Virginia vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 4.5% of applicants, while Virginia admits 16.8%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 11.7% of students against 4.9% (Virginia).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports aid for international students ($77,266 on average), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Massachusetts Institute of Technology starts at $86,904 against $80,859 and ends at $18,546 against $43,736 (Virginia).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 16.81% acceptance). Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #3). Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Virginia for: lower tuition, 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 16.81% acceptance); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1470).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($143K vs $87K); Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.4% vs 95.6%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $64,730); Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a larger average aid package ($68,358 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Virginia | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #3 |
| Rank · THE | - | #2 |
| Acceptance rate | 16.81% | 4.55% |
| Yield rate | 40% | 86.1% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 58,951 | 28,232 |
| International students | 4.9% | 11.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $87K | $143K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $88K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $130K | $243K |
| Graduation rate | 95.6% | 96.4% |
| Retention rate | 97.9% | 99% |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $14,768 |
| Tuition · year | $62,923 | $64,730 |
| Avg. aid package | $37,123 | $68,358 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,137 | $29,488 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,470 | 11,886 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Virginia or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
It's harder to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Virginia accepts 16.81% of applicants, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology accepts 4.55%.
Do Virginia or Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $143K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Virginia vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Sticker-price tuition is $62,923 per year at Virginia and $64,730 per year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Virginia and 1550 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Virginia or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #3 for Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Which university offers more financial aid - Virginia or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $68,358 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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