A
Excellent
Score: 82/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
97/100 · earnings-weighted

Harvard University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
🌐 www.harvard.edu/
Harvard University — acceptance rate 3%, tuition $54,269
Harvard University — acceptance rate 3%, tuition $54,269
Harvard University campus, Cambridge, MA
Harvard University campus, Cambridge, MA. Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
98/100
Affordability
F
28/100
Resources
A+
96/100
Experience
A
86/100
Prestige
A+
100/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

30,386
Total Enrollment
97%
Graduation Rate
99%
Retention Rate
7.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
3%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Harvard University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$101,817
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$99,572
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$14,000
Median debt at graduation
97.6%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,553
Average SAT
35
Median ACT
16.4%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 14% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 97th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MA wage index 1.29). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Harvard University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Statistics$141,116$230,876+150%#1 of 50#1—
Computer Science$152,251$203,169+90%#10 of 349#16—
Applied Mathematics$114,279$170,689+86%#1 of 45#2—
Economics$103,993$155,592+88%#5 of 368#8$6,617
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$51,569$117,816+77%#1 of 35#1—
Political Science and Government$61,543$95,838+51%#6 of 565#27—
Natural Sciences$69,242$95,507+65%#1 of 9#1$25,767
Social Sciences$56,540$78,996+48%#3 of 87#5$22,750
History$53,468$70,679+39%#22 of 459#38$12,721
Research and Experimental Psychology$41,501$70,167+26%#13 of 82#22—
English Language and Literature$30,838$50,428+4%#231 of 576#427—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$46,993—————
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$31,999—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Harvard University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $1,157,911
  • Avg rent near campus: $3,314/mo — vs ~$1,380/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 02135 (3.6% cap, Boston)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Harvard University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Learning Sciences
of 7 schools
🥇
Educational Evaluation and Research
of 6 schools
🥈
Sustainability Studies
of 43 schools
🥈
Public Administration
of 100 schools
🥉
Law
of 100 schools
#4
Public Health, General
of 100 schools
#6
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
of 100 schools
#8
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
of 100 schools
#13
Political Science and Government, General
of 100 schools
#21
Computer Science
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $54,269 $54,269
Room $12,424
Board $7,950
Total Cost (On-Campus) $86,705 $86,705

Financial Aid

72%
Receive Any Aid
21%
Receive Pell Grants
9%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

30,386
Total Students
54%
Women
82%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 33%
Hispanic 9%
Black 6%
Asian 15%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 26%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 70%
Hybrid (Some Online) 5%
Fully Online 26%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 82%
25-64 (Adult) 16%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Harvard University?
Harvard University has an acceptance rate of 3%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Harvard University?
Tuition at Harvard University is $54,269 for in-state students and $54,269 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Harvard University?
The graduation rate at Harvard University is 97%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Harvard University a good school?
Harvard University has a Repit College Score of 82/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Harvard University?
Harvard University has a total enrollment of 30,386 students. Most students (82%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Harvard University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Harvard University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

A
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · 11,920 students
A
Boston University
Boston, MA · 36,624 students
A
Tufts University
Medford, MA · 13,274 students
B+
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · 31,159 students
B+
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · 15,280 students
A
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · 2,168 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology