Harvard University vs MIT

Education is a long-term investment in your future. Consider the reputation and resources of a university before enrolling. Then consider how you may contribute and grow as a student and leader at that university.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard are two prestigious universities known for their outstanding academics, illustrious faculty, and vibrant communities. They frequently rank at the top of national college rankings. Let's look at which university is better: Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Harvard? Which, more importantly, is a better match for you?

What is an Ivy League School?

The Ivy League was founded in 1954 and was originally used to refer to institutions that excelled in sports such as basketball and hockey. Ivy League schools is a term that has come to be linked with outstanding educational standards, it wouldn't be surprising if one question why famous college like MIT is not a member of the Ivy League.

Why is MIT not an Ivy League?

There is currently no method to get into the Ivy League as it requires being in a precise condition at a specific period. When the Ivy League was founded, MIT was not among the Ivy League schools since it did not have great athletic performances.

Harvard University vs MIT

Students often favor one of these colleges over the other because each has its own academic and extracurricular programs. What distinguishes each university and how do you choose the perfect one for you? Is Harvard better than MIT? Let's look at the general overview of each school.

Overview:

Harvard University;

Harvard University is regarded as one of the most prominent and well-known academic institutions in the world given that it has always ranked among the top 10 educational institution in the world. The private liberal arts institution offers four-year undergraduate programs and 11 postgraduate schools, including a business school, law school, medical school, and John F. Kennedy School of Government. It was named after the college's first patron, John Harvard, a young preacher who left his library and a portion of his wealth to the college when he died in 1638.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology;

MIT is one of the most prestigious private colleges in USA. The independent, coeducational university places a major emphasis on scientific and technological research. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

MIT offers undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate degree programs through its 30 departments spread over five schools and colleges. The first President of the institution William Barton Rogers, established the institution in 1861 with the sole aim of creating a "new polytechnic institute" for technology and scientific education. MIT was established to aid in the advancement of American Industrial Revolution.

Ultimately both educational institutions are prestigious and every students would be proud to be accepted in any. Let's compare each school using a set out metrics as listed below;

a. Academic

b. Location

c. Size

d. Financial aid

e. Accomodations

f. Sport and extracurricular

g. Tuition

h. Acceptance rate and graduation rate

Academic:

Harvard; Harvard University offers 50 different fields of study. You can also design your own degree program that focuses on a specific, difficult academic goal. Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society are just a few of the requirements students must meet.

MIT; Massachusetts Institute of Technology is well-known for its STEM programs, there are numerous other majors available, including Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. As rising sophomores, students may declare a major at any school. They may also design their own major in some cases. Certain requirements must be met by all students, including science core courses, humanities, arts, and social sciences subjects, communication-intensive courses, and physical education.

Location:

Harvard; Harvard is located in the outskirts of Boston, in Cambridge.

MIT; Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located closer to Downtown Boston. The scintillating views of the Boston metropolis can be viewed from the MIT campus, this gives it a more urban look when compared to Harvard.

Size:

Harvard; Harvard have a total student population of 23,731 students of which 12% are international students. The undergraduate population is about 5200 and the student-faculty ratio is 7:1. The average class size is 12 students per class.

MIT; MIT have a average class size of 20 with a total student population of 11,934 students of which 10% are international students. The student-faculty ratio is 3:1. The undergraduate population stands at 4,638 students.

Financial Aid:

Harvard; Ivy League universities typically do not force students earning below a specified income threshold to pay tuition. In fact, over 20% of Harvard's families pay nothing, and more than half of the university's undergraduate students get need-based aid through the financial aid program.

MIT; MIT has a need-blind admissions procedure, which implies that applicants with financial difficulties will not be penalized. As a result, MIT is one of just six US universities that meets the needs of all students, including international students.

Accommodation:

Harvard; Over 97 percent of Harvard's undergraduate students reside on campus. Students are assigned to shared rooms near Harvard Yards as freshmen. When they start their second year, they move into one of 12 houses that act as both communities and dorms.

MIT; In the meantime, about 73 percent of MIT undergraduates live on campus, with the rest belonging to MIT approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live in each residence and serve as house heads, providing support and facilitating activities.

Sport and Extracurricular:

Harvard; Harvard is an NCAA Division I school. At Harvard, there are around 450 student organizations, including publications, five orchestras, community service projects, 40 inter-collegiate athletic teams, and varieties of other creative, musical, political, and social programs.

MIT; MIT is an NCAA Division III school. The Outing Club, the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, the Debate Team, the FM station (WMBR), the MIT Society for Women Engineers, the Student Art Association, Model UN, and clubs that focus on dance, chess, and some other strategic games are among the about 450 student organizations at MIT.

Tuition:

Harvard; The tuition fee in Harvard university is about $51,900. When you include the accomodations plus meal, you will be looking at $85,000 per academic session.

MIT; The tuition fee at MIT is about $51,500. The total fee one is expected to pay per session is $77,000 when accomodations and meal fee is considered.

Acceptance Rate and Graduation Rate

Harvard; The graduation rate at Harvard University is 96.1%, while the acceptance rate is 5%.

MIT; The acceptance rate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 7.3% is quite higher than that of Harvard University. While the graduation rate is 93.8%.

How to Apply for Harvard University or MIT

Harvard and MIT both have low acceptance rate, thus, they are highly selective academic schools with a minimum GPA requirement. While grades and honors are crucial, both schools consider applicants as a whole person using a holistic approach rather than simply academically.

Every applicant is assessed holistically by Harvard's admissions officers. Extracurricular activities, personal interests and endeavors, and plans beyond university education are all taken into account. Harvard admissions officers want to discover how you plan to maximize your time at the university through essay questions and extra information.

While Test scores and grades are prioritized by MIT Admissions, but the complete application is scrutinized. MIT also evaluates how closely your goals and ideals coincide with those of the university. MIT considers students that identifies with their mission statements, collaborate and cooperate, innovative and risk takers, demonstrate hands-on creativity, exhibit intensity, curiosity, and excitement, and value balance will be evaluated.

Conclusion

Finally, you'll need to consider various factors to determine if MIT or Harvard is a better fit for you, including student body size, prices and financial assistance, academic programs offered, and the types of students who normally get admitted.

In an objective sense, neither institution is "better" than the other, as both are top-ranked, extremely selective schools that provide students with a diverse range of great academic programs and engaging extracurricular activities.