Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Programs & academic choices

MIT’s undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Science, abbreviated SB. The official degree directory spans engineering and science as well as architecture, economics, management, humanities and the arts. The examples below are starting points, rather than a complete course list.

Official source: Degrees and majors ↗

Understand the curriculum before choosing

A bachelor’s degree combines MIT’s General Institute Requirements with the requirements of a specific major. The undergraduate model is a full-time, four-year residential education. When comparing subjects, read both the common requirements and the department’s required classes; the major name alone will not tell you the workload or the balance of theory, laboratory work and electives.

Official source: Undergraduate academic structure ↗

Graduate applicants should consult the individual program. First-year undergraduate dates and charges in this guide do not describe master’s or doctoral admission.

First-year admission & deadlines

Apply through MIT’s own application portal. Published requirements include the application, school report and transcripts, two teacher recommendations, and SAT or ACT results. The application fee is USD 75, with a waiver route available.

The deadline page reviewed does not attach an entry year to this recurring schedule; confirm the cycle in your application portal. Financial-aid submission is separate, with published deadlines of November 30 for Early Action and February 15 for Regular Action.

Official source: Application requirements and deadlines ↗

Applying from outside the US

International applicants follow the same application timing and process. MIT evaluates school records in their educational context and says applicants do not need to convert their grades into the American system. Students already enrolled at another university generally use the transfer route, subject to MIT’s stated exceptions.

SAT or ACT testing is required. English-proficiency results are strongly recommended for certain non-native English speakers, including those who have used English for fewer than five years or do not use it at home or school. Read the language-test guidance for accepted tests and scores.

Official source: International applicant guidance ↗

A useful preparation checklist

• Ask your school how it will send transcripts and predicted or final examination results.
• Check testing availability before selecting an application round.
• Keep admission and financial-aid documents in separate checklists.
• After an offer, use the university’s instructions for arrival and immigration paperwork.

MIT fees & annual study budget

The table is MIT’s published 2026–27 undergraduate annual cost of attendance before financial aid. It combines billed costs and estimated personal spending; it is not the amount every family pays.

Travel varies by home location and is not included in the published total. Check health-insurance charges and any waiver eligibility separately. Actual housing and personal spending may differ from the budget allowances.

Official source: 2026–27 cost of attendance ↗

Financial aid: estimate your net cost

MIT determines institutional assistance by comparing its attendance budget with an assessment of what a family can contribute. The assessment considers the family’s circumstances; it is not a flat discount based only on one income number.

Start with Student Financial Services’ instructions, submit the forms relevant to your applicant status, and request clarification if family circumstances are unusual. Your final aid offer is the useful figure for deciding affordability.

Official source: How MIT assesses financial need ↗

Build a practical budget

• List the university’s billed charges separately from personal expenses.
• Add travel and any costs outside the academic-year allowance.
• Subtract confirmed grants and scholarships, keeping loans separate.
• Plan when payments fall due, rather than considering only the annual total.

These are editorial budgeting suggestions. This guide does not calculate individual aid eligibility.

Research & learning spaces

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) connects MIT undergraduates and faculty through research. For a prospective student, this is a useful route to investigate alongside a major: look at current projects, the skills they need and how students find supervisors.

Official source: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program ↗

Official source: MIT Libraries study spaces ↗

Access to an opportunity is not a promise of a specific paid project, internship or graduate-school outcome. Ask about the conditions of each opportunity.

Housing, campus & contact

MIT’s housing guidance guarantees eligible registered undergraduates housing for eight consecutive academic semesters, subject to the stated conditions; summer is excluded. A guarantee also ends in circumstances such as graduation or cancellation of housing. Check the full policy before planning a gap or interruption.

Official source: Undergraduate housing eligibility ↗

Compare residences by room setup, meal arrangements and daily routine. Ask about accessible accommodation and any specific needs before accepting an assignment.

Admissions office: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room E38-200, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States. Telephone: +1 617 253 3400.

Official source: MIT Admissions contact ↗

Questions for a visit or information session

• How do students balance common requirements with their chosen major?
• How do first-year students find advising and research opportunities?
• What is included in a residence or meal-plan charge?
• Which costs continue during summer or other breaks?

Frequently asked questions