🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 142 (from laksa047)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa142.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/mit-vs-harvard","crawl_time":1774013225,"first_indexed_time":1624705338,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,collegevine!blog,\/mit-vs-harvard s443","src_root_hash":"7276425074987696342","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"MIT vs. Harvard: Which College is Right for You? | CollegeVine Blog","meta_descriptions":["If you're deciding between MIT vs. Harvard, here's everything you need to know - includes info on academics, housing, financial aid, and more!"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Two of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers\nand\nneighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions.\nIf you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you.\nLearn more about\nMIT\nand\nHarvard\nand see your chances of being accepted.\nHarvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview\n \nHarvard\nMIT\nLocation\nCambridge, MA\nCambridge, MA\nCampus Type\nUrban\nUrban\nUndergraduate Enrollment\n6,788\n4,600\nAcceptance Rate\n5%\n7.3%\nU.S. News Ranking\n2\n4\nMiddle 50% SAT\n1460-1580\n1520-1580\nMiddle 50% ACT\n33-35\n35-36\nSticker Price\n$78,200\n$73,160\nNeed-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need?\nNeed-blind\nNo-loan\nMeets 100% of demonstrated need\nNeed-blind\nNo-loan for families with income < $90,000\nMeets 100% of demonstrated need\nMIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look\nLocation and Weather\n \nHarvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes. \nBe prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River. \nMIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained.\nSize\nMIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard.\nAcademics\nBoth MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society.\nAll MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools:\nSchool of Architecture and Planning\nSchool of Engineering\nSchool of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences\nMIT Sloan School of Management\nSchool of Science\nThe institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education.\nMIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area.\nHousing\n \nMore than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships.\nMeanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs. \nFinancial aid\nAt first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above $70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet\n100% of demonstrated need\nand are\nneed-blind\n. \nOne difference is that Harvard is\nno-loan\n, while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below $90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between $65,000 to $150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous.\nSports and Extracurriculars\nThe Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III. \nMIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics.\nMany Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas.\nCulture and Diversity\nHarvard’s demographic makeup is as follows:\nAfrican American\n14.3%\nAsian American\n25.3%\nHispanic or Latino\n12.2%\nNative American\n1.8%\nNative Hawaiian\n0.6%\nMIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US.\nBoth schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing. \nHow to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT\nMIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge.\nThe main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut.\nHarvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students. \nIf athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III. \nRemember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area. \nMIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission?\nCollegeVine’s chancing engine\nwill estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile.\nSign up for your free CollegeVine account today\nto get started\n!","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/mit-vs-harvard#skip-to-main)\n\n[![CollegeVine](https:\/\/d28hdetl1q8yl2.cloudfront.net\/img\/cv-logo-lilac.svg)](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/)\n\n[Sage](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/sage)   [Chancing](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator)\n\nSchools\n\nexpand\\_more\n\n[Explore Colleges](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/schools\/hub\/all) [Rankings](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/college-lists-and-rankings)\n\nResources\n\nexpand\\_more\n\n[Homework Help](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/ai\/homework-help) [Expert FAQ](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/faq) [Blog Articles](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/guidance) [Essay Guides](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/essays\/essay-guides-2023-24\/) [Livestreams](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/livestreams) [Scholarships](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/monthly-scholarships) [Community](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/communities\/feed) [Peer essay review](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/essays\/review)\n\n[Calculate your chances](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator)\n\nShow All Categories\n\n- [All](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/)\n- [College Applications](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/)\n- [Essays](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/essays\/)\n- [Standardized Tests](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/standardized-tests\/)\n- [Extracurriculars](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/extracurricular-activities\/)\n- [Academics](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/academics\/)\n- \\|\n- [9th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/9th-grade\/)\n- [10th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/10th-grade\/)\n- [11th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/11th-grade\/)\n- [12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/)\n\n### What are your chances of acceptance?\n[Calculate for all schools](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator)\n\n##### Your chance of acceptance\n![Duke University](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/mit-vs-harvard?w=48&h=48&fit=crop&crop=edges&dpr=2&q=60&auto=format)\n\nDuke University\n\nLoading…\n\n![ UCLA](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/mit-vs-harvard?w=48&h=48&fit=crop&crop=edges&dpr=2&q=60&auto=format)\n\nUCLA\n\nLoading…\n\n\\+ add school\n\n##### Your chancing factors\nUnweighted GPA: **3\\.7**\n\n1\\.0\n\n4\\.0\n\nSAT: **720 math**\n\n200\n\n800\n\n\\| **800 verbal**\n\n200\n\n800\n\nGender not specified\n\n#### Extracurriculars\n[\\+ add](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/mit-vs-harvard)\n\nLow accuracy (4 of 18 factors)\n\n[Add more factors ›](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator)\n\n![Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gravatar\/img_2029%20\$1\$%20copy.jpg)\n\n[Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/author\/lberlinskyschine)\n\nOctober 14, 2020\n\n4  [11th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/11th-grade\/), [12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/), [School Comparisons](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/school-comparisons\/)\n# MIT vs. Harvard: Which College is Right for You?\nTwo of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers *and* neighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions.\n\nIf you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you.\n\n**Learn more about** [**MIT**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/schools\/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit) **and** [**Harvard**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/schools\/harvard-university) **and see your chances of being accepted.**\n\n## **Harvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview**\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n|   | **Harvard** | **MIT** |\n| **Location** | Cambridge, MA | Cambridge, MA |\n| **Campus Type** | Urban | Urban |\n| **Undergraduate Enrollment** | 6,788 | 4,600 |\n| **Acceptance Rate** | 5% | 7\\.3% |\n| **U.S. News Ranking** | 2 | 4 |\n| **Middle 50% SAT** | 1460-1580 | 1520-1580 |\n| **Middle 50% ACT** | 33-35 | 35-36 |\n| **Sticker Price** | \\$78,200 | \\$73,160 |\n| **Need-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need?** | Need-blind No-loan Meets 100% of demonstrated need | Need-blind No-loan for families with income \\< \\$90,000 Meets 100% of demonstrated need |\n## **MIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look**\n### Location and Weather\nHarvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes.\n\nBe prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River.\n\nMIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained.\n\n### Size\nMIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard.\n\n### Academics\nBoth MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society.\n\nAll MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools:\n\n- School of Architecture and Planning\n- School of Engineering\n- School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences\n- MIT Sloan School of Management\n- School of Science\n\nThe institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education.\n\nMIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area.\n\n### Housing\nMore than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships.\n\nMeanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs.\n\n![](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/guidance-service.png)\n\n## Discover your chances at hundreds of schools\nOur free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.\n\n[Calculate Your Chances for Free](https:\/\/app.collegevine.com\/chancing\/login)\n\n### Financial aid\nAt first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above \\$70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet [100% of demonstrated need](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/schools-that-meet-100-percent-financial-need\/) and are [need-blind](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/a-guide-to-need-blind-schools-complete-list\/).\n\nOne difference is that Harvard is [no-loan](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/no-loan-colleges-what-they-are-and-a-complete-list\/), while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below \\$90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between \\$65,000 to \\$150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous.\n\n### Sports and Extracurriculars\nThe Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III.\n\nMIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics.\n\nMany Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas.\n\n### Culture and Diversity\nHarvard’s demographic makeup is as follows:\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| African American | 14\\.3% |\n| Asian American | 25\\.3% |\n| Hispanic or Latino | 12\\.2% |\n| Native American | 1\\.8% |\n| Native Hawaiian | 0\\.6% |\n\nMIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US.\n\nBoth schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing.\n\n## **How to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT**\nMIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge.\n\nThe main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut. Harvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students.\n\nIf athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III.\n\nRemember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area.\n\n**MIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission?** [**CollegeVine’s chancing engine**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator\/) **will estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile.** [**Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today**](http:\/\/collegevine.com\/start) **to get started****\\!**\n\n![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=601720889978592&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\nLoved the article? **Share it\\!**\n\n![Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/gravatar\/img_2029%20\$1\$%20copy.jpg)\n\n[Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/author\/lberlinskyschine)\n\nSenior Blogger\n***\nShort Bio\n\nLaura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod\/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com.\n\nOther articles by Laura\n\n[How to Get Into Boston College: Admissions Stats + Tips](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-it-take-to-get-into-boston-college\/)\n\nFebruary 17, 2026\n\n[How to Get Into](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/how-to-get-into\/), [School Spotlight](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/school-spotlight\/)\n***\n[What is Harvard Known For?](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-is-harvard-known-for\/)\n\nFebruary 12, 2026\n\n[11th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/11th-grade\/), [12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/), [School Spotlight](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/school-spotlight\/)\n***\n[How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Stats + Tips](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-it-take-to-get-into-virginia-tech\/)\n\nFebruary 10, 2026\n\n[How to Get Into](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/how-to-get-into\/), [School Spotlight](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/school-spotlight\/), [Virginia Tech](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/schools\/virginia-tech)\n***\n[View all](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/author\/lberlinskyschine)\n\n### Related CollegeVine Blog Posts\n***\n[![What is the Common Data Set for Colleges?](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Jonas-Clark-Building-at-Clark-University-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-is-the-common-data-set-for-colleges\/)\n\n[What is the Common Data Set for Colleges?](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-is-the-common-data-set-for-colleges\/)\n\n[10th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/10th-grade\/), [11th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/11th-grade\/), [12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/), [Applying to College](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/), [College Lists](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/choosing-a-college\/)\n\n[![What Does ACT Stand For? Plus, 10 Free Resources to Help You Ace It.](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ACT-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-act-stand-for-plus-10-free-resources-to-help-you-ace-it\/)\n\n[What Does ACT Stand For? Plus, 10 Free Resources to Help You Ace It.](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-act-stand-for-plus-10-free-resources-to-help-you-ace-it\/)\n\n[11th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/11th-grade\/), [12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/), [ACT Info and Tips](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/standardized-tests\/act\/)\n\n[![What Does It Cost to Attend Bentley University?](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/164739_hero-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-it-cost-to-attend-bentley-university\/)\n\n[What Does It Cost to Attend Bentley University?](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/what-does-it-cost-to-attend-bentley-university\/)\n\n[Applying to College](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/), [College Lists](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/choosing-a-college\/), [Financial Aid](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/financial-aid\/)\n\n[![A Guide to Scholarships for Out-of-State Students](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pexels-cottonbro-3943716-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/scholarships-for-out-of-state-students\/)\n\n[A Guide to Scholarships for Out-of-State Students](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/scholarships-for-out-of-state-students\/)\n\n[12th Grade](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/grades\/12th-grade\/), [Scholarships](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/category\/college-admission\/scholarships\/)\n\nLooks like you don’t have JavaScript enabled.  [Enable JavaScript to use our free tools.](http:\/\/activatejavascript.org\/en\/instructions)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Two of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers *and* neighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions.\n\nIf you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you.\n\n**Learn more about** [**MIT**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/schools\/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit) **and** [**Harvard**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/schools\/harvard-university) **and see your chances of being accepted.**\n\n## **Harvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview**\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n|   | **Harvard** | **MIT** |\n| **Location** | Cambridge, MA | Cambridge, MA |\n| **Campus Type** | Urban | Urban |\n| **Undergraduate Enrollment** | 6,788 | 4,600 |\n| **Acceptance Rate** | 5% | 7\\.3% |\n| **U.S. News Ranking** | 2 | 4 |\n| **Middle 50% SAT** | 1460-1580 | 1520-1580 |\n| **Middle 50% ACT** | 33-35 | 35-36 |\n| **Sticker Price** | \\$78,200 | \\$73,160 |\n| **Need-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need?** | Need-blind No-loan Meets 100% of demonstrated need | Need-blind No-loan for families with income \\< \\$90,000 Meets 100% of demonstrated need |\n## **MIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look**\n### Location and Weather\nHarvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes.\n\nBe prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River.\n\nMIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained.\n\n### Size\nMIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard.\n\n### Academics\nBoth MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society.\n\nAll MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools:\n\n- School of Architecture and Planning\n- School of Engineering\n- School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences\n- MIT Sloan School of Management\n- School of Science\n\nThe institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education.\n\nMIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area.\n\n### Housing\nMore than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships.\n\nMeanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs.\n\n### Financial aid\nAt first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above \\$70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet [100% of demonstrated need](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/schools-that-meet-100-percent-financial-need\/) and are [need-blind](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/a-guide-to-need-blind-schools-complete-list\/).\n\nOne difference is that Harvard is [no-loan](https:\/\/blog.collegevine.com\/no-loan-colleges-what-they-are-and-a-complete-list\/), while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below \\$90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between \\$65,000 to \\$150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous.\n\n### Sports and Extracurriculars\nThe Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III.\n\nMIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics.\n\nMany Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas.\n\n### Culture and Diversity\nHarvard’s demographic makeup is as follows:\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| African American | 14\\.3% |\n| Asian American | 25\\.3% |\n| Hispanic or Latino | 12\\.2% |\n| Native American | 1\\.8% |\n| Native Hawaiian | 0\\.6% |\n\nMIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US.\n\nBoth schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing.\n\n## **How to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT**\nMIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge.\n\nThe main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut. Harvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students.\n\nIf athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III.\n\nRemember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area.\n\n**MIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission?** [**CollegeVine’s chancing engine**](https:\/\/www.collegevine.com\/admissions-calculator\/) **will estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile.** [**Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today**](http:\/\/collegevine.com\/start) **to get started****\\!**","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	MIT vs. Harvard: Which College is Right for You? \| CollegeVine Blog
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Boilerpipe Text	Two of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers and neighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions. If you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you. Learn more about MIT and Harvard and see your chances of being accepted. Harvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview Harvard MIT Location Cambridge, MA Cambridge, MA Campus Type Urban Urban Undergraduate Enrollment 6,788 4,600 Acceptance Rate 5% 7.3% U.S. News Ranking 2 4 Middle 50% SAT 1460-1580 1520-1580 Middle 50% ACT 33-35 35-36 Sticker Price $78,200 $73,160 Need-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need? Need-blind No-loan Meets 100% of demonstrated need Need-blind No-loan for families with income < $90,000 Meets 100% of demonstrated need MIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look Location and Weather Harvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes. Be prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River. MIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained. Size MIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard. Academics Both MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society. All MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools: School of Architecture and Planning School of Engineering School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences MIT Sloan School of Management School of Science The institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education. MIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area. Housing More than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships. Meanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs. Financial aid At first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above $70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet 100% of demonstrated need and are need-blind . One difference is that Harvard is no-loan , while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below $90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between $65,000 to $150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous. Sports and Extracurriculars The Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III. MIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics. Many Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas. Culture and Diversity Harvard’s demographic makeup is as follows: African American 14.3% Asian American 25.3% Hispanic or Latino 12.2% Native American 1.8% Native Hawaiian 0.6% MIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US. Both schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing. How to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT MIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge. The main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut. Harvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students. If athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III. Remember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area. MIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission? CollegeVine’s chancing engine will estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started !
Markdown	[Skip to main content](https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard#skip-to-main) [![CollegeVine](https://d28hdetl1q8yl2.cloudfront.net/img/cv-logo-lilac.svg)](https://blog.collegevine.com/) [Sage](https://www.collegevine.com/sage) [Chancing](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator) Schools expand\_more [Explore Colleges](https://www.collegevine.com/schools/hub/all) [Rankings](https://www.collegevine.com/college-lists-and-rankings) Resources expand\_more [Homework Help](https://www.collegevine.com/ai/homework-help) [Expert FAQ](https://www.collegevine.com/faq) [Blog Articles](https://www.collegevine.com/guidance) [Essay Guides](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/essays/essay-guides-2023-24/) [Livestreams](https://www.collegevine.com/livestreams) [Scholarships](https://www.collegevine.com/monthly-scholarships) [Community](https://www.collegevine.com/communities/feed) [Peer essay review](https://www.collegevine.com/essays/review) [Calculate your chances](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator) Show All Categories - [All](https://blog.collegevine.com/) - [College Applications](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/) - [Essays](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/essays/) - [Standardized Tests](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/standardized-tests/) - [Extracurriculars](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/extracurricular-activities/) - [Academics](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/academics/) - \\| - [9th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/9th-grade/) - [10th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/10th-grade/) - [11th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/11th-grade/) - [12th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/12th-grade/) ### What are your chances of acceptance? [Calculate for all schools](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator) ##### Your chance of acceptance ![Duke University](https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard?w=48&h=48&fit=crop&crop=edges&dpr=2&q=60&auto=format) Duke University Loading… ![ UCLA](https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard?w=48&h=48&fit=crop&crop=edges&dpr=2&q=60&auto=format) UCLA Loading… \+ add school ##### Your chancing factors Unweighted GPA: 3\.7 1\.0 4\.0 SAT: 720 math 200 800 \\| 800 verbal 200 800 Gender not specified #### Extracurriculars [\+ add](https://blog.collegevine.com/mit-vs-harvard) Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors) [Add more factors ›](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator) ![Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https://blog.collegevine.com/wp-content/uploads/gravatar/img_2029%20$1$%20copy.jpg) [Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https://blog.collegevine.com/author/lberlinskyschine) October 14, 2020 4 [11th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/11th-grade/), [12th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/12th-grade/), [School Comparisons](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/school-comparisons/) # MIT vs. Harvard: Which College is Right for You? Two of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers and neighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions. If you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you. Learn more about [MIT](https://www.collegevine.com/schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit) and [Harvard](https://www.collegevine.com/schools/harvard-university) and see your chances of being accepted. ## Harvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| \| Harvard \| MIT \| \| Location \| Cambridge, MA \| Cambridge, MA \| \| Campus Type \| Urban \| Urban \| \| Undergraduate Enrollment \| 6,788 \| 4,600 \| \| Acceptance Rate \| 5% \| 7\.3% \| \| U.S. News Ranking \| 2 \| 4 \| \| Middle 50% SAT \| 1460-1580 \| 1520-1580 \| \| Middle 50% ACT \| 33-35 \| 35-36 \| \| Sticker Price \| \$78,200 \| \$73,160 \| \| Need-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need? \| Need-blind No-loan Meets 100% of demonstrated need \| Need-blind No-loan for families with income \< \$90,000 Meets 100% of demonstrated need \| ## MIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look ### Location and Weather Harvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes. Be prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River. MIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained. ### Size MIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard. ### Academics Both MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society. All MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools: - School of Architecture and Planning - School of Engineering - School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences - MIT Sloan School of Management - School of Science The institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education. MIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area. ### Housing More than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships. Meanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs. ![](https://blog.collegevine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/guidance-service.png) ## Discover your chances at hundreds of schools Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them. [Calculate Your Chances for Free](https://app.collegevine.com/chancing/login) ### Financial aid At first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above \$70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet [100% of demonstrated need](https://blog.collegevine.com/schools-that-meet-100-percent-financial-need/) and are [need-blind](https://blog.collegevine.com/a-guide-to-need-blind-schools-complete-list/). One difference is that Harvard is [no-loan](https://blog.collegevine.com/no-loan-colleges-what-they-are-and-a-complete-list/), while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below \$90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between \$65,000 to \$150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous. ### Sports and Extracurriculars The Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III. MIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics. Many Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas. ### Culture and Diversity Harvard’s demographic makeup is as follows: \| \| \| \|---\|---\| \| African American \| 14\.3% \| \| Asian American \| 25\.3% \| \| Hispanic or Latino \| 12\.2% \| \| Native American \| 1\.8% \| \| Native Hawaiian \| 0\.6% \| MIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US. Both schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing. ## How to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT MIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge. The main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut. Harvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students. If athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III. Remember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area. MIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission? [CollegeVine’s chancing engine](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator/) will estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile. [Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today](http://collegevine.com/start) to get started\! ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=601720889978592&ev=PageView&noscript=1) Loved the article? Share it\! ![Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https://blog.collegevine.com/wp-content/uploads/gravatar/img_2029%20$1$%20copy.jpg) [Laura Berlinsky-Schine](https://blog.collegevine.com/author/lberlinskyschine) Senior Blogger * Short Bio Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com. Other articles by Laura [How to Get Into Boston College: Admissions Stats + Tips](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-does-it-take-to-get-into-boston-college/) February 17, 2026 [How to Get Into](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/how-to-get-into/), [School Spotlight](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/school-spotlight/) * [What is Harvard Known For?](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-harvard-known-for/) February 12, 2026 [11th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/11th-grade/), [12th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/12th-grade/), [School Spotlight](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/school-spotlight/) * [How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Stats + Tips](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-does-it-take-to-get-into-virginia-tech/) February 10, 2026 [How to Get Into](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/how-to-get-into/), [School Spotlight](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/school-spotlight/), [Virginia Tech](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/schools/virginia-tech) * [View all](https://blog.collegevine.com/author/lberlinskyschine) ### Related CollegeVine Blog Posts *** [![What is the Common Data Set for Colleges?](https://blog.collegevine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jonas-Clark-Building-at-Clark-University-150x150.jpg)](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-common-data-set-for-colleges/) [What is the Common Data Set for Colleges?](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-common-data-set-for-colleges/) [10th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/10th-grade/), [11th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/11th-grade/), [12th Grade](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/grades/12th-grade/), [Applying to College](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/), [College Lists](https://blog.collegevine.com/category/college-admission/choosing-a-college/) [![What Does ACT Stand For? Plus, 10 Free Resources to Help You Ace It.](https://blog.collegevine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ACT-150x150.jpg)](https://blog.collegevine.com/what-does-act-stand-for-plus-10-free-resources-to-help-you-ace-it/) [What Does ACT Stand For? 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Readable Markdown	Two of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are academic peers and neighbors. Each year, these top-tier schools draw tens of thousands of applicants, each hoping to attend the Cambridge institutions. If you’re deciding between Harvard and MIT, you have a difficult choice to make. In this post, we’ll be going over these schools’ similarities and differences, to help you figure out which school is best for you. Learn more about [MIT](https://www.collegevine.com/schools/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit) and [Harvard](https://www.collegevine.com/schools/harvard-university) and see your chances of being accepted. ## Harvard vs. MIT: A Quick Overview \| \| \| \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| \| Harvard \| MIT \| \| Location \| Cambridge, MA \| Cambridge, MA \| \| Campus Type \| Urban \| Urban \| \| Undergraduate Enrollment \| 6,788 \| 4,600 \| \| Acceptance Rate \| 5% \| 7\.3% \| \| U.S. News Ranking \| 2 \| 4 \| \| Middle 50% SAT \| 1460-1580 \| 1520-1580 \| \| Middle 50% ACT \| 33-35 \| 35-36 \| \| Sticker Price \| \$78,200 \| \$73,160 \| \| Need-blind, no-loan, or meets 100% demonstrated need? \| Need-blind No-loan Meets 100% of demonstrated need \| Need-blind No-loan for families with income \< \$90,000 Meets 100% of demonstrated need \| ## MIT vs. Harvard: A Closer Look ### Location and Weather Harvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston. Don’t miss the many historic sites, restaurants, shops, and museums, many of which are in Harvard Square, the city center. You can also hop on the T and get to Boston in under 20 minutes. Be prepared for cold, snowy, windy winters — Cambridge is by the water. The summer is quite pleasant, and you can enjoy boat rides, waterfront dining, and jogging by Charles River. MIT is slightly closer to downtown Boston, and also has a better view of the city skyline. Its campus tends to feel more urban and integrated with the city, while Havard’s campus feels more suburban and self-contained. ### Size MIT has a student body of just 4,600 students, while Harvard has close to 7,000. While MIT’s student to faculty ratio is smaller than Harvard’s (MIT’s is 3:1 to Harvard’s 6:1), the percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students is comparable — 71.3% at MIT and 72% at Harvard. ### Academics Both MIT and Harvard are widely known for their stellar academic programs. Harvard offers 50 fields of study. You can also create your own degree plan that addresses a specific, challenging academic goal. Students must meet requirements in areas such as Aesthetics and Culture; Ethics and Civics; Histories, Societies, Individuals; and Science and Technology in Society. All MIT students apply to the school undeclared. The institution is divided into five schools: - School of Architecture and Planning - School of Engineering - School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences - MIT Sloan School of Management - School of Science The institution is famous for its STEM programs, but there are plenty of other majors, such as Theater Arts, Music, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing. Students may declare a major from any school as rising sophomores. In some cases, they may also design their own major. All students must fulfill certain requirements, including science core courses; subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences; communication-intensive courses; and physical education. MIT and Harvard both allow cross-registration with each other, along with several other colleges and universities in the Boston area. ### Housing More than 97% of Harvard undergraduates live on campus. As freshmen, students are placed in shared suites near Harvard Yards. When they become second-year students, they reside in one of 12 houses that serve as communities as well as dormitories, allowing students to form friendships. Meanwhile, about 73% of MIT undergraduates live on campus, while others live in MIT-approved fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Faculty families live and serve as heads of house in each residence, serving as support systems and facilitators. Meanwhile, residential student governments are responsible for organizing social, athletic, and intellectual programs. ### Financial aid At first glance, MIT and Harvard are expensive, with sticker prices above \$70,000 per year. But bear in mind that a majority of students receive some type of financial aid at each school. While neither school awards merit scholarships — scholarships are need-based only — both MIT and Harvard meet [100% of demonstrated need](https://blog.collegevine.com/schools-that-meet-100-percent-financial-need/) and are [need-blind](https://blog.collegevine.com/a-guide-to-need-blind-schools-complete-list/). One difference is that Harvard is [no-loan](https://blog.collegevine.com/no-loan-colleges-what-they-are-and-a-complete-list/), while MIT is no-loan for families with incomes below \$90,000 per year. Harvard also states that families earning between \$65,000 to \$150,000 can expect to pay only 0-10% of their income. Overall, you can expect Harvard financial aid to be more generous. ### Sports and Extracurriculars The Harvard Crimson’s 43 teams play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the MIT Engineers’ 33 teams play in the NCAA Division III. MIT has 31 Greek organizations. Harvard, meanwhile, doesn’t officially recognize Greek life, but some fraternities and sororities exist “unofficially” off-campus. Additionally, each school has approximately 450 student organizations. MIT is home to groups like the Solar Electric Vehicle Team, Student Art Association, Outing Club, and much more. Harvard’s activities span gender and sexuality to music to politics. Many Harvard students elect to study abroad in countries around the world. At MIT, students may also participate in exchange programs with students overseas. ### Culture and Diversity Harvard’s demographic makeup is as follows: \| \| \| \|---\|---\| \| African American \| 14\.3% \| \| Asian American \| 25\.3% \| \| Hispanic or Latino \| 12\.2% \| \| Native American \| 1\.8% \| \| Native Hawaiian \| 0\.6% \| MIT’s undergraduate makeup from the 2019–2020 academic year was 51% US minority groups. Ten percent of undergraduates come from countries or territories outside of the US. Both schools offer resources and programs for their LGBTQ+ students. For example, the Office of BLGTQ Student Life at Harvard has student tutors and proctors who offer counseling on LGBTQ+ identity and issues. MIT, likewise, offers LBGTQ+ Services with support, programming, and more. Both institutions have gender-inclusive housing. ## How to Decide Between Harvard vs. MIT MIT and Harvard have many similarities: they’re both extremely selective and have a number of top-tier programs. They’re also next-door neighbors, both located in Cambridge. The main difference is their foci. While MIT has programs in a wide variety of disciplines, STEM programs, particularly those in technology and engineering, are the main draw for most students. Meanwhile, students attend Harvard to study subjects across the gamut. Harvard is also a bit larger than MIT, with 2,000+ additional undergraduate students. If athletics are a draw for you, Harvard is probably the better choice. The Crimson play in the Ivy League and NCAA Division I, while the Engineers at MIT participate in Division III. Remember that whichever school you attend, you can take courses at the other, along with several other schools in the area. MIT and Harvard are two of the most selective institutions in the country. Want to know your chances of admission? [CollegeVine’s chancing engine](https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator/) will estimate your real odds and give you guidance on how to improve your profile. [Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today](http://collegevine.com/start) to get started\!
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