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Harvard University
With a 3.6% admission rate, no GPA makes Harvard University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Harvard University sits in Cambridge proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 14.6% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Statistics, where graduates median $230,876 four years out. 16.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 7,601 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1580 — above the MA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Harvard University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Harvard University received 56,937 applications and admitted 1,965 (3.5%), with 1,645 enrolling.
You can apply to Harvard University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1500 and 1580; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 740 | 760 | 780 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 36 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Harvard University compares
| Harvard University | Massachusetts median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 3.6% | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $61,676 | $46,700 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $101,817 | $62,832 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Harvard University: $101,817 median at year ten, versus $62,832 across Massachusetts institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $61,676 regardless of where you're from. At Harvard University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 7,601 undergrads, Harvard University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
97.6% of Harvard University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 42.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $61,676 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Harvard University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Statistics | $230,876 |
| Computer Science | $203,169 |
| Applied Mathematics | $170,689 |
| Economics | $155,592 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $117,816 |
| Political Science and Government | $95,838 |
| Natural Sciences | $95,507 |
| Social Sciences, General | $78,996 |
| History | $70,679 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $70,167 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,428 |
Median earnings for these 11 Harvard University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $101,817 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 55 additional Harvard University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Harvard University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1580 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 3.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Harvard University's acceptance rate?
3.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,965 admitted from 56,937 applicants.
How much does Harvard University cost?
At Harvard University, published tuition is $61,676 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Harvard University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Harvard University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $101,817 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — 4.5% admitted
- Boston University — 11.1% admitted
- Northeastern University — 5.2% admitted
- Amherst College — 9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.