Admission & test scores

Massachusetts Institute of Technology SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1520–1580 on the SAT. Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 5% of applicants — highly selective. 99% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1520–1580middle half of admits

ACT midpoint—admitted students

Acceptance rate5%highly selective

First-year retention99%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile

1520

Average

1560

75th percentile

1580

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1520 and a quarter above 1580. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 4,535.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

University	Avg SAT	ACT	Acceptance	In-state tuition
University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois	1554	34	4%	$70,662
Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	1553	34	5%	$62,688
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1553	34	5%	$68,686
Stanford University Stanford, California	1553	35	4%	$65,910
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	1553	—	6%	$65,230
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	1553	35	4%	$61,676

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admission: common questions

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

The middle half of admitted students scored between 1520 and 1580 on the SAT, with an average of 1560. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.

What ACT score does Massachusetts Institute of Technology require?

ACT figures are not published for this institution.

How hard is it to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology admits 5% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 99% return for a second year.

Does Massachusetts Institute of Technology require SAT or ACT scores?

This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.

What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.