The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a world-renowned research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has an undergraduate population of around 4,500. This year, 12,053 students applied through Early Action to the MIT Class of 2029 and 721 were offered admission.
MIT ACCEPTANCE RATE: EARLY TRENDS
MIT’s early acceptance rate rose slightly to 6% this year, compared to 5.3% for the Class of 2028. The number of applicants dropped slightly (approximately a 4.1% decrease), according to The Tech.
The university deferred 62% of students this year. In recent years, many selective colleges have moved away from deferring more students than they reject during the early round.
Deferred students are “reconsidered without prejudice” during the Regular Decision round. MIT states that students are not expected to send any new information besides its February Updates and Notes Form.
MIT admitted 100 students to the Class of 2029 through the QuestBridge program, a significant increase from 56 last year.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal affirmative action, MIT reported that the Class of 2028 had a significantly lower proportion of students from “historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds” compared to the average for the classes of 2024-2027. In response, MIT has increased its targeted recruitment efforts for these communities.
Last year, MIT saw an overall acceptance rate of just 4.5%, making it one of the most selective schools in the nation. About 60.1% of the Class of 2028 was filled through early action.

Application Boot Camp®
Need strategic guidance from start to finish? Try Application Boot Camp®.
TTA TOP TIP: When applying to MIT, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of the Early Action process. While the acceptance rate may be slightly higher than Regular Decision, be sure to submit your application with precision and care. MIT reviews applicants holistically, so showcase your academic excellence, passion for innovation, and contributions to your community. If deferred, know that it’s very common and you’re still in the running — MIT reassesses your application without prejudice in the Regular Decision round, so keep refining your materials and stay engaged with your accomplishments!
At Top Tier Admissions, we are committed to making the college admissions process more transparent. Easy access to clear data helps families understand trends in college admissions to make more informed decisions. This year we’re once again collecting early acceptance rate data at selective schools and providing insight and analysis of our own.

College Private Counseling
Develop an organized and effective application strategy that leverages your academic and extracurricular experience to stand out.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Are you thinking about applying to MIT? Curious about admissions trends and strategies to improve your odds? Contact us to discuss our Application Boot Camp® or Private Counseling program— we look forward to supporting you!
- Navigating the MIT Application
- MIT: Regular Decision Acceptance Rate (Class of 2028)
- Average GPA and Class Rank at Top Colleges
- Early Application Insights and Predictions: Class of 2029
- MIT Acceptance Rate: Get Into MIT
If you enjoyed this post, follow us on Instagram @toptieradmissions for more tips and subscribe to our blog for expert insights & college admissions news!
- University of Chicago: Supplemental Essays 2025-26 - August 29, 2025
- Boston College: Supplemental Essays 2025-2026 - August 15, 2025
- Cornell: Supplemental Essays 2025-2026 - August 1, 2025

