Harvard vs. West Point

Deciding between Harvard University and United States Military Academy? 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
United States Military Academy

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • West Point West Point, New York
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • West Point Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • West Point 4,473
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • West Point Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • West Point
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • West Point -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • West Point Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • West Point

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • West Point $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • West Point $0
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • West Point $0
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • West Point -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • West Point $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • West Point 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • West Point 12,320
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • West Point 1,534
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • West Point 12.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • West Point 77.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • West Point 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • West Point 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • West Point 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • West Point A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • West Point Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • West Point Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • West Point 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • West Point 1200/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • West Point Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • West Point Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • West Point 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • West Point
    • Engineering (21%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Business (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • West Point 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • West Point N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • West Point -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • West Point N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • West Point N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • West Point 78%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • West Point 22%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • West Point -
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • West Point No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • West Point 0%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • West Point 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • West Point 7%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • West Point 92%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with United States Military Academy in West Point, New York on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than West Point based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 4,473 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); United States Military Academy is in West Point, New York (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Military Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; United States Military Academy 6:1.

Harvard vs. West Point Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between Harvard University and West Point ($61,676.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Harvard and United States Military Academy ($61,676.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at United States Military Academy (56% vs. 0%).

Harvard vs. West Point Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 230 points higher than at West Point (1320).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at West Point).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; United States Military Academy 1200/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; United States Military Academy 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; West Point - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; West Point Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have the same average high school GPA (4.0) as students at West Point (4.0).
  • West Point has a higher acceptance rate (12.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 77.9% at West Point.

Harvard vs. West Point Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and West Point? 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 United States Military Academy's (80%).

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.