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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 uses a semester-based calendar. Given an acceptance rate of merely 3%, admissions is consider very competative. The freshman retention rate at Harvard University is 98% and the six-year graduation rate is 98%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Read 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
Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Read on to learn some essential info about admission policy and requirements at Harvard University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,970 in 2025. Harvard University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them.
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 incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 98 and 2 between 24-29.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 35 and the average GPA was 4.21. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 760 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 780.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When you make 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 achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 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 better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Harvard University in 2025 was 21,189.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 85% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 7,038, 1048 of which were international students. 13 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 9,339 male and 10,776 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1,647, and the number of African American students was 628. 806 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 542 identified with more than one race. The school also had 11 students who identified 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
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Harvard University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $56,550 for full-time domestic students. As Harvard University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $5,126.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Harvard University.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Harvard University amounted to $21,190 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $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
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Harvard University.
According to the most recent data, 920 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $72,600.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
3,788 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. 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 ended up being 3,788. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $14,477,617 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $5,347,800. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,927,502 USD.
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Harvard University was 7:1: that means 7 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 2,162 faculty members. This number included 1,305 men and 857 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Harvard University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Harvard University.
Its campus is 209 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 447 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Harvard/Radcliffe Chorus, followed by Harvard Crimson (newspaper) and International Relations Council. Other popular student organizations at this school are Asian-American Association and Phillips Brooks House Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Harvard University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in 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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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 56,550 USD per academic year for Harvard University.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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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.
