Harvard vs. SUNY Poly

Deciding between Harvard University and SUNY Polytechnic Institute? 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
SUNY Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • SUNY Poly Utica, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • SUNY Poly Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • SUNY Poly 2,733
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Poly Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • SUNY Poly #327
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • SUNY Poly -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • SUNY Poly Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • SUNY Poly

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • SUNY Poly $8,625
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • SUNY Poly $21,215
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • SUNY Poly $16,584
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • SUNY Poly $14,782
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • SUNY Poly $8,357
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • SUNY Poly 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • SUNY Poly 5,329
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • SUNY Poly 4,335
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • SUNY Poly 81.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • SUNY Poly 8.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • SUNY Poly 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • SUNY Poly 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • SUNY Poly 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • SUNY Poly A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • SUNY Poly Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • SUNY Poly
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SUNY Poly 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • SUNY Poly 1025/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • SUNY Poly Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • SUNY Poly 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • SUNY Poly
    • Business (24%)
    • Engineering Technology (20%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • SUNY Poly 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • SUNY Poly $53,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • SUNY Poly 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • SUNY Poly $16,585
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • SUNY Poly $171

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • SUNY Poly 57%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • SUNY Poly 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • SUNY Poly Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • SUNY Poly No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • SUNY Poly 79%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • SUNY Poly 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • SUNY Poly 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • SUNY Poly 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • SUNY Poly 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • SUNY Poly 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • SUNY Poly 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • SUNY Poly 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • SUNY Poly 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • SUNY Poly 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • SUNY Poly 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than SUNY Poly based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,733 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); SUNY Polytechnic Institute is in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

Harvard vs. SUNY Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Harvard ($14,782 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 21.7% lower than at Harvard University ($16,584 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 615.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $53,051 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $8,625.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 190.7% higher at Harvard than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $40,461 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $21,215.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 713.9% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($68,015 vs. $8,357).

Harvard vs. SUNY Poly Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 350 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 26 at SUNY Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; SUNY Poly - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7).
  • SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 8.7% at SUNY Poly.

Harvard vs. SUNY Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $83,500 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $10,085 lower median loan debt than SUNY Poly graduates ($6,500 vs. $16,585).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Poly graduates ($67 vs. $171).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)

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.