Location
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Cambridge, MA
- University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs University of Southern California
Cambridge, MA · Los Angeles, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:CA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × CA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Only one enrollment path is a trend
ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023
Size changed directionally at one school over 2013–2023; the peer's series stays a range. Both acceptance rates still tightened, so the shared frame is selectivity, not enrollment.
- University of Southern California: enrollment grew +15.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +285 students/yr fitted, r² 0.94.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: enrollment ranged 4,360–4,638 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: acceptance rate tightened -41.1% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.77).
- University of Southern California: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
Acceptance Rate
Median Earnings (6 yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Earnings (10 yr)
Median Debt at Graduation
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Cambridge, MA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 4,535 | 20,443 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.5% | 9.8% |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $131,633 | $74,461 |
| Avg Net Price | $20,111 | $32,740 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $143,372 | $92,498 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $14,768 | $18,000 |
| In-State Tuition | $62,396 | $72,097 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $62,396 | $72,097 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 94.7% | 83.9% |
Largest gaps: Massachusetts Institute of Technology vs University of Southern California
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on acceptance rate (4.5% vs 9.8% at University of Southern California)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($131,633 vs $74,461 at University of Southern California)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on avg net price ($20,111 vs $32,740 at University of Southern California)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology profile · University of Southern California profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Southern California?▼
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on acceptance rate at 4.5% versus 9.8% at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Southern California?▼
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $131,633 versus $74,461 at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Southern California?▼
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads on avg net price at $20,111 versus $32,740 at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025