Harvard vs. UC Berkeley

Deciding between Harvard University and University of California Berkeley? 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
University of California Berkeley

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • UC Berkeley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • UC Berkeley 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • UC Berkeley $146

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • UC Berkeley No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • UC Berkeley 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • UC Berkeley 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 30,259 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of California Berkeley is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of California Berkeley 18:1.

Harvard vs. UC Berkeley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or UC Berkeley? 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 University of California Berkeley than Harvard ($16,538 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 10.8% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($21,190 vs. $23,750).
  • Harvard University is 277.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $45,329 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $16,347.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Harvard than at University of California Berkeley (about $11,129 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $50,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at University of California Berkeley (56% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 129.7% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($68,015 vs. $29,608).

Harvard vs. UC Berkeley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or UC Berkeley? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Berkeley and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 130 points higher than at UC Berkeley (1420).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (35 vs. 32 at UC Berkeley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of California Berkeley 1310/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Harvard University 34/36; University of California Berkeley 30/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; UC Berkeley - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman Harvard students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • UC Berkeley has a higher acceptance rate (11%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 46% at UC Berkeley.

Harvard vs. UC Berkeley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and UC Berkeley? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of California Berkeley's (90%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $62,000 more per year than UC Berkeley graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $74,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $7,700 lower median loan debt than UC Berkeley graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,200).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Berkeley graduates ($67 vs. $146).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.