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Stevens Institute of Technology

One playful but loaded supplement: two two-word blanks built on the Stevens motto, then 250 words to prove they fit you.

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Supplemental pieces

2 blanks + 1 essay

Fill-in-the-blank limit

24 characters each

Essay limit

100 to 250 words

Personal statement

650 words (Common App)

What Stevens rewards

Stevens keeps its supplement short and unusual. Instead of a standard "Why us" essay, the school hands you its own motto, "Inspired by humanity, powered by technology," and asks you to fill in two blanks: "Inspired by:" and "Powered by:", each capped at a tiny 24 characters. Then you get 100 to 250 words to explain how those two choices reflect who you are today. That is the entire writing requirement beyond your 650-word Common App personal statement.

Stevens is test-optional through Fall 2029, so if you skip scores, these few hundred words do a lot of work. The core challenge is compression. Twenty-four characters is barely two words, so the blanks have to be specific and a little surprising, and the 250-word essay has to earn them with a real story rather than restating them. Vague, motto-sounding answers sink here. Concrete ones float.

01Specificity over polish. Stevens would rather read "powered by: stubborn debugging" than "powered by: perseverance." The blanks reward odd, exact, personal choices. The more your two phrases could only belong to you, the better the whole supplement reads.

02A maker's instinct. This is an engineering and tech school. Essays that show you actually build, fix, model, or experiment, not just admire science, land harder. Concrete tinkering beats stated passion every time.

03Humanity plus technology, together. The motto pairs people and tools on purpose. The strongest answers connect a human reason (a person, a community, a problem you care about) to a technical or hands-on way of acting on it. Show both halves talking to each other.

04Honest self-knowledge. The essay literally asks who you are today. Stevens rewards reflection that sounds like a real seventeen-year-old figuring themselves out, not a resume in prose or a list of virtues.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for Stevens, each broken down with annotated examples.

Inspired by / Powered byEach blank: 24 characters max. Essay: 100 to 250 words.

Stevens' motto is "Inspired by humanity, powered by technology." Complete the following: Inspired by: ______ Powered by: ______ Then, explain how your choices reflect who you are today.

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Deadlines

Early Decision I deadlineNovember 15

Early Action deadlineDecember 1

Early Decision II deadlineJanuary 5

Regular Decision deadlineJanuary 5

Cost

Sticker price$84,836

Avg net after aid$43,665

Meets full needPartial

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Explore Stevens

How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Stevens weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $43,665/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Stevens interview? Format, tips, and practice The Stevens Reader ProScore your draft against Stevens's exact prompts

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Stevens FAQ

What is Stevens's acceptance rate?

Stevens reviews holistically and is test-optional through Fall 2029, so without scores your essay carries real weight. The supplement is the same for every first-year applicant. There are no separate program-specific prompts, but because Stevens is a STEM-focused school, admissions reads your two blanks and 250 words for a clear, specific sense of why you build, solve, or make things. At Stevens, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Stevens require?

Stevens requires 1 supplemental essay on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Stevens cost?

Stevens's published sticker price is about $84,836 per year, but the average family pays $43,665 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Stevens require SAT or ACT scores?

Stevens is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Stevens's application deadlines?

Stevens's application deadlines are Early Decision I deadline November 15; Early Action deadline December 1; Early Decision II deadline January 5; Regular Decision deadline January 5. Add Stevens to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

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