Private not-for-profit · City: Midsize
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- Admission rate
- 3.6%
- Fall 2024 · federal IPEDS · past applicant pool, not your chances
- Details about admission rate ↓
- 2026–27 published cost
- $95,134–$100,134
- Any state of residence · On campus · before aid
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted · federal
3.6%
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time applicant pool reported to IPEDS; not your admission chances.
About this number: Applicants admitted · federal
Admission offers divided by applications, both as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. It is a separate source and year from any institution Common Data Set rate and does not predict an individual decision.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
First-year applications · federal
54,008
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time, degree/certificate-seeking applicants reported to IPEDS.
About this number: First-year applications · federal
An application count, including early plans; not the size of the entering class.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
More admissions statistics (2)
First-year admission offers · federal
1,970
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 offers reported to IPEDS, not enrolled students.
About this number: First-year admission offers · federal
Admitted and enrolled populations differ.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
New first-year students · federal
1,647
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 admitted first-time students who enrolled, full or part time.
About this number: New first-year students · federal
This is neither all undergraduates nor all admitted students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Admitted first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who enrolled (full or part time)
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT 25th percentile
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
ACT middle 50%
33–35
Fall 2025
Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores
More academics statistics (19)
SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
720
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
770
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 25th percentile
730
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
SAT math · 75th percentile
790
Fall 2025
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT scores
Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
34
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
36
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal ACT composite · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
740
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
780
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
770
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
800
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
SAT submitter share
79.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
ACT submitter share
27.0%
Fall 2025
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Federal SAT submitter share
54.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Federal ACT submitter share
19.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Share reporting GPA
99.1%
Fall 2025
Share of the entering group with reported GPA.
About this number: Share reporting GPA
The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Share reporting class rank
25.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Share reporting class rank
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Top tenth of high-school class
95.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top tenth of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting rank
Top quarter of high-school class
99.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top quarter of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting rank
Top half of high-school class
100.0%
Fall 2025
Among students reporting class rank; nonreporters are not assumed to have a rank.
About this number: Top half of high-school class
Schools use different ranking systems. Check the reported population rather than treating this as an admission threshold.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting rank
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by Harvard University$95,134–$100,134
Published cost of attendance range · per year, before financial aid
- 2026–27
This budget assumes
- Any state of residence
- On campus
- All undergraduates
What the school includes
- Tuition
- $62,226
- Fees
- $6,216
- Housing
- $14,250
- Food
- $8,942
- Estimated personal expenses
- $2,500
- Estimated books
- $1,000
- Estimated transportation costs ($0-$5,000)
- No single amount published
- Published total
- $95,134–$100,134
Direct charges billed by the school: $91,634. This is part of the budget above, not a separate total; the rest are estimated costs that students pay on their own.
Not included in this total
- Health insurance (required unless covered under family plan)(only if it applies)$4,954
Health insurance $4,954 (waivable); no first-year one-time fees listed.
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school labels these figures 2026–27.
- ICP’s independent audit re-checked this total and some of its lines on the school’s page.
- Required health insurance is an additional cost unless waived through qualifying family coverage; it is not included in this published range.
- ICP’s earlier hand review of this school’s 2026–27 budgets recorded the same figures.
- Source: How Aid Works – Harvard College cost table (2026-2027) (Harvard College Office of Financial Aid and Admissions). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Research notes: Range reflects transportation allowance of $0-$5,000 by student travel distance. Health insurance ($4,954 for 2026-27) is required unless covered under family plan and is NOT in the range.
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
$19,148
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
Federal average net price: average attendance cost (tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses) minus qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships for this population. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. Loans and work-study are not subtracted. This is not tuition alone, an individual award, a guaranteed price or necessarily a college bill.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time students receiving federal financial aid at private institutions
More costs statistics (4)
Tuition & fees · in-state
$64,796
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$64,796
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
19.9%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
7.9%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students · federal
8,844
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Students per faculty member
11
Fall 2025
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member
Student and faculty inclusion rules vary. This does not tell you the size of a particular class or guarantee access to an instructor.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: CDS FTE students and faculty excluding standalone graduate programs
Returned after the first year
98.0%
Fall 2024 entering; retained Fall 2025
Source-defined entering cohort and enrollment population.
About this number: Returned after the first year
Retention measures continuation under the source rules, not graduation or satisfaction.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2024 entering; retained Fall 2025
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Graduated within six years
97.1%
Fall 2019
Reported entering cohort, not every student attending today.
About this number: Graduated within six years
A cohort completion rate describes the source-defined group over time; transfer and part-time populations can differ.
Harvard University Common Data Set · Fall 2019
Who or what this describes: first time full time bachelors
More campus and outcome statistics (8)
Students per faculty member · federal
7
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
Returned after the first year · federal
98.3%
Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
First-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students in the reported cohort.
About this number: Returned after the first year · federal
Federal retention follows a specific entering group. It is not a measure of all students or eventual graduation.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time bachelor’s-seeking undergraduates (the IPEDS four-year retention cohort) enrolled at the institution in the fall one year after starting
Completed within 150% of program time
97.1%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Source-defined first-time, full-time entry cohort; not all enrolled students.
About this number: Completed within 150% of program time
For a four-year bachelor program, 150% of normal time is generally six years. Use the precise entry cohort and measurement definition in the research record.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates (total cohort, not only bachelor’s-seeking) who completed any degree or certificate at the institution within 150% of normal time
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Yes
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Implied no
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Computer Science
- Social Sciences, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Applied Mathematics, General
- Neuroscience
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
278 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Computer Science
224 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Social Sciences, General
157 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Political Science and Government, General
141 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Applied Mathematics, General
137 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Neuroscience
127 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Experimental Psychology
101 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Evolutionary Biology
73 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Statistics, General
63 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Mathematics, General
58 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
Harvard University — SAT/ACT policy
Test-required
Corroborated for fall 2027 · not confirmed on the college page
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level or national exam results allowed in exceptional cases when SAT/ACT is not accessible.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant. The college's page does not name the entry year; the Common App 2026-2027 grid lists the same category, so ICP treats this as the current policy. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Corroborated, not directly confirmed. The college’s page states this policy but does not name the entry year. The Common App’s 2026–27 grid lists the same category, so this is very likely current. Confirm with the college before you rely on it.
Common App requirements grid · 2026–27
Listed as: Tests always required for first-year U.S. applicants.
This is the Common App’s own category. “Tests never required” does not say whether a college is test-optional or test-free, and “always required” does not say which tests count. Read the college’s page for details.
Conditions to check
- Tests the page names: SAT, ACT.
- Exceptional cases when SAT/ACT is inaccessible: AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level or national leaving exam results may meet the requirement
- The page does not separately state first-year versus other applicant groups; confirm yours.
If you submit scores
- Self-reported scores allowed; official scores required on enrolling (from FAQ page)
Official source checked 2026-10-28. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Four-year earnings for colleges are withheld because of a documented October 15, 2026 correction to the federal source.
How ICP selects and explains data →