.55% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 86.1% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | - |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 28,232 |
| International students | 13.2% | 11.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $143K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $88K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $243K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 96.4% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 99% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $14,768 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $64,730 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $68,358 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $29,488 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 11,886 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55%.
Do Southern California or Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $92K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Harvard
Stanford
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina