Harvard University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Cambridge, MA

$49,653

Avg tuition

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About Harvard University

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Harvard University is a private Ivy League school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school educates over 32,000 students. Learners at Harvard have access to more than 55 undergraduate and 135 graduate disciplines. The competitive research institution accepts just 5% of applicants and graduates 97% of students. The historical campus features 28 libraries, 15 museums, and globally recognized research centers and institutes. Harvard students also have access to more than 450 student groups and organizations.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a highly selective acceptance rate.

This school is very selective about its students. Selective schools welcome 1-14% of all applicants.

5% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

76% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

98% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Required

High school GPA Recommended

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Not required or recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Not required or recommended

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Implied no

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 33-35

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1460-1580

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

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The student-to-faculty ratio at this school is lower than other schools.

This means there are more faculty for each student, which can create an opportunity for more individualized attention and support in your studies.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

30k

Students enrolled

97%

Online student enrollment

5:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

40%

Non-U.S. Citizen

23%

Asian

14%

Hispanic

9%

Black

7%

Two or more races

4%

Unknown

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

52%

Socio-economic diversity

17% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

36

Total Online Enrollment

29,581

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

91% On-campus

9% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's X Bold Not offered

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 64% online

Master's X Bold Not offered

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $49,653 $49,653
Graduate $49,448 $49,448

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $900
On-campus room and board $18,389
On-campus other expenses $2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and board Currently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses Currently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expenses Currently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $71,542 $71,542
Off-campus without family $50,553 $50,553
Off-campus with family $50,553 $50,553

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

2

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

4

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Engineering Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

6

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

7

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

8

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

9

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

10

History

BA

MA

DOC

11

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

12

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

13

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Natur