All undergraduates attend MIT at a significant discount to the true cost of an MIT education.
The actual cost of an MIT education is about twice the annual tuition. Even those students who pay full tuition do not pay the total cost. MIT is committed to the research-university model where all students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge work with faculty who are leaders in their field. In many cases this defines the MIT undergraduate experience. The cost results from the Institute’s need to attract and retain the best faculty, to provide premier educational facilities and laboratories, and to provide funds that support student engagement in research.
MIT’s tuition represents a significant discount to the cost of an MIT education—for all undergraduates. We further discount tuition with our need-based scholarships.