Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) vs Berkeley

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley) stand as two of the most prestigious universities in the world, each offering a unique educational experience. MIT, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its rigorous academics, particularly in STEM fields, while UC Berkeley, a public research university in Berkeley, California, boasts a diverse range of academic programs and a vibrant campus culture. With acceptance rates of 4.1% and 16.3%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective, attracting top students from around the globe. MIT's student body is predominantly male (63%) and Asian (43%), while UC Berkeley's student body is more gender-balanced (51% female) and ethnically diverse (38% Asian, 26% White, 15% Hispanic/Latino). Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two exceptional universities and discover which one aligns best with
Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Overview

Location Cambridge, Massachusetts Berkeley, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 96.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.1% 14.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 33,240 112,843
Total number of admissions given out 1,365 16,295
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,177 6,931
Yield rate 86.2% 42.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $58,920
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
Average net price $30,958 $17,652
Tuition $55,510
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,550

Meal plan: $6,550
$20,236
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $32,562
52.0%
Average amount $21,406
Students receiving federal student loan 6.0%
Average amount $5,112
15.0%
Average amount $4,586
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $17,891
6.0%
Average amount $7,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students 7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 16.9%
International students 29.2% 18.0%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 6,280 9,630
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas New York Florida New Jersey California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 96.2% 92.8%
Dropout rate 3.0% 6.3%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $144,716
  • Year 2: $150,045
  • Year 3: $183,153
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $170,089
  • Year 2: $165,236
  • Year 3: $182,183
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,191
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $163,496
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,796
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $155,540
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,685
  • Year 2: $137,214
  • Year 3: $155,079
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,229
  • Year 2: $121,226
  • Year 3: $139,548
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $141,603
  • Year 2: $126,504
  • Year 3: $132,987
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $112,885
  • Year 3: $124,425
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,266
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $112,404
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,955
  • Year 2: $104,749
  • Year 3: $109,672
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543

Compare Similar Colleges

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