The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Cambridge, MA). Founded with the aim of responding to the industrialization of the United States, MIT adopted the European model of polytechnic universities and emphasized applied science and engineering with experimental teaching. MIT researchers contributed significantly during World War II and the Cold War, focusing on the development of computers, radar, and inertial navigation systems.

MIT is composed of 6 academic schools and 34 departments, and it is consistently ranked among the best universities globally. It is especially renowned for its research and education in physical sciences and engineering. Prominent schools include the School of Engineering and the Sloan School of Management.

MIT students participate in 30 varsity sports teams covering a range of athletic disciplines, making it one of the most comprehensive teams in NCAA Division III. The mascot is the beaver, a perfect symbol of engineering in the animal kingdom. After their sophomore year, students receive a unique "Brass Rat" ring, a tradition since 1929. Drew Houston, one of the co-founders of Dropbox, once said at MIT's graduation ceremony, "On this special day, I put on my Brass Rat again, perhaps the most memorable day of my life," highlighting the significance of this ring to alumni.

One of the greatest benefits for MIT students is the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities at discounted prices, including access to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox, as well as free entry to the Boston Museum of Science, Boston Museum of Art, and all Harvard and MIT museums. As of 2015, MIT has produced 85 Nobel Prize winners, 45 Rhodes Scholars, 38 MacArthur Fellows, and 34 astronauts. The university has a strong entrepreneurial culture, with notable companies such as Intel, Texas Instruments, Dropbox, and McDonnell Douglas being founded by MIT alumni, generating revenue equivalent to the 11th largest economy in the world.