National University (NU) vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

National University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, stand apart in their offerings and student experiences. National University, a private, nonprofit university, boasts an open admissions policy, welcoming students from all backgrounds. In contrast, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a prestigious private research university, is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of just 7%. While both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, National University is known for its flexible online learning options, while MIT excels in STEM fields, consistently ranking among the world's top universities for engineering and technology. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional institutions, including popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

National University logo

National University

Overview

Location Cambridge, Massachusetts La Jolla, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Non Traditional
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 100.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.1% 54.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 33,240 154
Total number of admissions given out 1,365 84
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,177 38
Yield rate 86.2% 45.2%
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 $36,459
Average net price $30,958 $9,966
Tuition $55,510 $13,320
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,550

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $32,562
100.0%
Average amount $8,610
Students receiving federal student loan 6.0%
Average amount $5,112
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $17,891

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
7,648
Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
Graduate students 7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
9,487
Men 28.7% Women 71.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 29.2% 0.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,280 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas New York Florida New Jersey N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 96.2% 46.7%
Dropout rate 3.0% N/A
Transferred out N/A 43.3%
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
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,452
  • Year 2: $81,333
  • Year 3: $97,514
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,429
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $94,326
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,563
  • Year 2: $84,367
  • Year 3: $90,127
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,898
  • Year 2: $83,505
  • Year 3: $87,794
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,729
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $82,008
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,709
  • Year 2: $66,821
  • Year 3: $81,966
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,545
  • Year 2: $75,989
  • Year 3: $77,049
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,576
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $76,724
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,716
  • Year 2: $65,238
  • Year 3: $74,055
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,949
  • Year 2: $65,657
  • Year 3: $73,109

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