Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Midsize city · Website

Admission rate: 3.7%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $19,148; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 97%
Median earnings: $121,957; 10 years after enrolling

Harvard University is a private nonprofit college in Cambridge, MA with 7,601 undergraduates. It admits 3.7% of applicants, and admitted students average 1553 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $19,148 per year ($2,542 for families earning under $30,000). 97% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $121,957 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 3.7%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test scores required; Fall 2024
Applicants: 56,937; Fall 2023
Admitted: 1,965; Fall 2023
Yield: 84%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–780

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite34–36

136

What Harvard University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testConsidered

Cost

Cost of attendance: $89,279; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $64,796

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$2,542
$30–48k$2,070
$48–75k$4,126
$75–110k$9,995
$110k+$51,128

Get a personal estimate with Harvard University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 97%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $121,957; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $17,559; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 7,601
Student–faculty ratio: 7:1
Receive Pell grants: 20%

White31%
Hispanic12%
Black9%
Asian22%

Harvard University FAQ

What is Harvard University's acceptance rate?+

Harvard University admits 3.7% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Harvard University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–780 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1553.

What ACT score do you need for Harvard University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–36.

Is Harvard University test optional?+

Test scores required.

How many students apply to Harvard University?+

In Fall 2023, 56,937 students applied to Harvard University and 1,965 were admitted; 1,645 enrolled.

Does Harvard University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Harvard University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Harvard University require an essay?+

Harvard University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Harvard University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $89,279 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,148.

What is Harvard University's graduation rate?+

97% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 166027 · How we use this data