Admissions Factors
What MIT Looks For
MIT rates 1 factor as very important: character and personal qualities.
How MIT rates each factor
Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.
Very important
Important
The numbers behind the class
Overall admit rate
4.6%
1,334 of 29,281 applicants
Early decision admit rate
No early decision
Admitted from the waitlist
2.1%
10 of 468 who stayed on it
97% of those who reported a class rank were in the top tenth of their class.
Frequently asked questions
What does MIT look for in applicants?
MIT rates 1 factor as very important: character and personal qualities.
Does MIT consider legacy status?
MIT rates alumni relation as "not considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Does MIT track demonstrated interest?
MIT rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".
What is MIT's waitlist acceptance rate?
468 students stayed on the waitlist and 10 were admitted, a rate of 2.1%. The number changes a lot from year to year because it depends on how many admitted students enroll.
Source: MIT’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.
