Harvard University is a private, nonprofit school in an urban setting in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard was founded in 1636 and the school enrolls around 19,646 students per year, including 5,222 undergraduate students. Harvard provides on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 90% of students spend their weekends on campus.
📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is January 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should receive admissions decisions by March 31.
There are many ways for students to get involved at Harvard!
Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.
Are you interested in journalism and communications? Harvard students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Harvard does not have any greek life opportunties.
Planning to play sports? Harvard has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Harvard on the Student Life page.
2022 Harvard Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 5% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | ED not offered |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | 14% |
Average GPA | 4.0 |
Applicants Submitting ACT scores | 14% |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 72% |
Tuition | $52,659 |
Percent of Need Met | 100% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $62,252 |
The definition of a "good school" varies. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.
Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a clearer idea of what Harvard offers and if the school might be the right college for you.
Harvard is extremely difficult to get into. In 2022, Harvard accepted just 5% of all applicants. Out of 40,248 applications received in 2022, 2,015 students were offered admission.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Harvard, around 75% return for their sophomore year. 98% of Harvard undergrads graduate within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.
Check with Harvard directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
Harvard meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $62,252 a year.
Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $16,366 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Harvard.
Based on this information, how does Harvard sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Harvard a good school for you?
If Harvard University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
To learn more about Harvard, choose from the options below:
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting accepted at some of the colleges and universities in the U.S.
Harvard is located in the urban setting of Cambridge, Massachusetts, less than an hour from Boston.
If you would like to see Harvard for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 90 to Cambridge, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Logan International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Harvard and Cambridge are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Massachusetts and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Harvard is Jan 1.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Harvard is Mar 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
35 and Above
33 to 35
33 and Less
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Tuition & Fees
$75,528
In State$75,528
Out-of-StateWondering what life at Harvard is like? There are approximately 10,071 students enrolled at Harvard, including 5,222 undergraduate students and 4,849 graduate students. 100% percent of students attend school full-time, 16% percent are from MA and 84% percent of students are from other states.
100%
Full Time0.46%
Part Time16%
In State84%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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