Harvard University Admissions

SAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid, Tuition, Graduation Rate & More

HARVARD UNIVERSITY IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
Harvard University ( Explore the Harvard campus in this photo tour). Steve Dunwell/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Updated September 30, 2017

Harvard is an exceptionally selective school with an acceptance rate of just 5% in 2016. Applicants will need stellar grades, strong standardized test scores, and an overall stellar application to be considered for admission. Additional materials also include high school transcripts, multiple essays, and teacher recommendations. Be sure to visit the school's website for full details and important dates/deadlines.

Explore the Harvard campus and surrounding area:

Will You Get In?

Calculate Your Chances of Getting In with this free tool  from Cappex.

Harvard Admissions Data (2016):

Harvard University Description:

Harvard usually ranks #1 or #2 of all schools in the U.S. With an endowment around $35 billion, Harvard has more financial resources at its disposal than any other university in the world. The result is a world-class faculty, high-level research and AAU membership, state-of-the-art facilities, and free tuition for students from families with modest income.

It is also one of the hardest colleges to get into.

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this Ivy League school is in close-proximity to the hundreds of thousands of college students in the greater Boston area. Popular programs at Harvard include political science, economics, biology, computer science, psychology, and math.

Academics are supported by an impressive 7 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Harvard also offers degrees at the Master and Doctorate levels, with a range of world-class programs available. Low achieving students need not apply -- Harvard has the lowest acceptance rate of any U.S. university. It should come as little surprise that Harvard made my lists of  Top National Universities, The 20 Most Selective Colleges, Top New England Colleges, Top Massachusetts Colleges, and even Best Engineering Programs.

Enrollment (2016):

  • Total Enrollment: 29,908 (9,915 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 52% Male / 48% Female
  • 72% Full-time

Costs (2016- 17):

  • Tuition and Fees: $47,074
  • Books: $1,000 (why so much?)
  • Room and Board: $15,951
  • Other Expenses: $2,875
  • Total Cost: $66,900

Harvard Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 72%
  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 55%
    • Loans: 8%
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $48,195
    • Loans: $6,844

Academic Programs:

Graduation and Retention Rates:

  • First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 98%
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 86%
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 97%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

  • Men's Sports: Track and Field, Football, Squash, Tennis, Baseball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Sailing, Skiing, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling, Fencing
  • Women's Sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Squash, Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Swimming and Diving

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

Harvard and the Common Application

Harvard University uses the Common Application. These articles can help guide you:

Like Harvard? Then Check Out These Other Top Universities:

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Grove, Allen. "Harvard University Admissions." ThoughtCo, Sep. 30, 2017, thoughtco.com/harvard-university-admissions-787621. Grove, Allen. (2017, September 30). Harvard University Admissions. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/harvard-university-admissions-787621 Grove, Allen. "Harvard University Admissions." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/harvard-university-admissions-787621 (accessed January 9, 2018).