Michigan Technological University
An R1 engineering and computing university on Lake Superior's Keweenaw Peninsula, with more than 200 inches of snow a year.
- Acceptance rate
- 86%
- Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 7,411
- 6,009 undergraduates
- International
- 9%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $46,294
- 2026-27
About Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech was founded in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School, the first post-secondary institution in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It now enrolls 7,411 students, 6,009 of them undergraduates, on a 925-acre campus above Portage Lake in Houghton. Wikipedia and the university describe it as a Carnegie R1 research university, and it reports $124.2 million in research expenditures in 2024-25.
The university has five colleges: Engineering, Computing, Sciences and Arts, Business, and Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Its Enterprise Program puts students from any major onto interdisciplinary teams that solve problems for real clients, with more than 25 teams to choose from. The university also reports about 101,000 paid undergraduate research hours a year.
Michigan Tech admits most applicants: in fall 2025 it admitted 8,853 of 10,359 first-year applicants (85%). But the enrolled class averaged a 3.86 high school GPA and 1120-1330 on the SAT among those who submitted, and the CDS rates GPA as very important. Most majors ask for no essay or recommendation letters. The school suits students who are serious about engineering, computing or the sciences, want hands-on project work and do not mind long winters: Michigan Tech says Houghton gets more than 200 inches of snow a year, and the university's Winter Carnival has run since 1922.
Why students choose Michigan Tech
Michigan residents pay $20,396 in tuition for 2026-27, and out-of-state students pay $46,294, with 90% of students receiving some form of aid.
The Enterprise Program lets students of any major join one of 25+ interdisciplinary teams working for real clients, presenting at the Design Expo.
Median starting salary for bachelor's graduates is $72,500, and the university reports a 93.3% five-year placement rate.
International first-years are automatically considered for the International Ambassador Scholarship, worth up to $12,400 a year and renewable for up to four years.
Admissions
Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-26)
8,853 admitted from 10,359 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Calculated from CDS C1: 8,853 of 10,359 first-time, first-year applicants admitted (85.5%); 1,448 enrolled. Admission requirements vary by major, and the admissions committee reviews the transcript for the courses taken and grades received.
Typical entry requirements
| Recommended high school coursework | Engineering: 3-4 years English, 4 years mathematics progressing toward or including calculus, 3 years science including physics and/or chemistry, 3 years social science; recommendations vary by college |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 For international applicants: TOEFL iBT 79 (exams before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 on the newer scale (exams from that date); IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in speaking and writing; also accepted are SAT EBRW 510, ACT 18 in English and reading, PTE 53 and Duolingo 120. Exempt countries and some US study can qualify for a waiver; no ESL program is offered. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Prioritized; decision by January 15; deposit due May 1.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
Decision by March 1; deposit due May 1.
- Rolling Decision Non-bindingAfter February 1, 2027
Decisions within 2-3 weeks; deposit due May 1.
- International first-year (fall start) Non-bindingApril 1
Application documents due May 1; I-20 documents due June 1. The page gives no year.
Dates are from Michigan Tech's first-year application page, which says the 2027 application is now live. The international deadlines page lists the same dates each year without specifying one; check that page for the current cycle.
How to apply
Apply with either the Michigan Tech Undergraduate Application or the Common Application (submit only one). Request an official high school transcript showing grades through junior year. SAT/ACT scores, counselor information and recommendations are optional for most majors. Nursing, visual and performing arts, audio production and technology, sound design, and theatre and entertainment technology need additional materials. International undergraduates must use the Common App, pay a $35 fee (no fee waivers) and send three years of transcripts plus English proficiency results.
What admissions looks for
- A strong high school GPA, which the CDS rates as very important.
- The rigor of the courses taken and standardized test scores if submitted, both rated important.
- Essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent and character are considered but not required for most majors.
- Class rank, interview, first-generation status and state residency are not considered.
Tips for applying to Michigan Tech
- 1 You do not need a test score unless your GPA is below 3.00, but scores can help merit scholarship consideration.
- 2 Apply by November 1 for early action to hear by January 15 and to be prioritized.
- 3 Check whether your major needs extra materials: nursing, visual and performing arts, audio production and technology, sound design, and theatre and entertainment technology do.
- 4 Complete the housing contract after paying your deposit; all first-years except commuters and transfers live on campus their first year.
- 5 International students should submit only one English proficiency test, from within two years of enrollment.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Michigan Technological University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
90% of Michigan Tech students receive some form of aid. Merit awards including the Presidential Scholars, National Scholars and Leading Scholar awards are based on academic achievement, and first-time international students are automatically considered for the International Ambassador Scholarship (up to $12,400, renewable up to four years). The total cost of attendance shown is the non-Michigan resident estimate; Michigan residents' estimate is $40,145.
- 90%
- Students receiving some form of financial aid
- $29,656
- Average aid package, first-year students with need (CDS 2025-26)
- 92%
- Average share of need met, first-year students (CDS 2025-26)
- $40,145 (Michigan resident); $66,043 (non-resident)
- Estimated 2026-27 cost of attendance
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Enterprise Program
Interdisciplinary student teams solve problems for real clients; 25+ teams and two initiatives (manufacturing and business).
Engineering
Includes aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, geological, materials science and mechanical engineering degrees.
Computing
Majors listed by the university include computer science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science and information technology.
Forestry and environmental science
The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science houses forestry, one of the university's five colleges.
Audio Production and Technology
Requires additional application materials and sits alongside sound design and theatre and entertainment technology.
Undergraduate research
The university reports 101,000 hours of paid undergraduate research work in 2024-25.
Research
- Classified as an R1 research university; $124.2 million in research expenditures and $109.3 million in external funding in 2024-25.
- 15 research institutes and centers include the Great Lakes Research Center, Keweenaw Research Center, Michigan Tech Research Institute and the Health Research Institute.
- Research areas include atmospheric and space sciences, energy and sustainability, materials and manufacturing, and transportation and infrastructure.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of Computing
- College of Sciences and Arts
- College of Business
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Median starting salary after a bachelor's degree is $72,500 and the five-year placement rate is 93.3% (2024-25); 400+ employers recruit at career fairs each year.
Student life
Houghton is a small college town in the Upper Peninsula, and Michigan Tech leans into its winters: Winter Carnival has been held since 1922, students build snow statues, and more than 200 teams play broomball each winter. The Tech Trails support hiking, mountain biking and skiing. First-year students must live on campus unless they are transfer or commuting students. The Huskies field 15 varsity sports, 14 of them NCAA, plus a co-ed esports team, and unlimited intramural sports access is included through the Experience Tech initiative.
- Winter Carnival, held since 1922, with snow statues and more than 200 inches of annual snowfall (Michigan Tech).
- Broomball in Welcome Week, with 200+ teams playing more than 1,000 games each winter.
- 15 varsity sports, including 14 NCAA teams, plus intramurals.
- The Enterprise Program and undergraduate research offer paid, hands-on work.
Housing. All first-years except transfer or commuting students must live on campus; Leading Scholar, National Scholars and Presidential Scholars award recipients must live on campus for two years.
Location
Michigan Tech is in Houghton, on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake and near Lake Superior. The campus is small and walkable, with downtown Houghton along College Avenue. Winters are long and snowy, with more than 200 inches of snow a year, according to Michigan Tech, and the university notes that you probably will not need a car because free transportation options serve the area.
Notable alumni
- MC Melvin CalvinNobel laureate and discoverer of the Calvin cycle; earned the school's first Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
- RG Roxane GayWriter, professor and editor; PhD in Rhetoric and Technical Communication, 2010
- TE Tony EspositoNHL Hall of Fame goaltender; played hockey at Michigan Tech and won the 1965 NCAA championship
- DS Donald ShellComputer scientist who designed the Shellsort algorithm; BS in civil engineering
- JP Joseph P. OvertonThink-tank executive who conceived the Overton window; BS in electrical engineering
- DI Deedra IrwinAmerican biathlete and 2022 Winter Olympian
Frequently asked questions
What is Michigan Tech's acceptance rate?
For the fall 2025 entering class, Michigan Tech admitted 8,853 of 10,359 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 85%.
Does Michigan Tech require the SAT or ACT?
No. Test scores are optional for domestic applicants unless their high school GPA is below 3.00, and are used only if they strengthen the application. Among enrolled students who submitted, the middle 50% was 1120-1330 SAT and 25-32 ACT.
What are Michigan Tech's application deadlines for fall 2027?
Early Action is November 1, 2026 (decision by January 15) and Regular Decision is February 1, 2027 (decision by March 1). After February 1, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
How much does Michigan Tech cost for out-of-state and international students?
For 2026-27, tuition for non-Michigan residents is $46,294, and the total estimated cost of attendance is $66,043. International students also pay a $250 per-semester surcharge.
Is Michigan Tech an R1 university?
Yes, according to Wikipedia's summary of the Carnegie Classification (the edition is not named there, and Michigan Tech's own facts page gives research spending rather than a class). Michigan Tech reports $124.2 million in research expenditures for 2024-25.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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