Temple University
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
CAMBRIDGE, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Temple vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology - US university comparison

Temple University
TEMPLE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance80.45%
Median SAT1250
Graduation rate75%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$64K
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
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Temple University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#401-500 World rank · ARWU #3
- Rank · THE #2
80.45% Acceptance rate 4.55%
1250 Median SAT 1550
75% Graduation rate 96.4%
29,637 Enrollment 11,886

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

80.45% Acceptance rate 4.55%
15% Yield rate 86.1%
1250 Median SAT 1550
3.42 Avg. GPA -
40,817 Number of applications 28,232
4.4% Int'l students 11.7%
$64K Median earnings · 10 yrs $143K
$41K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $88K
$92K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $243K
75% Graduation rate 96.4%
83% Retention rate 99%
$24,395 Median debt $14,768
$40,144 Tuition · year $64,730
$17,833 Avg. aid package $68,358
60.5% % of need met 100%
$41,808 Avg. graduate debt $29,488
$55 Application fee $75
$16,607 Avg. int'l aid $77,266
At a glance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance80.45% vs 4.55%
Yield15% vs 86.1%
Aid$17,833 vs $68,358

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 4.5% of applications, Temple admits 80.5%.

The larger international cohort belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 11.7% of students against 4.4% (Temple).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Massachusetts Institute of Technology awards international students $77,266 on average, Temple awards $16,607.

The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Massachusetts Institute of Technology starts at $86,904 against $58,550 and ends at $18,546 against $40,717 (Temple).

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 80.45% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #3). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $64K). Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 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 Temple for: lower tuition.

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 80.45% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1250).

Graduate outcomes

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $64K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 75%).

Cost and aid

Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 vs $64,730); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $17,833).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Temple Massachusetts Institute of Technology
World rank · ARWU#401-500#3
Rank · THE-#2
Acceptance rate80.45%4.55%
Yield rate15%86.1%
Median SAT12501550
Avg. GPA3.42-
Number of applications40,81728,232
International students4.4%11.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$64K$143K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$41K$88K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$92K$243K
Graduation rate75%96.4%
Retention rate83%99%
Median debt$24,395$14,768
Tuition · year$40,144$64,730
Avg. aid package$17,833$68,358
% of need met60.5%100%
Avg. graduate debt$41,808$29,488
Application fee$55$75
Enrollment29,63711,886

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Temple accepts 80.45% of applicants, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55%.

Do Temple or Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $64K.

How much is tuition at Temple vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Sticker-price tuition is $40,144 per year at Temple and $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Temple and 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Temple or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Temple vs #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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

The average aid package is $17,833 at Temple and $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Compare Temple with
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.