“Mind and Hand” is the inspiring motto of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. This phrase captures the essence of MIT’s mission: to advance knowledge in science, technology, and other fields with the goal of improving the world.
Since its founding in 1861, MIT began as a small group of problem-solvers and science enthusiasts eager to make a difference. Today, it has grown into a major educational powerhouse, boasting around 1,000 faculty members and over 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
MIT is a private, coeducational university with five schools (Architecture and Planning; Engineering; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Management; Science) and one college (Computing). Despite its growth, MIT remains committed to its core principle of educational innovation.
MIT is at the cutting edge of research in artificial intelligence, climate adaptation, HIV, cancer, and poverty reduction. Its past achievements include pioneering radar technology, developing magnetic core memory, and advancing the theory of the expanding universe.
But MIT isn’t just about science and technology. About 20 percent of undergraduates participate in sports, and with 33 varsity teams, MIT offers one of the most extensive athletic programs in higher education.
The campus also boasts a vibrant arts scene, with 12 museums and galleries, including the popular MIT Museum, which attracts nearly 125,000 visitors annually. Students engage in over 60 music, theater, writing, and dance groups, and the faculty includes Pulitzer Prize winners and Guggenheim fellows.
Located on 168 acres along the Charles River in Cambridge, MIT features impressive architecture designed by renowned architects like Alvar Aalto, Frank Gehry, and Steven Holl. The campus blends various architectural styles, from neoclassical to modernist and brutalist.
MIT’s proximity to Cambridge neighborhoods, especially Kendall Square—one of the most innovative areas globally—has led its alumni to create over 30,000 active companies, generating 4.6 million jobs and approximately $1.9 trillion in annual revenue. If MIT graduates were a nation, they’d have the 10th-largest economy in the world.
