Harvard vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Harvard University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Harvard vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($17,525 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 25.8% lower than at Harvard University ($15,714 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 244% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $43,747 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.7% higher at Harvard than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $24,235 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (56% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 306.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($68,015 vs. $16,742).

Harvard vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 140 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Harvard vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $70,500 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($6,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $162 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($67 vs. $229).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

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.