Harvard vs. Fordham

Deciding between Harvard University and Fordham University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Fordham University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Fordham No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Fordham Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Fordham No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Fordham University in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Fordham University 14:1.

Harvard vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Fordham? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Fordham ($17,525 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 12% lower than at Fordham University ($21,190 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,239 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at Fordham than at Harvard University (about $3,239 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Harvard University (95% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 89% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($68,015 vs. $35,988).

Harvard vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Fordham? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fordham and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 150 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Harvard vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Fordham? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $72,500 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,500 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $201 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($67 vs. $268).
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.