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Head-to-Head Comparison

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
12
Tied
17
Massachusetts Technology Wins
19

Direct Answer

For overall financial value, Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a significantly safer investment tier. With an annual cost of $20,111 vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545, Massachusetts Institute of Technology delivers strong outcomes at a fraction of the price. For students prioritizing lower student debt over initial institution prestige, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's lower price point delivers a highly efficient debt-to-earnings path.

48 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS

When to Pick Each School

Massachusetts Pharmacy

No clear advantage detected in core metrics.

Massachusetts Technology

  • Higher earnings: Median earnings of $143,372 ten years after enrollment, 14% more than Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Lower cost: Average net price of $20,111, roughly $19,434 a year less
  • Higher grad rate: 96% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
  • Less debt: Median debt of $14,768, the lower of the two
  • More selective: Admits 5% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group

The Actual Decision

What are you really choosing between?

Massachusetts Pharmacy graduates concentrate in Health Professions (93% of degrees); Massachusetts Technology in Computer Science & IT (35%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.

If you want… Choose
Pre-med & health Massachusetts Pharmacy
Computer science & AI Massachusetts Technology
Engineering Massachusetts Technology
Math & quantitative work Massachusetts Technology
Lab & physical sciences Massachusetts Technology

Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.

Which School Fits You?

Maximizing post-grad earnings → Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pick Massachusetts Institute of Technology over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Median earnings of $143,372 ten years after enrollment vs $125,557.

Keeping costs down → Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pick Massachusetts Institute of Technology over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Net price $20,111 vs $39,545.

Graduation certainty → Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pick Massachusetts Institute of Technology over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 96% completion rate vs 63%.

Key Metrics at a Glance

Graduation Rate

63%
Massachusetts Pharmacy
vs
96%
Massachusetts Technology

Earnings (10yr)

$125,557
Massachusetts Pharmacy
vs
$143,372
Massachusetts Technology

Avg Net Price

$39,545
Massachusetts Pharmacy
vs
$20,111
Massachusetts Technology

Median Debt

$25,000
Massachusetts Pharmacy
vs
$14,768
Massachusetts Technology

The Analysis

Verdict

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are close on paper, but Massachusetts Institute of Technology wins the head-to-head, leading on 5 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.

Getting in

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the harder admit. It takes 5% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,269 to 1,560.

So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Massachusetts Institute of Technology sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.

What it costs

On price, Massachusetts Institute of Technology comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $20,111, about $19,434 a year below Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology also borrow less: median debt of $14,768, against $25,000.

So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $77,736 before any change in aid. Choosing Massachusetts Institute of Technology leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.

What graduates earn

Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates report median earnings of $143,372, compared with $125,557 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. That is a 14% advantage. Set against borrowing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.1x to 0.2x.

So what: An earnings gap of 14% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.

Finishing the degree

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates a larger share of its students, 96% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.

So what: A completion gap of 34% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.

Recommendation

Bottom line: pick Massachusetts Institute of Technology to keep costs and debt down.

Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.

Counterintuitive Insights

!

Their academic identities diverge. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates enrollment in Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology leans toward Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Mathematics & Statistics. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Massachusetts Pharmacy Not for everyone
  • Cost-conscious students: net price of $39,545 runs well above Massachusetts Institute of Technology's $20,111.
  • Students minimizing debt: median debt is $25,000, against $14,768 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • STEM and CS-focused students: tech programs are a smaller part of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's enrollment, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology is stronger here.
Massachusetts Technology Not for everyone

No strong negative signals — Massachusetts Technology competes well across the dimensions measured.

Full Data Breakdown

Overview
5 metrics
Private nonprofit
Type
Private nonprofit
Urban
Setting
Urban
New England
Region
New England
3,451
Enrollment
4,535
No
HBCU
No
Admissions
4 metrics
85%
Acceptance Rate
5%
1269
SAT Average
1560
27
ACT Midpoint
1160-1416
SAT Range
1520-1580
Cost & Financial Aid
9 metrics
$40,530
In-State Tuition
$62,396
$40,530
Out-of-State Tuition
$62,396
$39,545
Average Net Price
$20,111
$35,206
Net Price ($0-30K income)
$-2,533
$36,228
Net Price ($30-48K)
$93
$38,376
Net Price ($48-75K)
$1,480
$43,470
Net Price ($110K+)
$48,479
30%
Pell Grant Rate
19%
67%
Federal Loan Rate
7%
Academics
5 metrics
63%
Graduation Rate
96%
74%
Retention Rate
99%
33%
Full-Time Faculty
99%
$11,769
Faculty Salary (monthly)
$24,177
30%
First-Gen Students
26%
Student Body
6 metrics
77%
Female
37%
29%
White
21%
16%
Hispanic
14%
13%
Black
8%
20%
Asian
35%
0.82
Diversity Index
0.79
Outcomes
6 metrics
$77,171
Earnings (6yr)
$131,633
$108,480
Earnings (8yr)
$135,278
$125,557
Earnings (10yr)
$143,372
$25,000
Median Debt
$14,768
0.2x
Debt-to-Earnings
0.1x
92%
Earning Above HS Grad
87%
Social Mobility (Chetty)
4 metrics
Mobility Rate
3.40%
Success Rate (bottom 20%)
66.5%
From Bottom 20%
5.1%
Parent Median Income
$141,000
Social Capital
3 metrics
Economic Connectedness
1.86
Friending Bias
-0.01
Volunteering Rate
6.1%
Research (Times HE)
4 metrics
World Rank
#3
Teaching Score
97.8
Research Score
91.4
Citations Score
99.9
Online Education (IPEDS)
2 metrics
16.9%
% Exclusively Online
70.2%
% Any Online
1.8%

The Overviews

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit

85% accept 63% grad $125,557 earnings $39,545 net

A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit

5% accept 96% grad $143,372 earnings $20,111 net

With an acceptance rate of just 5%, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology attracts a highly motivated and academically driven student body. This is a place for those who excel in challenging fields, particularly in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physical sciences, and biology. Students here are often hands-on learners, engaging in rigorous projects and research that push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Once students graduate, they typically see significant financial returns on their investment. With an average salary of $143,372 after ten years, graduates are well-positioned in the job market. This level of earning power speaks volumes about the value of the education they receive here. The affordability of attending is also noteworthy; with a net price of $20,111 after aid, many students leave with a manageable median debt of $14,768, making the financial landscape more navigable.

The practical aspects of attending MIT align well with the ambitions of its students. Those who thrive here are often those who embrace intense academic rigor and collaborative environments. With a graduation rate of 96%, it’s clear that the supportive community helps students succeed. The combination of a strong educational foundation and a network of driven peers prepares graduates for a range of career paths and success in their chosen fields.

Rankings They Appear On

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is featured on the Best Colleges in Massachusetts ranking.

Explore all rankings →

Top Degree Programs

Massachusetts Pharmacy's top program is Nursing (BSN) (93% of enrollment), while Massachusetts Technology leads with Computer Science (35%).

Career Pathways

Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Massachusetts Technology).

The two schools feed different job markets. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is strongest in Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology concentrates in Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Mathematics & Statistics. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it harder to get into Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is harder to get into, admitting 5% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Which is more affordable, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is more affordable, with an average net price of $20,111 after aid versus $39,545 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Do Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn more: median earnings of $143,372 ten years after enrollment, versus $125,557 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Which has a better graduation rate, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the higher graduation rate, 96% versus 63%.

Should you choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences or Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Massachusetts Institute of Technology if affordability and lower debt come first. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.

More Comparisons

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Best Colleges in America

How do Massachusetts Pharmacy and Massachusetts Technology stack up against regional and national alternatives when evaluated on pure socioeconomic mobility, graduate earnings, and long-term return on investment? Explore the full, verified dataset on our comprehensive rankings directory.

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