Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Niche: A+

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Sources and reporting periods

Reporting periods: Admission counts and rate: IPEDS Admissions component, fall 2023 entering class. Graduation rate: IPEDS Graduation Rates component, six-year cohort. Score, cost, aid and earnings fields: historical imports without a retained reporting year. Source-check dates on policy notes do not date the statistical fields.

Federal sources: NCES IPEDS and College Scorecard. Covered cohorts differ; a net-price average is not an individual aid offer. Definitions, coverage and limitations.

Compiled by Admit Coach / GPTKIDS LLC using automated data processing and source checks. Report a correction with the institution ID, field and official source link.

Testing policy: dated official source check

At the official source check on 2026-09-09 (UTC): Harvard requires SAT or ACT scores. Specified alternative qualifications can satisfy the requirement when those tests are inaccessible in exceptional circumstances. First-year domestic and international applicants. The requirements page does not specify a policy effective year. Policies can change; confirm the linked requirements before applying.

Harvard application requirements

Application deadlines · countdown

Add to my calendar

Working backwards from the first application deadline: ask for recommendations by Sep 6 (start now), first essay draft by Sep 20 (start now), lock final essay by Oct 18, submit by Oct 29.

Recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and shown on this year's calendar; confirm on the official admissions and aid pages. Save this college and the dates join your plan and Sunday note.

Harvard University reported a 3.5% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. Harvard University is a private nonprofit 4-year institution in Cambridge, MA, with an SAT reference of 1550 and an ACT reference of 35. The historical average net price is $19,066 per year after financial aid, and it is accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Reporting years vary by field; historical averages describe past cohorts. Review data limitations.

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance Rate

3.5%

56,937 applicants

SAT reference

1550

Combined score

ACT reference

35

Composite score

Avg Net Price

$19,066

After financial aid

SAT & ACT Scores at Harvard University

Historical score references from imported federal records for enrolled first-year score submitters. The SAT total references are a sum of section values, not observed total-score percentiles. The reference midpoint column is not a verified median, and none of these values is an admission cutoff. Reporting years are unavailable for these fields.

Test25th percentileReference midpoint75th percentile
SAT (total, 400–1600)150015501580
ACT (composite, 1–36)343536

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

97.5%

Six-year rate, IPEDS cohort

Retention Rate

98.3%

Median Earnings (10yr)

$101,817

Student Body

7,601

Net Price by Family Income

Historical averages for the source's covered student cohorts at Harvard University, not personal aid offers. Residency and eligibility matter; reporting years are unavailable for these imported fields.

Family IncomeAvg Net Price/Year
$0 – $30,000$8,697
$30,001 – $48,000$2,991
$48,001 – $75,000$2,091
$75,001 – $110,000$9,941
$110,000+$53,337

Top Majors at Harvard University

MajorDegrees Awarded
Social Sciences598
Biological & Biomedical Sciences244
Mathematics & Statistics222
Computer & Information Sciences184
History141
Physical Sciences111
Engineering96
Psychology69
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies46
Visual & Performing Arts42

Financial Aid at Harvard University

About Harvard University

Official website: https://www.harvard.edu/

Admissions: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions

Frequently Asked Questions About Harvard University

What is the acceptance rate at Harvard University?

Harvard University reported a 4% acceptance rate to IPEDS for the fall 2023 entering class. the reported applicant count is about 56,937. It describes a past campus applicant pool, not an individual admission probability or admission to a particular major.

How hard is it to get into Harvard University?

The historical 4% acceptance rate suggests Harvard University was highly competitive. Selectivity can differ by year, major, residency and applicant type. Admit Coach's reach, target and safety labels are heuristic research aids, not validated personal probabilities or admission guarantees.

What SAT or ACT scores do you need for Harvard University?

The imported historical records for Harvard University include an SAT reference value of 1550 and an ACT reference value of 35. Reference values may be derived from reported score ranges; they are not verified medians or required cutoffs. Federal score ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Verify current testing requirements on the college's official admissions page.

How much does it cost to attend Harvard University?

The stored historical average net price at Harvard University is $19,066 per year after grants and scholarships for the source's covered cohort. the stored share receiving aid is about 72%; the stored average grant or scholarship is $64,942 per year. Reporting years and populations may differ. This is not your aid offer; public-college averages may cover in-state students. Use the official net-price calculator with your household details.

What is the graduation rate at Harvard University?

The six-year graduation rate reported to IPEDS for Harvard University is 97%. its stored first-year retention rate is 98%; stored median earnings 10 years after enrollment are $101,817. These measures describe past source cohorts, not the current student body, and do not predict an individual student's outcomes.

Is Harvard University test-optional?

At the official source check on 2026-09-09 (UTC): Harvard requires SAT or ACT scores. Specified alternative qualifications can satisfy the requirement when those tests are inaccessible in exceptional circumstances. First-year domestic and international applicants. The requirements page does not specify a policy effective year. Policies can change; confirm the linked requirements before applying.

When is the application deadline for Harvard University?

Harvard University's recorded application deadlines, shown on this cycle's calendar, are Early Action on November 1, 2026, Regular Decision on January 1, 2027. Aid deadlines: Financial aid February 1, FAFSA February 1. These were recorded from the college's website, mostly during the previous application cycle, and dates can change; confirm on Harvard University's official admissions page. Admit Coach's Deadline Radar counts down to each date and adds them to your calendar.

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