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Cambridge , MA
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston, Harvard is renowned for its outstanding academic programs, esteemed faculty, and rich history. As a leading Ivy League institution, Harvard offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields including arts and sciences, engineering, business, law, medicine, education, and more.
Harvard University boasts an exceptional faculty composed of leading scholars, Nobel laureates, and prestigious researchers who are dedicated to providing an exceptional education to their students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, students have the opportunity to engage in intimate learning environments and form strong relationships with their professors. The university's commitment to academic excellence is evident in its rigorous curriculum, which encourages students to pursue intellectual exploration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Beyond academics, Harvard provides an enriching and vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations catering to a wide range of interests. Students can participate in sports, arts, cultural events, or join one of the many student-run clubs on campus. Furthermore, the university's strong network of alumni includes prominent figures from all walks of life, offering students valuable connections and opportunities. Harvard's reputation, along with its esteemed faculty and extensive resources, truly make it a center of excellence and an institution that continues to shape the educational landscape both nationally and globally.
Located in Cambridge, MA and set in an urban environment, Harvard University is a private four-year college. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 3%. The freshman retention rate at Harvard University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 98%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
Learn more about what Harvard University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
7,038
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$56,550
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
98%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to improve your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for Harvard University?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,970 in 2025.
Test Scores
54% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 19% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 98 and 2 between 24-29.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 35 and the average GPA was 4.21. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 760 and an average SAT Math score of 780.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Harvard University was 98%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 98%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Harvard University in 2025 was 21,189.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 85. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 7,038, 1048 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 13 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 9,339 male and 10,776 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Harvard University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 1,647, and the number of Afro-American students was 628. 806 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 542 as multirace. The school also had 11 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 24 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 185 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important facts on Harvard University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $56,550 for full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $5,126 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Harvard University was $21,190 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $12,922, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,922.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 56,550 |
| Room and Board | $ 21,190 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 78,740 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Harvard University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 920 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $72,600 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 3,788 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Harvard University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 3,788. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $14,477,617, and state $719,873. The students of Harvard University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $249,502,952, and external in the amount of $5,853,210.
$5,569
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $14,477,617 while the state aid is $5,347,800. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $129,393. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $4,927,502 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Harvard University was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 2,162 faculty members at this school. This number included 1,305 men and 857 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Harvard University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about social life at Harvard University.
Its campus is 209 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 447. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Harvard/Radcliffe Chorus, followed by Harvard Crimson (newspaper) and International Relations Council. Other popular organizations among the students at Harvard University are Asian-American Association and Phillips Brooks House Association.
Those who have a talent for music can join the Harvard University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Harvard University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA.
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Harvard University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Harvard University is 56,550 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Harvard University is 3%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Harvard University is 98%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.