Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the world's most respected science schools — and for good reason.

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For starters, it has a notoriously competitive selection process — fewer than 5% of applicants are accepted. Then there's the grueling workload, which includes physics, biology, chemistry and calculus as required courses, and the roster of world-class professors.

Learning from some of the best pays off: 96% of students graduate within six years, and the median earnings 10 years after enrolling top $143,000 — one of the highest levels of all the schools Money analyzed. While the cost of an MIT education might seem daunting, the university offers substantial financial aid. In fact, 39% of students attend tuition-free, and 87% of the Class of 2024 graduated without student loan debt.

The university has a relatively diverse student body, and the 168-acre campus in Cambridge gives students access to nightlife, as well as the cultural activities of nearby Boston. And if they don’t want to go far, MIT has a dozen galleries and museums on campus.

When not appreciating the arts, Techies are known for creative, nerdy fun, like playing Mahjong, acroyoga, and dance clubs.